Staying Put
When BP and I had Cakes, we told both our families we wanted her to spend her Christmases in her own home. Anyone who wants to join us is welcome; otherwise, we’ll catch up with you before or after the holidays. We always spend Thanksgiving with BP’s family and Easter with mine—Christmas is for our new little family.
This has worked out very well. Our parents are fine with it. We are so happy not to have to drive anywhere over the holidays. This year my parents are coming to our place; BP’s are going to join his sister in Boston. Unfortunately, this year BP is working Christmas Day (there are three other guys in his hall with young children so there’s no way to get out of it). So we will do the main event Christmas Eve (Cakes is too young to know the difference). My parents will stick around Christmas Day and we’ll order Chinese food.
Speaking of food, this year I want to gourmet up the turkey feast. Is a free-range organic turkey worth the expense? Do you need to order it ahead of time from St. Lawrence Market or do they have lots? Anyone have suggestions for fancy sides? I want to go beyond mashed potatoes this year. Help!
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I’m sorry I have not been commenting much. Blogger beta has been an asshole lately.
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Have you checked out the auction yet?Labels: flotsam and jetsam
posted by metro mama @ 10:55 AM
21 Comments:
I haven't ordered an organic turkey but my butcher has signs up advising pre-ordering. I was really surprised at how much more flavour their organic chicken has so maybe it is worthwhile.
I was perusing Martha Stewart for fancy sides but got overwhelmed by having to brine the turkey for 24 hours.
Blogger beta is a bitch
Nothing beats staying home with your own family on Christmas. For the first 7 years we were married, we traveled to visit one family or the other. That last year we had four young kids! Ack! These past 7 years we've been adamant: NO traveling on Christmas!! We must wake up in our ~own~ home! Good for you for sticking to your guns (and so early in the game!). :-)
Hello,
Yes, an organic turkey is totally worth it, from the St. Lawrence Market-- we've been getting turkeys for thanksgiving and Christmas from ROWE MEATS the past 2 years (much cheaper than say, the Big Carrot)-- phone them 519-822-8794-- they probably still have turkeys available but in my experience, the closer to the Big Day you order it, the larger the turkeys are that are still available-- so, you may wind up with an 18 lb whopper! You pick it up the morning of the 23rd at their counter at the Farmer's market.
And if I may continue with more foodie-ishness: a medley of sauteed carrots, turnips (the white/purple ones) and parsnips-- julienned and sauteed in olive oil with a sprinkling of thyme is nice (if you like those vegs :)... and pretty easy.
There's also http://www.cooks.com/
in which you can pretty much type in whatever ingredients you have on hand and it will spit you out a recipe.
Bon Appetit!
BTW, I really sympathized with your post about moving into your new house last year (as I go into week ELEVEN of living at my mother's while our kitchen is under construction). Good "strategy" with the builders! I may just wind up blurting out-I-mean-"using" a similar sob/sniff approach with our cabinet maker the next time I talk to him...
Don't know if this will show up, because I am having a heck of a time commenting too.
I did a recipe from www.mollykatzen.com called "Golden Rice Pie". It is vegetarian (if you're looking for something like that), low fat and was a big hit at our Thanksgiving. Look in their archives for the recipe.
On my mom's side, Christmas always included perogies, cabbage rolls, a mean creamy garlic mushroom sauce and trays of dainties (a variety of bite sized desserts and squares). While my dad's side had strange yet delicious fruit, marshmallow goodness side dishes and Christmas pudding for dessert.
Now I'm feeling like I need to create some new holiday traditions because we won't often make it out west.
My family is like Something Blue's...cabbage rolls and perogies...heavy stuff but yum. I'm anxious to see what comments you get regarding the side dishes because I have been looking for some for my Xmas meal-I don't want to do cabbage rolls and perogies :(
Maybe you will post what you decide on so I can copy you?
Oh and organic, totally worth it. I would order to be safe.
Chinese food on Christmas Day? Throw in a matinee and voila - you're a Jew!
As for the turkey - well, you know my answer. worth. every. damn. penny.
as for sides, how about cous cous? or sweet potatoes? or roasted veggies? or quinoa?
You can always select "Other" and leave a comment that way! (Grrr...Blogger beta!)
You can always select "Other" and leave a comment that way! (Grr...Blogger beta!)
I'm with you. I made it very clear that we weren't going to be travelling for Christmas or any other holiday every year, especially not alternating between my parents and G's parents. We're entitled to celebrate holidays at home, or elsewhere for that matter, if we want to. Especially when travelling with wee ones is involved.
Good luck with your organic turkey quest!
I am so mad at blogger right now too! All these people I've wanted to comment on and it keeps thumbing it's nose at me, even when I try to sign in a different way or choose anonymous and just sign the note. Nothing. Grrrrr.
Blogger beta is a horrible, yucky, no-good thing. Hate it. Hopefully, I'll be able to leave a comment here. We'll see...
But ANYWAYS, I like your idea of having Christmas just for your family. So often, the holidays are stressful when you're trying to travel. You're smart to make people come to you.
The organic/free range turkey/chicken is sooo worth it. It's like eating organic produce - "oh, that's what turkey is meant to taste like". Yum.
And preorder - who needs the stress of missing out on it?
For sides, I like to take the traditional ones and then see what updated recipes I can find for them. So instead of mashed potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes. You get the idea. Try Martha Stewart's website - outside of the brining of the turkey, I've had great success with a number of her recipes lately.
And like Penelopeto, we at Casa de Monkeygirl don't celebrate Christmas either. Movie and chinese food here too!
We got an free-range organic turkey one year and guess what?!
It tasted like non-organic chained on-a-wall turkey.
I'm not one to start rumors, but the farmers have *secrets*
Hmph. ANd I thought Chinese food on Christmas was a Jewish traditions! *grin*
Organic turkey is AWESOME!!!!! And blogger beta is reeeeeallly ticking me off.
I think we should declare a no-travel Christmas permanently too. We did that last year (Q's first) and it was terrific.
My aunt doesn't do the Christmas gatherings. She travels somewhere very afar every year at this time. I told her that I didn't want to do them anymore and she said to me that once I stop doing it, I'll never go back.
She said she loves her peaceful christmas time with her husband.
It sounds so appealing to me.
I can't travel afar at this point in my life, but not travelling around driving here and there and everywhere would be great.
Next year, I'm going to assert myself about that stuff.
Three cheers for staying put. We will go to my brother's who doesnt' live far for dinner on Christmas (cause hubby doesn't celebrate christmas and he is the cook) but we spend most of the day at home.
Lucky you to be staying home on Christmas. We have to travel all over the state, as we do every year, and that gets a bit tiring. I envy your low-key, Chinese take-out plans.
My Mom usually makes this amazing carrot dish. The recipe is called Carrots L'Organge--recipe from "Winners" Best of Bridge Cookbook.
10 medium carrods diagonally cut into 1 inch slices
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsps cornstarch
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup butter
Cook carrots in boiling salted water until tender crisp. In a seperate pot, combine sugar, cornstarch, ginger and salt. Add orange juice and cook, stirring constantly until thickened, boiling for 1 minute. Stir in butter and remove from heat. Pour over hot, drained carrots, tossing gently to coat evenly. This may be made ahead and chilled; reheat just before serving. Serves 8.
There are never any leftovers of this dish around my family. They are so delish!
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