Everyone has Traditional Christmas or Holiday meals which they remember from their past. Family gatherings in our childhood do create a sense of what a Holiday meal should be, and perhaps, you are creating new traditions with your own Family now. Depending on your heritage, where you were raised and your families' tastes, your Christmas Dinners may include more then just Turkey and Stuffing. I have been Happy to share in many Festive Meals with Friends from very different cultures and our Family has and had adopted a few savoury treats not typical of a North American Magazine Christmas Feast.
I am currently writing out side dish recipes for the Holidays, whether It's Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. For now, to give my imagination a break, I'm posting about some of the more traditional meals I have already written out and why they exist. I'll explain as I go.
Roasted Turkey Dinner - Tips and Tricks
Turkey is commonly associated with a North American Christmas Dinner, we often have a Turkey with all the trimmings at least once over the Holidays. The post I have written out does include many Tips and Tricks on timing the cooking of the bird as well as some things a new cook should be aware of. Different pans do effect how quickly or slowly your Turkey will cook.
Festive Roast Duck with Cranberries
Duck is more European but is as common in Canada and parts of the USA. Roasted Duck over the Holidays has become a staple in my household as my Husband and I started to explore new ideas and diets.
Yorkshire Pudding
If there is gravy, you can be guaranteed a Yorkshire Pudding is the perfect little cup to hold it in. We have been having Yorkshire Puddings as a tradition in my Family since before I was born.Sometimes called Popovers in the States, Yorkshire Puddings were created as a way for the Northern English to stretch out their ingredients and use the fat from the drippings of their roasts to cook an Egg Batter with. With the introduction of Wheat Flour, "Dripping Pudding" became a way to help fulfill the appetites of the diners as food in the Fall and Winter months became more scarce and Meat was usually the most expensive of ingredients.
Medieval Torture Pie
In Canada a Tourtiere is more commonly associated with the French tradition of meat pies over the Winter Season. This is my play on the recipe and is called "Torture" Pie as I have difficulty pronouncing it. A cost effective and intensely flavourful way to serve up Christmas Meat pies.
Our production and the ease of transporting food has changed so drastically over the last 100 years, newer traditions are popping up the further from the Equator you get. However, many Vegetables that had a long shelf life and stored well over the European and American Winter months have also become traditional Holiday Fare in Northern Climates. Side Dishes and Desserts usually stem from the ingredients that had the longest storage life, or from items which could be dried and reconstituted for use during the Winter Feast.
Basic Bread and Cranberry Stuffing
Cabbage Rolls
Baked Butternut Squash
Sausage Stuffed Apples
Roasted Potatoes
Christmas Pear and Cranberry Pie
This is just the start of what will eventually become a long list of "Traditional" Meals and ideas and where they originated from. I have been served Spaghetti and Meatballs, Scotch Eggs, Shrimp and Crab at Christmas too. Canada is very diverse and rich with Cultures from other parts of the world, I look forward to discovering more ideas.
If this is your first time Hosting a Christmas Dinner, I wish you and your Family a long and happy adventure in creating your own Traditions.
Have a WONDERFUL Day!
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