Cooking for Christmas

[facetrock]

 This might be a silly question but what do the RWs think of cooking a giant turkey or 10 kilo ham for christmas dinner?  I dont think its to common in the FSU or am I wrong?

I am being different this year. My daughters have promised me their undying loyalty and love(and boyfriends) if  I cook Alaskan king crab legs. The jumbo ones

[RussianWind]

10 kilo ham is not only uncommon in Russia, it's also uncommon to have Christmas in December. Somebody needs to read more sources 

[UTRO]

Just give me 'Herring Under the Fur Coat' and I'm one hell of a Happy Canuck!! 

[RussianWind]

'Herring Under the Fur Coat'

Have you tried it?
Most of "foreigners" find the combination of ingredients disdusting

[UTRO]

Have you tried it?
Most of "foreigners" find the combination of ingredients disdusting

are you Kidding RW?? It's the Best!! Sveta makes it so so light and fluffy Definitely my Favourite Russian Dish

[dogspot]

Have you tried it?
Most of "foreigners" find the combination of ingredients disdusting

I am definitely one of these foreigners. Besides holidyets, "fur coat" is my LEAST favorite Russian dish.

[OlgaH]

A giant turkey or 10 kilo ham for Christmas dinner?  I don't mind. But it depends on a number of guests

We had several pre-Christmas parties at some law firms we work with and at home of our friends, and the Christmas we celebrated at our home with Robert's old good friend.  We cooked borsch, turkey breast, ham, mashed potato with mushrooms, green bean casserole, cheese-carrot-garlic salad (Robert's favorite salad)  and stuffed eggs.

[Blues Fairy]

Most of "foreigners" find the combination of ingredients disdusting

I made Herring-under-coat for my brother-in-law's family and wisely put a bottle of Stoli on the table to ease the tasting.  Both the Stoli and the Herring went down very smoothly.   
But in case of severe idiosyncrasy, smoked salmon may be used instead of the herring (Stoli still advisable). 

[UTRO]

I made Herring-under-coat for my brother-in-law's family and wisely put a bottle of Stoli on the table to ease the tasting.  Both the Stoli and the Herring went down very smoothly.   
But in case of severe idiosyncrasy, smoked salmon may be used instead of the herring (Stoli still advisable). 

Blasphemy Blues Fairy, Blasphemy 

[RussianWind]

RussianWind what's wrong with herring and some vegetables?

Why do you ask me? Ask those people who refuse even to try Herring and Borsch because of the colour they look 

[BC]

We had a goose and sturgeon..

[Gator]

We had a goose and sturgeon..

Different, yet interesting.

We did the English dinner:  prime rib roast, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted onions and carrots, and steamed asparagus. 

The Russians marveled at my making of Yorkshire pudding.  It was a flop (did not rise, and best described as Yorkshire flatbread), yet the Ruskies loved it.  My sons took a sample to show their mother for chuckles.   Next time I cheat and add baking powder.

That was Christmas Eve.  Wifey made goat cheese eggs for Christmas breakfast while the kids impatiently jumped around wanting to open presents.  Closed the day with tacos and Mexican beer (Pacifico). 

Nothing Russian except 1) the vodka in the bloody mary and 2) the potatoes, and I am not sure Russians add garlic.  However, made with Russian industrial grade masher.

[Misha]

This might be a silly question but what do the RWs think of cooking a giant turkey or 10 kilo ham for christmas dinner?  I dont think its to common in the FSU or am I wrong?

My wife liked it as well as the friends we invited over. I thought of cooking a duck, but it would have been too small. In addition I made some fresh cranberry sauce from scratch as well as a meat pie, Caesar's salad, a homemade fruitcake and some other small side dishes/desserts. My wife thought it was delicious.

[Boethius]

The Russians marveled at my making of Yorkshire pudding.  It was a flop (did not rise, and best described as Yorkshire flatbread), yet the Ruskies loved it.  My sons took a sample to show their mother for chuckles.   Next time I cheat and add baking powder.

Yorkshire pudding will be soggy with baking powder, because yorkshire puddings are meant to rise very quickly.  You may want to try to separate your eggs, and beat the egg whites a bit, then fold the egg whites in.

Try Jamie Oliver's recipe.  It is almost failure proof (he doesn't beat the egg whites).  Also, preheat your pan (or muffin tins, if you make individual puddings) so they are very, very hot, and have your oven very hot when you pop the batter in the oven.  Don't open the oven until the pudding is ready - same principle as a soufflé.

[Faux Pas]

My wife while having eaten turkey meat many times before, had never seen or eaten from a whole cooked bird. She was very excited about the idea. For Christmas it was just her and I but we cooked a pretty big Southern Christmas dinner complete with a whole 12 lb.  She loved it.

[GQBlues]

We did the English dinner:  prime rib roast, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted onions and carrots, and steamed asparagus.  

That's almost the same list I cooked for our friends last night. Instead of asparagus, I slowly simmered/sauteed string beans with butter, basil and garlic, and also made my wife's favorite appetizer - lobster bisque. The prime rib came out perfectly, if I may so so myself. Of course, not much can go wrong with Ron Popeil's Rotisserrie. Pinot Grigio to wash things down.

