https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 08 May 2026 11:21:17 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112742 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:18:15 +0000 yublocka 112742@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kristen you have officially made me drool. Pierogies!! Mmmm. ALthough we call them varenikhy over here they are just as loved. My fave food of all time!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112413 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:31:58 +0000 Michelle 112413@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My Christmas has always been something of a mashup of English and French Canadian traditions. Mom is Quebecois and was raised catholic, so for years we used to have what's called a Reveillons (basically a party after midnight mass where people drink hot cyder, eat delicious appetizers including mini tourtieres, and open gifts). We used to compromise by opening only the gifts from our French relatives during Reveillons and saving the rest for Christmas morning. Tradition there dictated that we do stockings first, then open gifts while nibbling on a Christmas-tree-shaped danish and eating fresh fruit. Now that we're grown up, Mom has introduced Christmas morning mimosas (orange juice and proseco) into the mix. Good thing we only stick to one each! :)</p> <p>Lunch is a quieter affair usually consisting of leftover appetizers from the Reveillons. The major eating is accomplished at night with a traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, julienne winter veggies (like turnip and leeks and parsnips), green bean casarole and creamed onions. Dessert is often a Buche to Noël with candy cane ice cream, or sometimes a platter of the Christmas baking that Mom has done in the weeks leading up to Xmas. </p> <p>Things have been slightly adjusted now, since Mom and Dad moved out of the city and we can't usually get to their place until Christmas eve and are too tired to stay up for Reveillon. We now have Boeuf Bourgignon for dinner on Christmas eve, while the rest of the traditions stay relatively static. Last boxing day we went for a horse-drawn sleigh ride as a family, so not sure if that will happen again this year, but it was fun!</p> <p>While I love my family's Christmas, I absolutely love many of the dishes you're all describing, like the curries and seafood meals and delicious soups and cheese platters! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112391 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:11:39 +0000 Kristen 112391@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As a child, we opened our presents to each other on Christmas Eve, and those from Santa on Christmas morning. But it slowly moved over to all being opened on Christmas Eve, mainly because the anticipation to give each other the perfect gift right away was too powerful to resist. I blame my parents; they would both buy each other a ton, and then one by one bring them out, "Oh, just this one for now! the rest later!" Until they had given each other everything, LOL.</p> <p>At my in-law's we all get together on Christmas Eve and exchange presents from each other. Christmas morning is all spent each in our homes -- and Hubby and I at our hotel room -- and we exchange the rest of our presents to each other there. So I have to pick out the very best present to give him in front of his family. I've got a GREAT one this year -- I will share the link with everyone after Christmas because I suspect a bunch of pet-lovers here on the forum might be interested in getting one for themselves! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112334 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:59:07 +0000 Angie 112334@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It’s all about tradition, Maya. If Christmas Eve is more important than Christmas Day – you’ll open prezzies on Christmas Eve! Growing up, it was all about Christmas Eve, but since I married Greg, we open Christmas Day too. We have never had stockings so stocking stuffers are completely foreign to us :0) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112295 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:04:36 +0000 Ele 112295@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Since we celebrate with my Dad's family on Christmas Eve, and my Mum's on Christmas Day, we get two bouts of present opening Christmas Eve is just from our Granny and Aunts/Uncles on that side, though- gifts from my parents, my sister and family friends are all on the 25th. </p> <p>Our Christmas Day present tradition is slightly unusual though, in that we don't open them until 4 or 5 in the afternoon. First there's stockings, breakfast, getting dressed/showered, setting up lunch, eating lunch, cleaning up after lunch, going for an afternoon walk to work off lunch, etc. Basically, when we can't think of anything else to do, we open presents. </p> <p>Because of this weird timeline, stockings are *very* big in my family. In fact, I could care less about the wrapped presents under the tree- it's all about the stockings. My Mum is a stocking master; she'll buy little things all year that she thinks we'll like. When my sister and I were little, we would get our "big" presents (like dolls or games) in our stockings to keep us occupied all day. These days I'm more likely to get books, cooking equipment or accessories- but no complaints! