Christmas food thread

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

The meal enjoyed at my brother's house this evening was excellent. Since there was no energy wasted on gift giving, the best efforts went into creating some really delicious fare eaten at a leisurely pace. If there was a theme in this meal it may have been nostalgia.

The baked ham was tasty and succulent, just like the good old days! Side dishes included gourmet potatoes (whipped potatoes with cheese baked in a casserole), broccoli casserole, New Orleans beans and corn topped with buttered Ritz cracker crumbs, a blueberry congealed salad, deviled eggs and homemade Granny Smith applesauce. The rolls were homemade yeast rolls. Some enjoyed vanilla iced sheet cookies between courses. There were savory herbed cashews which were a surprisingly delightful accompaniment to various items on the plate. The official desserts were a graham cracker bar with a filling and pineapple upside down cake. For those who wanted coffee, there was a fragrant Christmas blend.

As they exited, some were heard to remark that they'd hurt themselves at the table. One inquired as to whether there was a Murphy bed in the dining room.

[ArkieDukie]

We had our traditional breakfast of biscuits and gravy. The gravy was made with dried beef; this tradition was started by my uncle (my mom's older brother) who spent Christmas with us every year until his death (12 years ago). He usually scorched the gravy. Although my brother and I joked about scorching the gravy as my uncle always did, we didn't do so. Lunch was ham, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, homemade rolls, and fruit salad. Since lunch was a bit late, we grazed on leftovers for supper. I had pumpkin pie.

[Very Duke Blue]

We had our traditional breakfast of biscuits and gravy. The gravy was made with dried beef; this tradition was started by my uncle (my mom's older brother) who spent Christmas with us every year until his death (12 years ago). He usually scorched the gravy. Although my brother and I joked about scorching the gravy as my uncle always did, we didn't do so. Lunch was ham, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, homemade rolls, and fruit salad. Since lunch was a bit late, we grazed on leftovers for supper. I had pumpkin pie.

i call gravy and dried beef, chipped beef. i was raised navy and married navy. sailors call it sos. some of you may know what sos stands for.
i love chipped beef on toast, thats how we ate it. you may not need to know what sos stands for.

[Miles]

We had a yummy ham, and all the traditional Southern trimmings. Tonight, I'm breaking it down, making stock, and we're having split pea soup.

[CameronBornAndBred]

We had a yummy ham, and all the traditional Southern trimmings. Tonight, I'm breaking it down, making stock, and we're having split pea soup.

Oooh, that's a good idea. My family is wimpy on ham, and they hate split pea soup..but I love both! If I don't do anything with it, our ham will be in the fridge until Easter.

[Very Duke Blue]

We had a yummy ham, and all the traditional Southern trimmings. Tonight, I'm breaking it down, making stock, and we're having split pea soup.

Oooh, that's a good idea. My family is wimpy on ham, and they hate split pea soup..but I love both! If I don't do anything with it, our ham will be in the fridge until Easter.

you can dipped the ham in easter egg dye and hide it under a bush for the kids to find.

[CameronBornAndBred]

you can dipped the ham in easter egg dye and hide it under a bush for the kids to find.

If I do that I probably won't have to dye it.

[Miles]

We had a yummy ham, and all the traditional Southern trimmings. Tonight, I'm breaking it down, making stock, and we're having split pea soup.

Oooh, that's a good idea. My family is wimpy on ham, and they hate split pea soup..but I love both! If I don't do anything with it, our ham will be in the fridge until Easter.

I will see if I can dig up the stock and soup recipe I used last year and the year before.

[ArkieDukie]

We had our traditional breakfast of biscuits and gravy. The gravy was made with dried beef; this tradition was started by my uncle (my mom's older brother) who spent Christmas with us every year until his death (12 years ago). He usually scorched the gravy. Although my brother and I joked about scorching the gravy as my uncle always did, we didn't do so. Lunch was ham, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, homemade rolls, and fruit salad. Since lunch was a bit late, we grazed on leftovers for supper. I had pumpkin pie.

i call gravy and dried beef, chipped beef. i was raised navy and married navy. sailors call it sos. some of you may know what sos stands for.
i love chipped beef on toast, thats how we ate it. you may not need to know what sos stands for.

My uncle always referred to it as SOS. He was in the Air Force. We subbed biscuits for the toast.

[ArkieDukie]

We had a yummy ham, and all the traditional Southern trimmings. Tonight, I'm breaking it down, making stock, and we're having split pea soup.

Oooh, that's a good idea. My family is wimpy on ham, and they hate split pea soup..but I love both! If I don't do anything with it, our ham will be in the fridge until Easter.

My family always uses the ham bone to make a big pot of pinto beans. Ymmmm ... pinto beans.

[Very Duke Blue]

i call gravy and dried beef, chipped beef. i was raised navy and married navy. sailors call it sos. some of you may know what sos stands for.
i love chipped beef on toast, thats how we ate it. you may not need to know what sos stands for. [/quote]

My uncle always referred to it as SOS. He was in the Air Force. We subbed biscuits for the toast.[/quote]


you got it!!! i bet the biscuts are better than the toast.

