Does anyone have any Christmas "adventures" they'd like to share, whether
they occurred on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? I'll start the ball
rolling.

First, some background. In spite of the popular culture's depiction of
serving turkey at Christmas, my mother has, for as long as I can remember,
served either duck or goose. Unfortunately (or not), I never took a liking
to either.

A few years ago, my sister and I gave our mother a Brinkmann gas-fired
combination grill/smoker for Christmas as a joint gift. Harmless, right?

A year later, on Christmas Eve, I came home from the retail store where I
worked, and learned of a mishap: there would be no duck that year, because
it, well, caught fire.

How? Mom wanted to smoke the bird for some added taste. Not knowing how much
mesquite wood to put in the smking tray, she put in all of it, rather than
the couple of pieces.

Because the smoker is gas-fired, it therefore has a flame...which ignited
the wood, and the duck, suspended above, also caught fire. Fortunately, my
sister's then-boyfriend, Russ -- now her husband -- happened to either step
outside or look out the back door and see flames coming from the smoker. He
sprang into action to turn off the valve on the gas tank and extinguish the
flames. Consequently, Mom had to quickly find an alternative. While I don't
remember what it was, it might have been ham steak.

A couple of years ago -- I think last year -- my mother asked Russ if he'd
ever had duck at her house for Christmas Eve dinner. "Almost," was his
one-word reply, which made us crack up at the memory.

Dieter Zakas

Dieter Zakas wrote:


> First, some background. In spite of the popular culture's depiction of
> serving turkey at Christmas, my mother has, for as long as I can remember,
> served either duck or goose. Unfortunately (or not), I never took a liking
> to either.

LOL.. which culture is that again? Goose and duck
are very traditional to many for Christmas. In
fact, I can't personally recall having turkey for
Christmas (didn't we just do that meal at TG?) I
like to have a good roast beef or leg of lamb at
Christmas. This year I did a ham because it was
requested (coated in mustard, brown sugar and
ginger snap crumbs)
Goomba

Dieter Zakas wrote:


> First, some background. In spite of the popular culture's depiction of
> serving turkey at Christmas, my mother has, for as long as I can remember,
> served either duck or goose. Unfortunately (or not), I never took a liking
> to either.

LOL.. which culture is that again? Goose and duck
are very traditional to many for Christmas. In
fact, I can't personally recall having turkey for
Christmas (didn't we just do that meal at TG?) I
like to have a good roast beef or leg of lamb at
Christmas. This year I did a ham because it was
requested (coated in mustard, brown sugar and
ginger snap crumbs)
Goomba

In article >,
says...
> Dieter Zakas wrote:
>
>
> > First, some background. In spite of the popular culture's depiction of
> > serving turkey at Christmas, my mother has, for as long as I can remember,
> > served either duck or goose. Unfortunately (or not), I never took a liking
> > to either.
>
> LOL.. which culture is that again? Goose and duck
> are very traditional to many for Christmas. In
> fact, I can't personally recall having turkey for
> Christmas (didn't we just do that meal at TG?) I
> like to have a good roast beef or leg of lamb at
> Christmas. This year I did a ham because it was
> requested (coated in mustard, brown sugar and
> ginger snap crumbs)
> Goomba
>
>

Around here the traditional meat is ham. But yesterday we went to my
aunts house for dinner. The meat served was:

Pork Crown Roast with a sausage, apple and onion stuffing.

and

Prime Rib au jus

And of course for the pork she made this horseradish sauce that was
absolutely delicious.

Needless to say, on Christmas Eve we'd done our ham, potato salad,
broccoli casserole etc. So now I've got more food in the house than I
know what to do with.

Tony P. wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>> Dieter Zakas wrote:
>>
>
> Around here the traditional meat is ham. But yesterday we went to my
> aunts house for dinner. The meat served was:
>
> Pork Crown Roast with a sausage, apple and onion stuffing.
>
> and
>
> Prime Rib au jus
>
> And of course for the pork she made this horseradish sauce that was
> absolutely delicious.
>
> Needless to say, on Christmas Eve we'd done our ham, potato salad,
> broccoli casserole etc. So now I've got more food in the house than I
> know what to do with.


You can always invite me over! We didn't do Thanksgiving or Christmas
dinner at our house and today we had to go to the meat store so we have
food. Pretty sad, isn't it? That's okay, we got chicken thighs, a duck,
pork shoulder, sirloin tip and country style ribs. Cookfest this week.
Fajitas, tacos, pulled pork sammiches.................... gotta love it!

kili

On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 23:26:25 -0500, Goomba38
> wrote:

> I can't personally recall having turkey for
> Christmas (didn't we just do that meal at TG?)

Growing up, TDay and Xmas were the only 2 times a year we
ate turkey. My husband does NOT like turkey (but he's
getting better at tolerating it in his old age). So,
Thanksgiving is the only occasion we make it on now that
we've decided to do standing rib roast every xmas eve.

