Holidays

[mbw1024]

It's that time.....I'm having Thanksgiving this year, which I haven't done for a few years, so my mind is already getting in holiday mode. In past years we've shared some fun ideas and recipes that we were planning (cranberry rum comes to mind).

Anyone planning anything special this year they want to share? I got nothing so far

[islandmaari]

My hubbie and I are going to head to Key Largo for Thanksgiving to go diving and spend some time with family. We went diving in STJ in June with Collette of 6 Paq and are super excited about the diving we've heard of in the Keys. We are planning on doing a Seafood Thanksgiving. Does anyone know of some good recipes? Like Mango stuffing or something?

[liamsaunt]

I have a some fun/special things planned this year. For Christmas dessert, I am making a Jamaican black cake. Basically it's a steamed Christmas pudding, but you soak the fruits for a really long time in rum and port--like 2 months. It then gets steamed about 4 hours and then aged three more weeks, while being basted with more rum, then it's set on fire and served with a brandy sauce.

For New Year's Eve, I am making a croquembouche. I think I might be crazy but if it does not work out I will just feed everyone more champagne.

I am also tackling beef wellington for the first time this year, probably for Christmas dinner. I have not decided if I am making the puff pastry from scratch but I am planning on making my own pate.

I don't really have too much fancy stuff planned around Thanksgiving. My family is pretty traditional with that holiday and gets antsy if I add too many new things. Plus my Mom really likes to be the lead cook on Thanksgiving.

[mbw1024]

Good for you, Becky! I want to see pic's of your croq.....don't know how to spell the rest!

[pipanale]

My mother told me to make a Wellie for Christmas dinner. If I recall, my answer was "go to hell"

Really Mom? I am hoping to pull off a nice piece of pork for Christmas day. She wants "to put doilies" on it. Great...crown roast...

[Xislandgirl]

I host Christmas, but we always do brunch so nothing too exciting.

We are celebrating Thanksgiving the Saturday after because my neice is in the marching band, I will make turnips and some pies, buy my SIL hosts.

I would love some good pie recipes

[Tracy in WI]

I'll be hosting and cooking for Thanksgiving this year. We are having some great friends in from out of town so I would love some new ideas - that cranberry rum sounds festive!

I always make a cheesecake for dessert - either pumpkin or turtle or something yummy. Then I eat all the leftovers.....! Hoping to have more willpower this year!

[mbw1024]

let me see if I can find the recipe for cranberry but you need to let it stew a few weeks. you'd have to get it going right away.

[mbw1024]

this isn't the exact one I used but close. I swear there was something else in it. I subbed rum for vodka.

http://www.foodchannel.com/recipes/reci ... sed-vodka/

[loria]

I am hosting Thanksgiving this year as well--and it is going to be very small--just my kids, me, DH my dad and my sister--usually we have a crowd--so this seems odd for me. Christmas I am up in the air--for the past 2 years i have been on STJ--this year, not so lucky (my daughter's birthday is christmas day and she wanted to be home for her birthday--what is WRONG with that child????) before that we always had a HUGE dinner (up to 25 people) and a large open house on either christmas eve or the 23rd-0-with work being solidly insane, i am not sure i will even be able to manage one of those meals this year. but my old go to's are a celery root bisque with brown butter and shitakes, a root veg gratin (if no celery root bisqu and starting with Oyster bisque) or a potatoe gratin and a prime filt with a shallot red wine sauce...a friend who is an amazing baker provides the desserts (lucky me!!! she is truly a wonderful sweets chef!)

[California Girl]

Until I got a new job last week, I was probably going to have to work on Thanksgiving & Black Friday. But now that I have a new "normal" job, I got the weekend off, so Rick & I are headed up to my sister's house in Arroyo Grande (near San Luis Obispo) for Thanksgiving weekend.

Christmas? No one in my family or extended family even wants to talk about Christmas yet!

[PA Girl]

I have a some fun/special things planned this year. For Christmas dessert, I am making a Jamaican black cake. Basically it's a steamed Christmas pudding, but you soak the fruits for a really long time in rum and port--like 2 months. It then gets steamed about 4 hours and then aged three more weeks, while being basted with more rum, then it's set on fire and served with a brandy sauce.

OMG! Did you happen to read Don't Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight? About the British family that lived in Africa? (non-fiction) Her mom set the dining room on fire with a similar cake, it exploded. Be careful!

I did a rum cake last year for Christmas. The test cake practically striped the paint off the walls, it was so alcohol-y. (I missed a step in the recipe) but the Christmas Day version was fantastic.

Our holidays are strange this year.

We are going to Mexico with my mom and her husband for Thanksgiving. (I am already missing our traditional Thanksgiving meal.)

They both work at a ski resort and are scheduled to work Christmas Day so I will likely do two Christmas meals, one Christmas Evening and another the next day.

My cousin is an amazing bread baker so I might work with him and plan a variety of soups and breads since most guests will have already had their "big" meal earlier in the day.

[jayseadee]

MB - you know I depend on you to find all the good ideas

I'm cooking Christmas - just me, Don, MIL and SIL. Will probably do a simple prime rib and mashed potatoes.

That Cranberry liqueur was a hit - I may try it again this year. I did it with vodka; may try rum this time. (makes awesome Cosmos).

I saw something on TV where they made cannolis with pizzeles as the shell - since I make Pizzeles every year I may try those.

And of course Maryanne's Brandy (or is it bourbon?) spicy Pecans have become a Christmas staple.

[liamsaunt]

OMG! Did you happen to read Don't Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight? About the British family that lived in Africa? (non-fiction) Her mom set the dining room on fire with a similar cake, it exploded. Be careful!

I did read that book, but I don't remember that scene. Hmmm...I'll have to pull it off the shelf and re-read it. And maybe light my cake on fire outside!

[PA Girl]

It is towards the end when she is in her later teens. There are guests at the house and everyone goes on a 24+ hour drinking bender and the mom is encouraging everyone to inject brandy in the cake.

Take pictures! I don't think there is any flaming food porn on that thread.