[Very Duke Blue]

Oooh, that's a good idea. My family is wimpy on ham, and they hate split pea soup..but I love both! If I don't do anything with it, our ham will be in the fridge until Easter.[/quote]

My family always uses the ham bone to make a big pot of pinto beans. Ymmmm ... pinto beans.[/quote]

we also use the ham bone for pintos. love them.Mmmmmm

[devildeac]

Your idea of split pea soup was great. You have inspired Mrs. DD to make a cauldron of it this week with our leftover ham.

[bjornolf]

My uncle always referred to it as SOS. He was in the Air Force. We subbed biscuits for the toast.

Yea, my dad was Air Force, too, and I always enjoyed his stories of SOS, Shit On a Shingle.

[Miles]

Your idea of split pea soup was great. You have inspired Mrs. DD to make a cauldron of it this week with our leftover ham.

Lovely! I broke down the ham last night, and made stock. Recipe is going up on that there recipe thread shortly.

[cl15876]

We had a yummy ham, and all the traditional Southern trimmings. Tonight, I'm breaking it down, making stock, and we're having split pea soup.

Oooh, that's a good idea. My family is wimpy on ham, and they hate split pea soup..but I love both! If I don't do anything with it, our ham will be in the fridge until Easter.

you can dipped the ham in easter egg dye and hide it under a bush for the kids to find.

LOL - that just reminded of the spam lamb M.A.S.H. episode!!!!

[duketaylor]

I'm currently making my third and fourth loaves of Banana/Walnut Bread. First two disappeared very quickly. One loaf will make it to Durham Thursday evening. Xmas eve I cooked my first ever Beef brisket, corned, I was surprised it went over well. One of my signature dishes is mashed potatoes, which I do: either yukon gold or red, boiled, drained, then in a bowl let them get happy with a brick of cream cheese, a stick of butter and garlic powder and seasoned salt, all by taste. I add heavy cream as needed to make them creamy to my liking. If they're gonna sit for any length of time then I make them a little soupier because they will firm up over time or under refrigeration. You can always add liquid if needed; I don't like dry potatoes (or anything). I have several cheesecake recipes, my latest is one with a toffee flavor and caramel topping with pecans. It worked at my last two outings. My wife does an outstanding chex-mix recipe and a toffee-bar dessert; I'll see if I can convince her to do something for Thursday. She doesn't know we're gonna tailgate for 45 minutes, yet. Yes, I roll the dice. Happy New Year!!! Chuck

Dang, I left out diced onions and chives for the mashed potatoes, my bad.

[Lavabe]

My uncle always referred to it as SOS. He was in the Air Force. We subbed biscuits for the toast.

Yea, my dad was Air Force, too, and I always enjoyed his stories of SOS, Shit On a Shingle.

This is now officially basketball season. SOS means "Strength of Schedule."

[CathyCA]

I'm currently making my third and fourth loaves of Banana/Walnut Bread. First two disappeared very quickly. One loaf will make it to Durham Thursday evening. Xmas eve I cooked my first ever Beef brisket, corned, I was surprised it went over well. One of my signature dishes is mashed potatoes, which I do: either yukon gold or red, boiled, drained, then in a bowl let them get happy with a brick of cream cheese, a stick of butter and garlic powder and seasoned salt, all by taste. I add heavy cream as needed to make them creamy to my liking. If they're gonna sit for any length of time then I make them a little soupier because they will firm up over time or under refrigeration. You can always add liquid if needed; I don't like dry potatoes (or anything). I have several cheesecake recipes, my latest is one with a toffee flavor and caramel topping with pecans. It worked at my last two outings. My wife does an outstanding chex-mix recipe and a toffee-bar dessert; I'll see if I can convince her to do something for Thursday. She doesn't know we're gonna tailgate for 45 minutes, yet. Yes, I roll the dice. Happy New Year!!! Chuck

Dang, I left out diced onions and chives for the mashed potatoes, my bad.

YUM! I would suggest that you simply bring a bowl or two of those cream cheese mashed potatoes to the basketball tailgate. . . for me! YUM!

[cl15876]

I'm currently making my third and fourth loaves of Banana/Walnut Bread. First two disappeared very quickly. One loaf will make it to Durham Thursday evening. Xmas eve I cooked my first ever Beef brisket, corned, I was surprised it went over well. One of my signature dishes is mashed potatoes, which I do: either yukon gold or red, boiled, drained, then in a bowl let them get happy with a brick of cream cheese, a stick of butter and garlic powder and seasoned salt, all by taste. I add heavy cream as needed to make them creamy to my liking. If they're gonna sit for any length of time then I make them a little soupier because they will firm up over time or under refrigeration. You can always add liquid if needed; I don't like dry potatoes (or anything). I have several cheesecake recipes, my latest is one with a toffee flavor and caramel topping with pecans. It worked at my last two outings. My wife does an outstanding chex-mix recipe and a toffee-bar dessert; I'll see if I can convince her to do something for Thursday. She doesn't know we're gonna tailgate for 45 minutes, yet. Yes, I roll the dice. Happy New Year!!! Chuck

Dang, I left out diced onions and chives for the mashed potatoes, my bad.

Oh my goodness, those potatoes sound delicious! I will have to try that recipe! Look forward to seeing it, the cheesecake, chex-mix and toffee-bar recipes on the recipe thread!!!