Christmas eve we'd spend by ourselves. We went out to a newly opened restaurant for dinner prior to going to midnight mass. My wife really loves this part of the holidays. St. Monica normally have an outstanding choir, but this year a professional opera singer joined the singing and gave an offering to behold. The guy is simply phenomenal. My wife, and all the rest of the women in the church, were all falling in love. Both my wife and I agreed that this by far is the very best midnight mass we ever attended. The years before this one, Nat would walk up to the altar with me and get blessed during communion but this year at the encouragement of the pastor, she took her first communion. After mass, we'd rush home and open presents for each other. Dinner was Chestnut Apple soup & Sonoma rack of lamb. Slingshot Cabernet. Flourless chocolate cake.

Christmas Day is spent with my family. Mum always cooks a bored turkey so my wife and I, as we always do every year now, would skip the bird altogether and feast ourselves with chicken adobo instead. You can never have enough chicken adobo.

The day after, we always spend with friends. The wives would get together and hit the malls early while the hubbies take turns cooking dinner (early AM golf, if time allows). It was my turn this year. So prime rib it is. Lot's of compliments as everything on the table was eaten.

(A first for my wife, she received her very first X'mas bonus. She's beside herself and we agreed that she should treat herself with it for a job well done this year. I am so proud of her.)

For the good times with friends, family, and most especially with each other and our two cats; cheers. New Year would normally find us in San Francisco as we've done this every year. The midnight cable car ride, Scoma's, Morton's, Westin St Francis and it's NY's celebration, and NY's day lunch in Monterey; will all miss us this year. Sadly my wife will be working on up to the morning of NY's eve. As for myself, a whole week with nothing to do with just me, my golf bag, and what appears to be like perfect golf weather this week..

[Gator]

Yorkshire pudding will be soggy with baking powder, because yorkshire puddings are meant to rise very quickly. 

Baking powder is sodium bicarbonate and yields CO2 when reacting.  I don't know how that would make them soggy.


You may want to try to separate your eggs, and beat the egg whites a bit, then fold the egg whites in.

I will try that.  What do you do with the yolks.  Or is the "yolk on me?"   


Try Jamie Oliver's recipe.  It is almost failure proof (he doesn't beat the egg whites). 

Just read it.  He uses vegetable oil rather than beef fat drippings. Does not seem authentic.  However, he uses more and pours it in the bottom of the pan before adding batter.  Probably my mistake.


Also, preheat your pan (or muffin tins, if you make individual puddings) so they are very, very hot, and have your oven very hot when you pop the batter in the oven.  Don't open the oven until the pudding is ready - same principle as a soufflé.

Did that.

Thanks Boethius.

[Gator]

In reading this thread I get the impression that several men such as me did the Christmas cooking, or at least took the lead. 

Does this extend to daily meals?  I admit to cooking frequently because I enjoy cooking.  Also, in our house whoever does the cooking does no cleaning. 

We have attended a few gourmet cooking classes.  However, I enjoyed them far more than her so we stopped going.

[Doll]

This might be a silly question but what do the RWs think of cooking a giant turkey or 10 kilo ham for christmas dinner?  I dont think its to common in the FSU or am I wrong?

I am being different this year. My daughters have promised me their undying loyalty and love(and boyfriends) if  I cook Alaskan king crab legs. The jumbo ones

They just cook all this  My first time I was a little bit scared to deal with this big bird, but thanks God for oven bags! 

[Misha]

Does this extend to daily meals? 

If anything, I probably cook and bake more, on average, than my wife.

[facetrock]

   Since I have been single for the last eight years I have learned to cook and found I really like to do it. My ex wife is a horrible cook and she freely admits it. Her idea of cooking was whatever you could buy off the Schwans truck.
    I seldom eat out and prefer to cook wether its a simple hamburger or clam chowder. Most RWs I have met were really surprised to learn I could cook, actually quite impressed. Also surprised I clean my own home and wash my own clothes.
    

   Any of you guys ever have an RW ask who cooks and cleans for you and when you tell them you do it yourself you get that look of disbelief?
    

[Doll]

If anything, I probably cook and bake more, on average, than my wife.

Then Doll is one little poor Cinderella 

[Mila]

I have noticed that western men cook more than ours. I think, this is because in Russia/Ukraine we have this old stereotype that the women have to cook, clean and that this is our business, not the men's.
But i like to cook very much, especially when i have enough time. And as it was mentioned before, about  "Herring-under-coat" i love this dish and i am going to cook it for New Year holidays. Recently, i tried this dish in Kharkov "Abazhur" restaurant and instead if herring they put little salty or smoked salmon, it was really delicious and i advise you to taste it. I may cook same stuff as well In general, we cook a lot for the holidays and i am sure that our women are the best cooks in the world

[BC]

In reading this thread I get the impression that several men such as me did the Christmas cooking, or at least took the lead. 

Does this extend to daily meals?  I admit to cooking frequently because I enjoy cooking.  Also, in our house whoever does the cooking does no cleaning. 

We have attended a few gourmet cooking classes.  However, I enjoyed them far more than her so we stopped going.

I'm on the hook if it has anything to do with grilling, or sundays when I usually make breakfast.

Today pancakes from scratch.  Even laid some very thin slices of apple on the undone side of the pancakes and flipped 'em, sprinkle a wee pinch of powdered sugar mixed cinamon with  when done and .... - all gone.

Every now and then will whip up a pasta but wifey does most all of the cooking which is her favorite hobby - I don't interfere.

[UTRO]

I Boil water really good! I know just the perfect temperature!!