CHRISTMAS 2024

[Gerry]

Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year, have always thought to it as the season of love, hope and joy when we gather to celebrate the Holy Birth. At our house there are the pre Christmas gatherings, drop ins and coffee hours making for extended holiday time well before Christmas Eve into the New Year. Having plans in place and being prepared be you hosting or adding a make and take makes for less kitchen time and more time enjoying time with family and friends. I have been known to say planning is half the fun.

This year have a plane landing at the airport on the 19th which will see us with two weeks of family get togethers, have to say it is a good motivator to have make aheads and freezer friendly offerings in the freezer stash and the fridge shelves with prepped meals ready to go.

I was so taken with the above Christmas hanging basket several years back I already have everything on hand to make it with the exception of the greens. With the snow storms we’ve contended with not sure I want to try getting to my greens. I have to hope I find the greenery on my next city shop. Took awhile to find the mini batteries, thanks to a friend found them at our local Dollar Store.

For starters the 2018 Christmas thread which has many holiday favorites both mine and that of others, all recipes I know my family loves.

viewtopic.php?f=142&t=13693

Need to get my holiday crock pot and get to the making of that holiday fragrance that fills the home with the fresh aroma that entices and makes your home feel warm and inviting. Find it a wonderful start to the holidays.

https://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/potpo ... r-pot-1960



Be sure to drop in to share your favorite recipes and photos.

[QueenBea]

This year we will be away vacationing during Xmas. The kids are all grown up, married, divorced, re-married, lol and have blended families. This makes it very hard to get everyone together, so now we celebrate the first weekend in January. It works well for everyone. We take turns hosting and this year it is my turn. I have already started baking so I don't have to rush when we return from our trip. So far my tourtieres are done, 1 vegetarian even I made a few apple pies and this year I tried 2 of Carol's recipes, both new to us bars to add to the dessert trays.

Carol's #recipe4212


Carol's #recipe1922


Dorit's #recipe3230


My #recipe452


#recipe43935

[Gerry]

A holiday get away sounds great Bea, having a wonderful stash of holiday recipes in your freezer stash for the family get together when you get back is great planning on your part. Love your photos, thinking of adding that awesome tourtiere over the New Year.

Yesterday saw to getting the cabbage rolls made, these days double bagged and then the Cabela Foodsaver comes into play to keep them as fresh as the day they were made.

Surprisingly two of this years dainties in my stash very similar to Carol's Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Bars and the Peanut Clusters. Thank you for sharing your holiday recipes Bea.

Now off to make the sauce for the very freezer friendly Oriental Sweet and Sour Meatballs.

#recipe1811

[Gerry]

Once again find myself running late with count down to family landing at the airport on the 19th.
As many members likely already know Cherry Cheesecake is the must make main dessert seeing to three already made. As I was putting the well wrapped cheese cakes in the freezer ... I dropped one - upside down. Unwrapping it I could have cried.

Thankfully I remembered a similar catered dessert at a due we attended served in individual dessert dishes. Out came my dessert dishes and mid sized foil cupcake liners, took awhile crumbs on bottom, the cheese mixture topped with cherries, a reconstructed cheesecake. A happy accident that will see me making one of the cheesecakes into individual servings for smaller groups next holiday prep.

#recipe30589



#recipe2302

Pink Party Punch was on for my September birthday gathering, got missed in the making, seeing it on for Christmas as promised. It's one that looks appealing and tastes as good as it looks and loved by youngsters and adults alike.

Did a two day marathon of holiday baking, this Christmas plan is to be sure pics are taken for those needing a photo as well as post recipes needing to be posted. That has been on the agenda for a good number of years.

#recipe2868

This is daughter's favorite, since she does not eat one lot of sweets I can say it is not only super easy
to make and tastes as good as it looks and has never seen to left overs. A real winner that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen.

#recipe3099

The base a delicate buttery taste of shortbread cookies - and who can resist the taste of shortbread cookies come holiday time. Irresistible.

#recipe168

Another family favorite, at our house, a must make for holidays and special occasions. At holiday time I make them with maraschino cherry centres, roll in flaked coconut, serve in the pretty foil cupcake liners.



So happy to have my gran home from Toronto for two weeks which will see to one lot of open house family gatherings, so yes made 5 dainty recipes that need posting, one of my intended winter projects. May have enough for all winter!

Yet to be made are the Pickled Eggs. This is a very old recipe and one that is the favorite at our house.
#recipe2543





With back issues making for slowdown I find having as much done ahead of time makes for less kitchen time and more time spent with family. That said have been going over the old threads knowing there were several good suggestions on making the turkey the day before with breasts and selections ready to heat and slice. I do know I have rolled the stuffing in foil into sausage like rolls which slices beautifully and good hot or cold. Looks great plated as well.

I would love suggestions for successfully doing the turkey a day ahead.

What are you making,do come in and share some of your special holiday recipes.

Off to get new mini lights on the tree and to holiday cleaning.

[Gerry]

Another extra early start to the day, a major grocery delivery put away with hopes for a city shop before Christmas. Early morning saw to minus 31, a heavy snowfall warning with winds picking up likely once again a storm making for road and highway closures. Hoping it passes by but am sure that is wishful thinking. These prairie storms often make it challenging when it comes to making plans.