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112266 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:41:54 +0000 chewyspaghetti 112266@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We do gifts Christmas morning, too. I was always jealous of my Catholic friends who went to midnight mass on Christmas eve and then came home and opened gifts. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112264 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:36:36 +0000 Maya 112264@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Christmas morning! I don't understand why people open gifts on Christmas Eve. Then what do you do on Christmas besides eat? :p</p> <p>Christmas curry is perfect. I'm going to serve it up with a cucumber and mint salad to function as a cooling agent, and nothing beats the red and green combo! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112087 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:26:49 +0000 Jean Gray 112087@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been a little spoiled as we spend a lot of time at either my in laws or my Dad and step-mom's (over Christmas)and they already have quite the spread. But all these customs you are sharing are inspiring and bring back memories. I will have to dig up some cook books and learn how to make some foods common to our family's heritage.<br /> That said this year I will probably make a ham and egg casserole for Christmas breakfast that my Mom used to make. It would also be fun to have some sort of Danish pastry around. My Dad is Danish and Kransekage was always a staple at my Grandma's for holidays and weddings. In honor of my other Grandma who is Czech I should have some kolaches too! Pardon me for most likely misspelling those! My Danish Grandmother also always had "kisses" or meringues which I loved as a child. Christmas Eve my in laws always have shrimp along with many other appetizers and that's always fun and I look forward to eating it all! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112073 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:08:35 +0000 Dawn 112073@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My family have a tradition of opening Christmas presents at 6am on Christmas Day. This is from when my four siblings and I were excitable little kids who couldn't wait until some sort of a reasonable hour to open presents! We still do this but now we retire back to bed afterwards.</p> <p>Alan and I opened each other's Christmas presents this weekend as we don't see each other over the three days of Christmas. Best Christmas presents ever! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112067 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:33:29 +0000 Laura 112067@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>JewelryGirl, my grandfather used to make oyster stew on Christmas Eve too. He was of Scottish and Irish heritage and I wondered if that was traditional from way back.</p> <p>Being of Scandinavian heritage on my mother's side, we do a smorgasbord on Christmas Eve, followed by champagne and Christmas cookies, and the opening of gifts. Christmas Day is roast beast (thank you, Dr. Seuss) and all the sides. </p> <p>Quezzie for everyone: do you open gifts on Christmas Eve, or Christmas morning? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112061 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:07:47 +0000 Dawn 112061@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh my god Kristen, you brought back nightmares of Polish kishka back for me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112044 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:30:53 +0000 Kristen 112044@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I miss the big breakfasts we used to have on Christmas morning; we went to other people's for Christmas Eve, but a huge brunch was my family's tradition. I miss that a lot.</p> <p>This year we will be with my husband's family so it's a Polish feast: smoked and fresh kielbasa, pierogis, sauerkraut, kishka (UGH), and I think I have been commissioned to make my cheesy garlic mashed potatoes, aka Heart Attack on a Plate. Maybe I can convince them to squeeze one vegetable in, but I'm not hopeful! Even cabbage and mushrooms would be fine by me... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-112009 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:41:58 +0000 JewelryGirl 112009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gosh what a fun thread! Growing up I remember oyster soup on Christmas Eve - yumm!! I realize not many people have a taste for that though. </p> <p>When my G-MIL had her restaurant while hubby &amp; I were first dating/married we would always have Prime Rib. </p> <p>This year, we're having homemade lasagne for Christmas eve. Christmas morning will be a breakfast casserole my kids love (cheddar cheese, canadian style bacon, whole eggs, heavy whipping cream, parmesean cheese - all layered &amp; baked). Christmas day dinner will be Prime Rib. Then, a mexican "extravaganza" (LOL) for New Year's eve with great friends! