Christmas Dinner

[washerman]

What is a pierogie?

In my experience a pierogie is a polish creation similar to a dumpling. There used to be a restaurant in Sioux Falls, SD called the Polish Plate that served them hot out of the water.

They served them filled with all sorts of stuff: sausage, sauerkraut, veggie paste (it was better than it sounds) and various fruit pastes for a dessert tray. Think of a ravioli made from potato instead of wheat and you will be close.

I was sooo sad when that restaurant closed.

 

[bwoods]

no cranberries

Bob (Appnut),

Just out of curiosity, why no cranberries? Cranberries are a wonderful food for the health conscious...

Barry

 

[appnut]

My sister doesn't like them all that much.

 

[bwoods]

Bob,

Try the recipe, I posted this summer, for cranberry salad.

2 cans of whole berry cranberries
1 can of crushed pineapple in heavy syrup
1 12 to 16 ounce package of frozen sweetened sliced strawberries
1 12 to 16 ounce package of frozen sweetened raspberries

Thaw the strawberries and raspberries.

Combine all the above in a colander and lightly stir to let the excess juice drain out. (Save them to drink!)

If you like, you can add some crushed walnuts or pecans.

I usually serve it by itself, but it can be served over vanilla ice cream or yellow pound cake.

Even people who aren't crazy about cranberries seem to like this!

 

[perc-o-prince]

What is a pierogie?

I'm sure there are many different kinds, but the ones I've always had were a pasta shell, like a ravioli, filled with potato, potato and cheese, or potato and sauerkraut (or any variation each particular family likes). The pasta is cut in a circle, the filling added, and the circle folded in half to make a 1/2-moon shape. Seal it then boil it- they may be fried after you boil them if you like. They're traditionally served with sour cream on the side. Polish raviolis.

Picture is for showing what they look like only. Actually, these aren't all that bad, in a pinch, but never for company!

Christmas day is traditionally homemade raviolis served either in broth or with sauce, as each person prefers, and salad. Some years ago I added bracciole to the dinner and we've never turned back. Christmas eve is still up in the air. We're trying to decide on pork roast, prime rib, ham, or something else. Hopefully we'll decide before I go to the store today!!!

Chuck

 

[mayken4now]

Pierogies

Chuck, This has been my suprising experience being from Florida.

I went to college in Pennsylvania (Penn State). While being in PA for 8 years, I discovered that

Pierogies
Ravioli
Gnocchi
Rigatoni
Shells
Manicotti

and the list continues. Not sure on all the spelling of the items listed. All of those "Names" of a dish equate to Pasta. They are tunred, flipped, rolled, filled etc. etc. etc. and usually have red suace, white sauce, beef and cheese associated within them. The Pierogies are one in the same. They have potatoe/cheese if you "dare to" (as they used to tell me) All are good, most taste the same with a different name attached. Just different cuts/names of pasta I suppose.

 

[xraytech]

Being from the Pittsburgh area with the very strong eastern European influences pierogies are practically a staple here
they are a pasta dough filled with the more traditional fillings of mushroom and sauerkraut, sauerkraut, potato and cheese, or for a dessert pierogie Lekvar(cooked prune filling)
they are boiled and then added to sautéed onions and butter with sour cream on the side.

 

[ronhic]

I've the family for lunch....

So we'll be doing:

Roast marinated turkey 'buffet' - no wings and a lot of ancillary bits removed with a bacon, sage and onion and orange stuffing.

Served with roast potatoes, roast pumpkin (butternut squash for the rest of the world), sliced green beans and fabulous cauliflower in a blue cheese sauce....together with cranberry sauce and proper pan gravy.

In addition, there will be roast pork and apple sauce along with cold, sliced leg ham.

Choice of 3 desserts - Traditional Christmas pudding with brandy custard, trifle and pavlova.

If anyone desires anything else, coffee, tea, shortbread, chocolates and Christmas cake will be on offer.

