To fuck or to cook?

[tmdiva]

Historically, my family has tried lots of things for Christmas Eve dinner (yes, Christmas Eve--I'm told this is somehow related to our Scandinavian roots), including ham and goose (shot by my father, even), but we've come back to a very Thanksgiving-ish menu of turkey and stuffing because we like it so much. Then we just eat leftovers on Christmas Day (after our traditional breakfast of scrambled eggs, bran muffins and frozen peaches).

The SFC's family does their big meal on Christmas Day at mid-day, and his dad and partner host a big feast on Christmas night. One year when my brother lived near the SFC's family, we had three enormous dinners (turkey, ham and stuffed pork loin roast) in 24 hours.

This year we're with my family, and I've been charged with acquiring a yam recipe and coming up with a non-pumpkin pie dessert. Since I'm off most dairy (it disagrees with Thor), I'm thinking maybe a really great chocolate cake, or a pear-almond tart. Any other fabulous ideas? Butter is okay, just not cream or milk.

tm

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
A toaster only really makes toast.* But toast sure is good food.**



*I did just splurge with the Hamilton Beach (name brand!) bagel-width toaster, with handy defrost capabilities ($9.99 well spent!), but for the millions of people in the country who can't afford such luxuries, I am generalizing about the only makes toast part above.

**And one of the four foods that I will willingly prepare at home instead of buying pre-made stuff at the store (Whole Foods, Burger! See asterisk one above for an understanding of how I can afford such decadence).

I use a toaster oven. It makes toast and warms up pizza. Also does lovely things with fish sticks and chicken nuggets, or so I am told.

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally posted by tmdiva


This year we're with my family, and I've been charged with acquiring a yam recipe and coming up with a non-pumpkin pie dessert. Since I'm off most dairy (it disagrees with Thor), I'm thinking maybe a really great chocolate cake, or a pear-almond tart. Any other fabulous ideas? Butter is okay, just not cream or milk.

tm

Cobbler. You can never go wrong with cobbler.

Let me know if you want me to dig out my recipe.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by bold_n_brazen
I use a toaster oven.

2.

What kind of freak would have a toaster?

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by tmdiva
This year we're with my family, and I've been charged with acquiring a yam recipe and coming up with a non-pumpkin pie dessert. Since I'm off most dairy (it disagrees with Thor), I'm thinking maybe a really great chocolate cake, or a pear-almond tart. Any other fabulous ideas? Butter is okay, just not cream or milk.

tm

Of course, the only thing I can think of is the lemoncello trifle my mother made around this time last year. Custard is no good?

ETA: Posole at my cousin's house on Christmas Eve, dinner at my parents' house Christmas Day. Morning full of mimosas and toast and unwrapping presents.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by bold_n_brazen
I use a toaster oven. It makes toast and warms up pizza. Also does lovely things with fish sticks and chicken nuggets, or so I am told.

2. And it permits top-browning of English muffins and bagels.

At least around here, Whole Foods' bread sucks. It can suck it, in fact. But YMMV--we also don't have miles of chocolate. And for that Whole Foods can suck it too.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
2. And it permits top-browning of English muffins and bagels.

At least around here, Whole Foods' bread sucks. It can suck it, in fact. But YMMV--we also don't have miles of chocolate. And for that Whole Foods can suck it too.

My new ($9.99!) toaster top-browns bagels and english muffins too. The Bagel setting only heats on one side for each slice. I'm telling you, this thing is fancy.

Toaster oven takes up too much counter space for the utility, especially considering I would have an oven oven right next to it. I know how to use "Broil" on the oven too! I'm a freaking chef!

[Sparklehorse]

Originally posted by tmdiva
Historically, my family has tried lots of things for Christmas Eve dinner (yes, Christmas Eve--I'm told this is somehow related to our Scandinavian roots), including ham and goose (shot by my father, even), but we've come back to a very Thanksgiving-ish menu of turkey and stuffing because we like it so much. Then we just eat leftovers on Christmas Day (after our traditional breakfast of scrambled eggs, bran muffins and frozen peaches).

The SFC's family does their big meal on Christmas Day at mid-day, and his dad and partner host a big feast on Christmas night. One year when my brother lived near the SFC's family, we had three enormous dinners (turkey, ham and stuffed pork loin roast) in 24 hours.

This year we're with my family, and I've been charged with acquiring a yam recipe and coming up with a non-pumpkin pie dessert. Since I'm off most dairy (it disagrees with Thor), I'm thinking maybe a really great chocolate cake, or a pear-almond tart. Any other fabulous ideas? Butter is okay, just not cream or milk.

tm

For my cooking group last January, through a series of mishaps, I ended up making a "hot water" sponge cake in 2 layers with apricot jam between the layers (because that was the kind of jam I had in the house). It was a big hit with a guy who cannot eat dairy. His girlfriend asked me for the recipe to make for his birthday cake so I have it typed up already. PM if you're interested.

[Fugee]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
on this board and not enough fucking.