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111984 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:31:26 +0000 Angie 111984@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>British Christmas dinner is much like American TG dinner. We had a few of those growing up too. I enjoy it all! </p> <p>Thanks for reminding me, Maya. Loads of pots of the best brewed earl grey tea is an essential ingredient to the food festivities. I love the Christmas curry idea. I made Christmas crab curry once and it went down quite well. </p> <p>Ele, high five. Uncanny! And our Christmas dinner is dinner too, around 8pm just like you. We prefer to eat late :0) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111975 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:16:40 +0000 Tricia 111975@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My dad's side of the family is Italian, and it's an Italian Catholic tradition to have a huge seafood dinner on Christmas Eve. I think traditionally there are supposed to be 7 different kinds of fish, but we never went that all out! My dad learned to cook from his mom and so growing up he'd make fantastic seafood on the 24th - shrimp scampi or linguine in white clam sauce (my absolute favorite) or mussels marinana.</p> <p>Come to think of it, we haven't done that since I've had a family of my own...I wish my husband liked shellfish! Now I want seafood. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111972 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:59:41 +0000 chewyspaghetti 111972@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is really fun. Mac N Cheese is my dd's favorite, so I usually make that for holidays since she doesn't eat meat. Key Lime Pie is my husband's family's fave 'holiday' desert. I don't like it, so they rely on his sister to make it for them LOL </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111964 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:15:00 +0000 RoseandJoan 111964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We are spending our first Christmas at home this year and looking forward to carving out our own traditions. Turkey is the traditional choice of meat on Christmas day, but we are having fillet steak so there is less time spent in the kitchen away from the kids. Teah has asked for Macaroni which I make with hidden vegetables, so that is what the kids will be eating.</p> <p>Dessert will be warm apple and caramel crumble with cinnamon ice cream. I just love winter spices!</p> <p>When I was growing up in Wigan Boxing Day was the best day of the year, the whole town wears fancy dress and the pubs are heaving as friends celebrate. This boxing day we will be catching up with family.</p> <p>I'm loving hearing your stories. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111960 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:12:04 +0000 Louise 111960@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My brother and his girfriend are cooking this year! they are rather experimental so we could end up with curried carrots and mushy peas! Usually mum's cooking is very traditional x </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111907 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:17:28 +0000 MNsara 111907@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I always love to hear about everyone else's traditions (even the 'brand new' traditions) because I have often felt we were traditionless. </p> <p>But then I realized that we always serve a cold rice pudding dessert on Christmas Eve (full of whipped cream with strawberry/raspberry sauce and with hidden almonds to win gifts!) -- this comes from our Norwegian side, as does the lefse at dinner.</p> <p>We also serve almost two complete menus at our Christmas Eve dinner. Although I'm not sure if that came from being Norwegian or from the fact that my Norwegian Nana was a caterer. . . </p> <p>(I think I am ready for some new, healthier traditions, though, like lots and lots of shrimp/seafood done in many diffferent ways. This isn't the easiest thing to pull off in MN - so far from any coast!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111889 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:35:45 +0000 Dawn 111889@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My parents do a traditional Christmas day roast with lots of turkey, roast carrots and parsnips, mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing. We make turkey soup out of the carcass and legs for St. Stephens Day. We also have so many desserts of Christmas day- Christmas pudding, Christmas dark fruit cake made with lots of whiskey and covered with marzipan and icing, lemon meringue, and lots of chocolate.</p> <p>We have our Christmas dinner around 3 in the afternoon and everyone gets a large brunch around 11.</p> <p>I'm really getting in the Christmas spirit now! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111871 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:05:29 +0000 Ele 111871@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, you're right! SO much in common- we have Dim Sum on Boxing Day! Also, our Christmas lunch is a meze platter/cheese spread. Unlike most people I know, our Christmas Dinner actually *is* dinner; we eat at 8:00 or so. We eat far too much on that one day and by the time I fall asleep I never want to see food again... until stollen or Dim Sum the next day, that is!</p> <p>Maya, that all sounds delicious. I'm obsessed with good, authentic Indian food. I like to think I can take it pretty hot, but I'm probably nowhere near your tolerance! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111868 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:52:21 +0000 Maya 111868@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A few months ago my mom made curry for a potluck she was attending, but brought most of it home because it was way too spicy...even for her, let alone all the wussy Americans :). I ended up eating the entire thing myself! My tongue can take a lot of abuse.</p> <p>She is going to make the same curry for New Year's Eve, but a bit less spicy so everyone else can enjoy it and I don't end up being the only one who eats it again. It was so delicious, perfect for cold winter nights.