Welcome
to a Secret Subject Swap. This month 4 brave bloggers picked a secret
subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret
in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging
our topics and submitting our posts. Read through mine and at the bottom
you’ll find links to all of today’s other Secret Subject participants.
My subject is: Turkey or ham? Why?
It was submitted by: Rena of The Diary of an Alzheimer's Caregiver.
You know what my answer to turkey or ham is? Dessert.
Of course I'll get to that, but, since you asked, let's start with the meal. I assume you're talking about Christmas, because Thanksgiving is turkey, always turkey.
Coming from a Jewish home, we don't really celebrate Christmas. Well, we do in that we have the ski mountains to ourselves, followed by having the Chinese restaurants to ourselves. Well worth celebrating.
But, since I now live in the flat Midwest, have no family (nor ski mountain) nearby, I actually do a big dinner on Christmas day. We're here together, there's a fire in the fireplace, sports on TV, and cocktails flowing. Perfect for a big formal dinner.
I have to mention here that although I'm Jewish, we're not kosher. Phew, since our favorite food, a no-no, is lobster. So it's not that we didn't eat a ham sandwich or have pepperoni on our pizza, but I have to admit I don't think my mom ever made a ham. So it's not surprising that I never had either. For many people, well me anyway, we tend to at least start off making the foods we remember from our childhood. Especially when those foods hold traditional family holiday significance.
Over the years though, we've created some of our own traditions as a family. There's a lot I do that's just like my mom did, but some things have evolved. Like, I love my Mom's cornbread and cracker stuffing, but Hubs grew up with sausage stuffing. So on Thanksgiving, I make my version of Mom's cornbread stuffing, Fall Harvest Stuffing. And on Christmas, I make my version of a sausage stuffing. Nothing at all like what Hubs grew up with, but everything's better when you add Grand Marnier, right?
And then there's the ham.
When the boys were little, I had a friend (ironically, she was also raised Jewish), who, around holiday time, was looking for a specific brand and type of ham. I know it was spiral sliced, I think it was a honey ham, and I can't remember the brand. Anyway, we did find it, and our family were her guests when she served it. It was really good.
The next year I bought one and gave it a try. I heated it low and slow with a glaze I'd come up with, I'm sure it was a typical mustard, maple, orange glaze. We had it for dinner, and then the leftovers went on for miles. I served it, I think over a year's time, in many ways: soups, sandwiches, casseroles, you name it.
And as much as we enjoyed it, I haven't thought to do it again.
So for the most part, our family tradition is a turkey for Thanksgiving, Crusted Prime Rib (and Latkes, of course) for Hanukkah, another turkey on Christmas day, and an appetizer buffet for New Year's Eve.
But truly, it's all about the desserts.
(Rustic) Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
My mom is the queen of desserts. Family dinners, extended family holidays, big get togethers, we all brought something of our choosing. But Mom, she was always assigned dessert.
And wow, did she do dessert, and not just one, a whole assortment. There were pies, some fruit, some chocolate, made completely from scratch. And on top of that, there was always a cookie tray, full of dessert bars and all different kinds of cookies. Mom made sure to include everyone's favorites.
So it shouldn't be any big surprise that, although I put a lot of time and effort into a traditional holiday meal, it's the desserts that have the most meaning for me. It's where I get to show my creativity, touch, as my mom did, on everyone's flavor pairing favorites, and express my own version of "food is love."
Just like mom.
Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:
The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
Climaxed
Part-time Working Hockey Mom
(Rustic) Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
©www.BakingInATornado.com
2 oz cream cheese
1/3 cup Nutella
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 oz chocolate almond bark
2 oz semi sweet chocolate
3 oz chocolate almond bark
36 peanut halves
Directions:
*In a food processor, blend the sandwich cookies, cream cheese, Nutella, peanut butter and powdered sugar until the cookies are broken up and the mixture is grainy.
*Place a piece of plastic wrap flat into the bottom and up the sides of an 8 X 8 pan. Lightly grease the bottom, and press the peant butter mixture firmly into the pan, evening out the top.
*Melt 1 oz chocolate almond bark and spread evenly over the peanut butter mixture in the pan. Refrigerate 1 hour.
*Using the plastic wrap, remove the truffles from the pan. Move to a cutting board, trim off the rounded edges, and cut into 36 squares.
*Place a lightly greased cooking rack onto a piece of wax paper. Arrange the truffle squares, leaving space between each, onto the cooling rack.
*Melt the semisweet chocolate with the remaining chocolate bark. Dollop onto the truffles, top each with a peanut half. Remove the truffles from the cooling rack and place onto parchment paper in the refrigerator. Once set, move to a closed container. Store in the refrigerator.
Because we didn't celebrate Christmas, either, Thanksgiving was our big holiday. For several years we had it at my father's younger sisters house. Everything kosher but then for dessert, she served ice cream with the desserts and there was no six hour wait, either. Maybe it was parve ice cream but somehow, I don't think it was. I would eat those chocolate peanut truffles at any time!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd hate a kosher holiday, although ice cream would help.
DeleteI am ecumenical. I love them ALL.
ReplyDeleteNo playing favorites for you!
DeleteAny reason to celebrate with food and family! And doing it the way Mom did? Guaranteed success!
ReplyDeleteSo much fun doing some things the same mixed with some traditions all our own.
DeleteYou have wonderful traditions.
ReplyDeleteDessert is always the best part!
Traditions are fun. Dessert is more fun!
DeleteOnce again another winning recipe! I especially like it because it doesn't call for dipping the candies.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's why I wanted to try it this way.
DeleteI am just the opposite! I very seldom make desserts much to my family's horror. I just don't enjoy it so I leave that to the girls! I had a big grill out planned today for the grands' birthday but now I'm making kabobs on the indoor grill as it's pouring rain. Could be worse and could be my daughter who is hosting 30 kids for a bday party where it's also pouring!
ReplyDeleteHave a great party, happy birthday to the twins.
DeleteSo, bottom line: there is such a thing as "too much ham"? ;-)
ReplyDeleteI like your answer to "Turkey or Ham? --> Dessert!" Especially if Nutella and PB Butter is involved. Yum!
Wow, the Holidays are really approaching now...
I have no idea how this year flew by so fast. Thanksgiving is already here.
DeleteI'm glad that you were able to take some things from your mom. I have tried to decorate my home for festivities and taken my son to some of the same things as my mom. It does make me feel like my mom is still around somehow.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great way to keep her in your son's life.
Delete