 

[angus]

For our little group of 10, we will start with a traditional chicken broth with escarole and tiny meatballs (Italian wedding soup to some, but not Italians from the NY area), lasagne, then a roasted beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce, potatoes Beverly (a rather rich mashed potato casserole featuring butter, cream cheese, sour cream, chives and half and half), sauteed broccoli rabe, spinach gratin (thanks Ina Garten), green beans, glazed carrots ( need a different color on the plate) and finally a mixed green salad dressed with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. Desserts for us are on the lighter side given the meal we will have eaten so there will be a trio of homemade sorbets (pineapple, pomegranate/tangerine combo and red grape) along with some regular biscotti and Biscotti Regina (sesame seed cookies). We will break between courses to take walks and admire the neighborhood decorations otherwise we would all be dead before we got to the roast...

Although my sister and I don't spend Christmas with our remaining extended family (cousins and the one remaining aunt and uncle we have (lots of not so good reasons but you can't help family dynamics) we do spend it with friends who we have known over 45 years. Our parents were inseparable and now that all the parents are gone, this is our family and we look forward to being with them. Still it makes me a bit sad that our blood relatives can't seem to clear their very important and busy calendars. I guess I shouldn't feel bad at all. We are the only two that don't live in New Jersey - everyone else lives within a 20 minute drive of each other and they still don't get together... Anyway, my point is that sharing the traditional foods that my mother served like clockwork every year is comforting so I can see tradition continuing there.

 

[mixfinder]

Plug and Play

I got home late last night and all ready had things in place. I baked a ton and divided between the Community production of Lessons and Carols, my folks and my self. Christmas will be kids and grand kids, 8 from Kylers 's in-laws,the kid's mother and Peter. Green chilies corn dip, olive bread, meatballs, bacon wrapped buffalo chicken tenders, some dim items, build your own taco soup bar, salted caramel cheesecake and assorted Christmas goodies. Its all prepped, no witnesses to the parts where I run out of gas.
Christmas day is a turkey spread at Judy's folks.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a New Year filled with hope and joy,
Kelly and Peter

 

[countryguy]

A perogie is also a Ukrainian dish - one of the 12 meatless dishes served at Christmas time.  My mom and grandmother made them filled with potatoes (mashed with cheddar cheese) but they could also be filled with saur kraut .   The perogies were then boiled until they floated to the surface of the water, drained and then mixed with bacon bits and onion.  They could be topped with sour cream.   They are a lot of work to make but they are delicious.  It is quite an art to fill them with the potato and then pinch the dough without having them split open when they are boiled.

 

Gary

 

[perc-o-prince]

We decided on a pork roast (rib end) with roasted veggies and applesauce for Christmas Eve dinner. The veggies will be potato, sweet potato, onion, carrot, mushroom and grape tomatoes. I'll probably make a rosemary/roasted garlic focaccia to go with it. Made sponge candy and a stollen yesterday.

Chuck

p.s.- Steve- I think the only exception would be the gnocci as they're almost more of a dumpling made with potato mixed with the flour unlike 'regular' pasta. They're still sauced in any of the tradional ways though.

 

[petek]

We had our dinner yesterday on account it was the only day that everyone could make it together. 

 

Here's the start of the trifle I made.  Below the custard is a layer of angel food cake soaked in Sherry. The ladyfingers arranged around the side of the bowl are drizzled in Sherry.. Ladyfingers are much like biscotti only  lighter, great for dipping in coffee and cocoa. 

 

 

[petek]

From the side 

 

 

[petek]

On top of the custard another layer of angel food cake soaked in jello, then some whipped cream and another thin layer of angel food cake soaked and topped with a can of mixed fruit salad and more sherry if desired.. That's all topped of with a mountain of whipped cream and maraschino cherries.  There's no hard and fast rules and you can layer anything how you like or add or omit things etc. 

The finished product decorated by my niece. 

 

 

 

[petek]

My nephew digging in first . 

 

 

 

[petek]

Most everyone round the table 

 

 

 

[petek]

Most everyone around the table 

 

 

 

[petek]

Out to visit the horses after dinner . That's my nephew on the right and my great niece who's fascinated with the horses especially Donut. 

 

 

 

[petek]

Niece hammin up