Well, I was gone during the time you all heard about BnB and whoever is in Ohio so you could catch me up on that sex stuff.

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally posted by Sparklehorse
Do you end up using the rotisserie often or is is the kind of thing that gets dragged out very occasionally?

Well, since our family likes to celebrate holdidays and birthdays and things with a nice medium rare/rare prime rib, we use it pretty often, plus a nice rotisserie chicken is always easy, quick and yummy. Things seem to cook in much less time than our fancy oven. And it just tastes better. Maybe that's in my head. Anyway, for a $100 or $150 appliance, we get enough out of it. Get yourself a bed bath and beyond coupon and pick one up for cheap.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Flinty_McFlint
Well, since our family likes to celebrate holdidays and birthdays and things with a nice medium rare/rare prime rib, we use it pretty often, plus a nice rotisserie chicken is always easy, quick and yummy. Things seem to cook in much less time than our fancy oven. And it just tastes better. Maybe that's in my head. Anyway, for a $100 or $150 appliance, we get enough out of it. Get yourself a bed bath and beyond coupon and pick one up for cheap.

I have a nice (never been used!) Pocket Fisherman that is looking for a home. Perhaps you could use one of those to catch some fish to rotisserie? Something tasty out of SF Bay perhaps?

[Fugee]

Originally posted by tmdiva
The SFC's . . . dad and partner....

A gay Mormon?

This year we're with my family, and I've been charged with acquiring a yam recipe and coming up with a non-pumpkin pie dessert. Since I'm off most dairy (it disagrees with Thor), I'm thinking maybe a really great chocolate cake, or a pear-almond tart. Any other fabulous ideas? Butter is okay, just not cream or milk.

Can you eat ricotta cheese? Have access to those eggs that are supposedly OK to eat without cooking? I made an exceptionally tasty Creamy Orange Ricotta Tart from a recipe in last year's Fine Cooking holiday baking issue. They also have recipes in that issue for a Chocolate Glazed Peanut Butter Tart and a Chocolate Truffle Tart with Whipped Vanilla Mascarpone Topping. The tart bases are all really easy and made with pulverized cookies or graham crackers. I could email you a recipe.

The current Cooks Illustrated holiday baking issue someone else mentioned has a recipe for a Chocolate Truffle Tart that sounds pretty good -- the filling is has 1-1/2 pounds of chocolate and 2 cups of whipping cream (melted together like a ganache -- would that bother Thor?). And a recipe for pecan pie.

Fu(suddenly I'm hungry)gee

[Fugee]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
What does everyone here usually eat on Christmas eve?

Traditionally (i.e. when we were kids), we had a light Christmas Eve supper because my Mom would have a big dinner on Christmas Day for various and sundry relatives. Rice pudding (this may be a Scandinavian thing) for sure, maybe ham sandwiches. And later we'd eat cookies and nuts while playing games (or with our new toys).

Later she stopped hosting massive Christmas Day dinners and we did a slightly larger dinner, most often ham. When I moved away, I would stop at the last remaining Scandinavian deli/butcher in Minneapolis to get my Dad some pickled herring and buy Swedish meatball mix to make on Christmas Eve.

My brother has Christmas Eve at his house now so the menu varies but ham and a cheesy hash brown casserole are usual courses, though I made lasagna one year. I'd like to do a pork loin roast with roasted red potatoes this year but I think my Mom has already bought a ham.

Mass consumption of cookies and homemade caramel corn after presents are all opened and staying up late to play games is the one tradition we always keep!

[tmdiva]

Originally posted by Fugee
A gay Mormon?

Yup. Or at least he used to be.

They also have recipes in that issue for a Chocolate Glazed Peanut Butter Tart and a Chocolate Truffle Tart with Whipped Vanilla Mascarpone Topping. The tart bases are all really easy and made with pulverized cookies or graham crackers. I could email you a recipe.

I definitely want the chocolate peanut butter one--my favorite!

The current Cooks Illustrated holiday baking issue someone else mentioned has a recipe for a Chocolate Truffle Tart that sounds pretty good -- the filling is has 1-1/2 pounds of chocolate and 2 cups of whipping cream (melted together like a ganache -- would that bother Thor?). And a recipe for pecan pie.

See, that's the problem--I'm behind on my magazine reading! If I'd just catch up, I'd have plenty of ideas.

tm

[tmdiva]

Originally posted by Fugee Rice pudding (this may be a Scandinavian thing) for sure

Riskrem! Love it. Especially with a dollop of lingonberry jam.

cheesy hash brown casserole

Does this include sauteed onion, cream of chicken soup and sour cream? Then it's funeral potatoes, one of those foods that midwesterners and Mormons have in common. Jello is another--some time I'll have to send you a copy of the "jello matrix," which tells you which jello dishes are appropriate for which occasions.

staying up late to play games is the one tradition we always keep!

Yet another way in which Fugee's family = my family's SP. Thank heavens I don't have a sermonizing brother!

tm