</p> <p>Our Christmas is a little different since we prefer to indulge at breakfast rather than dinner (though we do both). For breakfast we always have homemade hot chocolate. I'm not sure what we're doing this year, but in years past we have had everything from Swedish pancakes to scrambled eggs in puff pastry. There is always a cheese platter involved since all of us LOVE cheese. And we always finish up with a big pot of tea.</p> <p>This was a Thanksgiving menu I found for vegetarians and vegans but I want to use a few of the recipes for Christmas instead:</p> <p><a href="http://splendidtable.publicradio.org/recipes/special_thanksgiving_americana.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://splendidtable.publicrad.....cana.shtml</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111867 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:39:05 +0000 Angie 111867@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another big Christmas Eve celebrator here and we absolutely celebrate Boxing Day too. Christmas should be about three days and not one!!</p> <p>I LOVE the sound of non-traditional food on Christmas Day. Khris, your Mexican element sounds perfect. Elpgal, your vegan feast sounds yummy. Ele, we have more things in common than you think :0)</p> <p>When I was little we did most of our celebrating on Christmas Eve after being dragged off to midnight mass (late Mum was catholic). Christmas Day was about the family and Boxing Day was about celebrating with friends. Now, Greg and I and the girls have a very non-traditional Xmas that goes along with our avant-garde tree: </p> <p>o 24th – Stollen – which my Mum used to make and give to family and friends, but I just buy it now. Dim Sum brunch. Greg and I make also two tarts, Melktert and Lemon Meringue, which we eat for dessert until they are finished. Supper is all about tasty treats: Mediterranean meze platter and French cheese board with a hearty soup and green salad. Lots of nuts, pulses and dried fruit. </p> <p>o 25th – Stollen and pastries for brekkie. Hearty sandwiches and salad for lunch. Savoury chicken pie and roast vegetables for supper. Every other year I switch to making Indonesian food on Christmas Day as that was tradition from my side of the family.</p> <p>o 26th – leftovers and a meal in a fancy restaurant at night with friends. </p> <p>Thanks for the thread on food! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111859 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:46:26 +0000 Ele 111859@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Khris, my father's family is German, too- and we celebrate together on Christmas Eve. It's a bit of a weird Canadian/German mash-up; my Mum makes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourtière">Tourtière</a>, and my uncle brings the German Herring Salad. I love the former (I am vegetarian for about 362 days of the year: a small slice is my yearly indulgence!) but have never been brave enough to try the latter. Dessert is an insanely rich chocolate cake that I'm usually too stuffed to attempt. </p> <p>Another German tradition we have is that my sister and I make Stollen every year- in fact, we're making it at her flat tomorrow! We usually give a loaf to each household on Christmas Eve, and have ours for breakfast on Boxing Day. </p> <p>Christmas Day (which we celebrate with my Mum's family) is more traditional, with a turkey, roast potatoes, squash, etc. Dessert is always my Mum's Crème caramel. </p> <p>This year I'm staying in the UK and having Christmas with my boyfriend's family. They mainly hail from Cyprus, so I'm expecting an eccentric British/Greek feast! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111850 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:59:39 +0000 elpgal 111850@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We are keeping it simple. Baked squash with wild rice stuffing (pine-nuts, mushrooms and cranberries), roasted green beans, vegan pot-pie and apple pie and persimmon bread for dessert. For snacks, we'll have some spicy fried cashews and pannetone. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-christmas-foods#post-111845 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:09:57 +0000 chewyspaghetti 111845@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We had a thread about Christmas trees, and I thought it would be fun to hear about Christmas foods. We have a pretty traditional Thanksgiving ususally- turkey, stuffing, mashed potatos, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, but Christmas dinner is often something less conventional for us. This year, we are having tri tip sandwiches- not very traditional. Last night, hubby came home with some tamales. He doesn't feel like it's Christmas without them. Living in Southern Cali, you almost get to be Mexican by proximity. We have pinatas at birthday parties, tamales at Christmas, and parties on Cinco de Mayo. For me, it's the Marzipan candy that my mom makes every year. She makes them into little fruit shapes- with stems, leaves and realistic coloring. They are works of art, and my favorite Christmas food. The other food that really signals 'holiday' for me is pickled baby corn. This is always on our table for holiday meals. The funny thing is, outside of my family I have never met anyone who eats either of these things. I don't know if they are German traditions or what, but they are our family traditions.<br /> What about you? </p>