This morning saw the turkey to the freezer, looking to a planed shop on the 21st, will be checking out and deciding on Duck or goose or both for one of the holiday meals. With distance and weather as I have made mention this year once again 'Open House' from December 20th to New Years' a heads up the night before and I am good to go.

Roast duck is a classic meal to enjoy over the Christmas holidays. We love the amazingly rich flavor and amazed at how easy it is to cook. A medley of roasted vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, celery and onions and a lovely side dish of wild rice mix make for the perfect accompaniments. Red wine pairs well with roast duck.

#recipe28789





One of the brunches will see Latkes added to the offerings. Growing up we knew them as potato pancakes, this Latke recipe is similar to one we made years back and one in Chatelaine as well as a latke recipe featured on a local cooking show. At our house we now have a new tradition in the making, come Christmas family weekends or a family day we look to enjoying Latkes.

#recipe28784




If I manage to find pecans and time I am thinking to add another fav of ours, Austrian Cream Cheese Bars. If you love cheesecake you will love Austrian Cheesecake Bars. Lush and creamy with the taste of cheesecake, topped with chocolate and toasted pecans makes for a great addition to the holiday or special occasion serving tray.

#recipe3264



A message has me delighted to find my Toronto gran will be bringing a selection of cheeses from the areas specialty shops for our charcuterie boards which is great for the lighter eating days between the planned main courses. It also reminded me to add Brie to my shop list for the Christmas Day appetizers.

Have always loved Brie, many the irresistible Brie Bites With Hot Pepper Jelly on my appetizer platter over the years. Several years back daughter served a new to us appetizer Baked Brie for a real winner of a Christmas appetizer which has become one of my favorite appetizers especially at holiday time.


Not having made a goose for quite sometime I would love to see a number of your special recipes for roasting a goose. as well still looking for methods for roasting a turkey the day before.

What are you making?

[Gerry]

The two Brie must makes for the Christmas appetizers.

These irresistible Brie Bites have been one of my favorite appetizers for a good many years. Impressive, incredibly good and an absolute hit with guests. A great short cut for a last minute appetizer is using scoop crackers the brie topped with red pepper jelly and pop in the oven to warm.

#recipe28785



See this Baked Brie recipe will see to it's third Christmas making. Have always loved Brie, many the irresistible Brie Bites With Hot Pepper Jelly on my appetizer platter over the years. Last Christmas daughter served Baked Brie for a real winner of an appetizer, since then it has become one of my favorite appetizers especially at holiday time.

What are you making?

#recipe41965

[Gerry]

Reflecting on past Christmas traditions 2024 saw to a designated holiday from December 19 to January 6th which made for wonderful family time but a Christmas like no other in my memory when it came to planning. The flu/bugs passing through households, weather and work schedules and winter storms remains I have at least one more 'Christmas' meal to go!

We had three wonderful pre holiday gatherings at the grans who moved here just a few blocks away on Thanksgiving weekend. I was duly impressed with grans home smoked chicken, a new to me pork chop dish with a lovely vegetable sauce, roasted vegetable medley along with so many wonderful new to me winners that I hope to get the recipes for.

With my steps not allowing wheelchair access for one of the guests Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was hosted by my daughter. It was heart warming to see our family traditions ongoing. We gathered for Christmas Eve with the traditional Clam Chowder and charcuterie board, Christmas Day saw to Turkey and all the trimmings, I brought the requested cabbage rolls.

With three households in the city needing to get by the flubugs my major ‘Christmas Meal’ ended up on the fourth of January! With 40 below temps the day before it was touch and go.

Each and every day saw a set holiday table with special meals be it breakfast lunch or dinner. Would that we had taken more pictures but will share some as soon as I do the downloads.

[Gerry]

I so enjoyed our extended Christmas holidays, each day saw to a holiday table setting be it breakfast lunch or dinner. While we had to work around flu bugs and weather each day was special. Plan was for plenty of photos of the food itself, one can plan but “The best of plans of mice and men often go awry”

Some plans saw to change, having a container of fresh strawberries needing to be used I sliced and added a little sugar which made for a wonderful topping for the cheesecake. Have to love when the unexpected made for an added touch to our favourite family dessert.

A stop at a butcher shop saw us find the duck that was on for my belated Christmas gathering. While we loved the recipe we have been making my Toronto gran went with spatchcocking which was a first for roasting a duck at our house. It was so easy and super good. Would that I had a photo of the platter as it went to the table. I do have a photo of the simmering duck stock that was so fragrant it filled the house with it’s aroma. It’s a repeatable and has been added to our Family Favorites Cookbook.



We all enjoyed the roasted colourful array of garden carrots and parsnips with a lovely honey and gochujang sauce as a perfect side for the duck.





A few photos of our holiday meals compliments of my Toronto gran.

Pasta Putanesca



A lovely green salad with homemade vinaigrette.



Another must make over the holidays enjoyed by gran and I, pan braised salmon with bearanaise sauce which took the salmon to a whole new level along with a lovely French wine. A combination which I plan to perfect.



Another meal we enjoyed was a new to me French Puy lentil side dish which has also been added to our Family Favorites Cookbook.



On this cold prairie January morning I thought to the one of our holiday breakfasts a favorite of mine Eggs Benedict, another recipe I need to add is the delicious homemade hollandaise sauce.

I do see a good many new traditions being added to our family Christmas. With one more family holiday meal that has me thinking to ham. As for me enough in my freezer stash to see me through most of the winter!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you all the very best in 2025.