Xmas Day was full on Philippino food fest, vegetable AND
meat lumpia (no empanadas - sob), shusi, pork adobo, chicken
asado, gobs of steamed rice, Bibingka (sticky rice) &
Mitchells ubi-macapuno icecream. No punsit, though. The
SIL who makes it is ill. I didn't even pretend to make
vegetables (although the long beans were calling my name),
because this family leaves vegetables alone at parties... so
I didn't waste my time.

sf
Practice safe eating - always use condiments

in article , Goomba38 at
wrote on 12/25/04 23:26:

> Dieter Zakas wrote:
>
>
>> First, some background. In spite of the popular culture's depiction of
>> serving turkey at Christmas, my mother has, for as long as I can remember,
>> served either duck or goose. Unfortunately (or not), I never took a liking
>> to either.
>
> LOL.. which culture is that again? Goose and duck
> are very traditional to many for Christmas. In
> fact, I can't personally recall having turkey for
> Christmas (didn't we just do that meal at TG?) I
> like to have a good roast beef or leg of lamb at
> Christmas. This year I did a ham because it was
> requested (coated in mustard, brown sugar and
> ginger snap crumbs)
> Goomba
>
Goomba,

All you need to do is look at various Christmas specials ("Charlie Brown"
comes to mind), in which a turkey is often shown as the "centerpiece" of the
American Christmas dinner (not sure whether it's on Christmas Eve or Day).
That is the well from which I drew my impressions.

One year I asked my mother why the duck or the goose, rather than what I
perceived as the more-traditional fowl. "Why not? I want to be different,"
was her reply.

Now, about that duck-burning episode...could you say the duck's goose was
cooked? :-)

Ham coated with mustard, brown sugar and ginger snap crumbs...sounds
delicious. Would you be willing to share the recipe? Please? (You may email
it; the address is valid.)

Dieter Zakas

Goomba38 wrote:

> LOL.. which culture is that again? Goose and duck
> are very traditional to many for Christmas. In
> fact, I can't personally recall having turkey for
> Christmas (didn't we just do that meal at TG?) I
> like to have a good roast beef or leg of lamb at
> Christmas. This year I did a ham because it was
> requested (coated in mustard, brown sugar and
> ginger snap crumbs)

Turkey was certainly the tradition in our family. I can't remember every having
anything other than turkey at home. The only time I ever had anything else was
the Christmas after my MIL died and my SIL held the family Christmas dinner. Her
son's girlfriend, who is a chef, cooked cornish game hens stuffed with sausage.
It was a nice change. I pity my American neghbours having there Thanksgiving so
much later than ours. That extra month is nice for those of us who get their
fill of turkey at TG and need the extra time to develop an interest in it again.

Well, it wasn't this Xmas, but years ago, my SIL put the turkey in the
oven for the big family feast -- then forgot to turn the oven on (she
had two ovens and was using the second as well). Don't ask me how she
didn't notice for hours. We ate late that night.

Rushing never helps in the kitchen. A year ago I had the apple pie
crusts neatly wrapped (if not securely) in saran wrap, all rested and
ready to be rolled. I grabbed one of those babies to get that pie
going, and it slipped out of my hands, sprawling all over the floor.

I've learned even if the dinners aren't perfect, the mistakes usually
give us a good laugh.

Well, it wasn't this Xmas, but years ago, my SIL put the turkey in the
oven for the big family feast -- then forgot to turn the oven on (she
had two ovens and was using the second as well). Don't ask me how she
didn't notice for hours. We ate late that night.

Rushing never helps in the kitchen. A year ago I had the apple pie
crusts neatly wrapped (if not securely) in saran wrap, all rested and
ready to be rolled. I grabbed one of those babies to get that pie
going, and it slipped out of my hands, sprawling all over the floor.

I've learned even if the dinners aren't perfect, the mistakes usually
give us a good laugh.

Dieter Zakas wrote:

> Goomba,
>
> All you need to do is look at various Christmas specials ("Charlie Brown"
> comes to mind), in which a turkey is often shown as the "centerpiece" of the
> American Christmas dinner (not sure whether it's on Christmas Eve or Day).
> That is the well from which I drew my impressions.

> Ham coated with mustard, brown sugar and ginger snap crumbs...sounds
> delicious. Would you be willing to share the recipe? Please? (You may email
> it; the address is valid.)
>
> Dieter Zakas

My point was that many of us (even here in the
USoA) have differing cultures and traditions for
the meal. Many Europeans wouldn't think of not
doing their goose, I think? I grew up eating a lot
of roast beef/yorkshire pudding Christmas dinners
here in the US.
A coworker from Africa just told me about his
traditional dinners (a chicken was mentioned, but
many many other dishes like stews too) I wonder if
now that he lives in the US he prepares that
Charlie Brown turkey?
As to the ham recipe check out Foodtv's website
for Alton Brown's City Ham recipe. That's what I used.
Goomba

Dieter Zakas wrote:

> Goomba,
>
> All you need to do is look at various Christmas specials ("Charlie Brown"
> comes to mind), in which a turkey is often shown as the "centerpiece" of the
> American Christmas dinner (not sure whether it's on Christmas Eve or Day).
> That is the well from which I drew my impressions.

> Ham coated with mustard, brown sugar and ginger snap crumbs...sounds
> delicious. Would you be willing to share the recipe? Please? (You may email
> it; the address is valid.)
>
> Dieter Zakas

My point was that many of us (even here in the
USoA) have differing cultures and traditions for
the meal. Many Europeans wouldn't think of not
doing their goose, I think? I grew up eating a lot
of roast beef/yorkshire pudding Christmas dinners
here in the US.
A coworker from Africa just told me about his
traditional dinners (a chicken was mentioned, but
many many other dishes like stews too) I wonder if
now that he lives in the US he prepares that
Charlie Brown turkey?
As to the ham recipe check out Foodtv's website
for Alton Brown's City Ham recipe. That's what I used.
Goomba