Oh, the holidays! If ever there was a time of year that we cling tight to our various traditional meals, this is without a doubt that time. Thanksgiving is pretty cut and dry for most of us...no pun intended here. We roast a turkey, stuffed or not, veggies and probably potatoes, and of course there is pie for dessert. Christmas though, well it seems most families are driven by choices based in tradition. Our own traditions come from my husbands Scandinavian roots. Christmas Eve is a smorgasbord of Swedish meatballs, potato salad (always from the same deli near the home they grew up in), and carrot jello (orange jello with grated carrots in it). To these dishes, we have added in, lasagne, roast ham, and other assorted foods changing from year to year and depending on who's house is hosting the event that year.
Christmas morning though, we have a more intimate tradition...we stay home. Always. Not negotiable. My husband travels quite a bit for business and this is his week to relax and not run around.
The chef in our house tends to find his relaxation in front of the stove ...the Viking working at the Viking as it were. The brunch dish of choice has been Susan Branch's recipe for Eggs Sardou casserole...our kids love this dish.
The dish is made of egg yolks, creamed spinach, artichokes, bacon, and cheese. Decadant and delicious, diets be damned for the day, this is how it begins.
Brunch was finished in no time flat, and now on to the rib roast. My personal contribution to the meal will be a tiramisu....yeah, it is that kind of a day...the treadmill will be smokin' tomorrow!!
So, what is your holiday food tradition? Which dish shows up on the table no matter what else is going on? Personally, I would love to try the Italian tradition of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve some time...but I have a feeling that it might have to be on a different day...it just doesn't fit into those deeply rooted traditions. Hoping everyone is enjoying their holidays no matter how they are celebrated or what happens to show up on your table!!
Yuck seven fishes.
Posted by: Brian | December 25, 2012 at 02:34 PM
The viking at the viking. ::snortle:: Happy new year, Susan!! Wishing you and the family health and happiness in 2013.
Posted by: Laura @ the shorehouse | January 06, 2013 at 10:39 PM
How to make creamed spinach? Do you have to use sour cream for it?
Posted by: mexican guy | January 13, 2013 at 07:14 AM
Hello Susan!
Your holiday Eggs Sardou look so good!
I do the seven fishes tradition--even though I have to moderate it to include other foods as my son in law does not like fish.
I love Susan Branch and her cookbooks! I have two of them and need to get this C hristmas one.
Hope January treated you well and that Februarywill be even better!
Hugs,
Pat
Posted by: Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti | January 28, 2013 at 02:09 PM