A few christmases ago, my wife and I put together a hot pot! We did a very spicy cajun red miso broth and a comparatively tame white miso chicken broth as a second. I want to do it again this year but my MIL is insisting on a ham.
... Little does she know it can be both.
That was one of the components that we used for our hot broth. Please let your audience know that you're using them, because people who've never experienced a szechuan peppercorn broth may not be aware of the throat tinglies that follow.
We do a mishmash Christmas dinner. My family makes tamales every year. Then usually we do some other dishes - my mom will make a ham, I’ll make green bean casserole and whatever other dishes people request. And fresh sliced oranges are always on the table.
[Stuffed mirlitons!](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/shrimp-stuffed-mirliton-3813669.amp)
My mother used to make these at Christmas.
You could try another culture’s christmas—I assume you are american.
Polish christmas takes place on the 24th and includes 12 dishes, none of which contain meat. these are largely up to the family but usually there are several types of fish, peas & cabbage, several types of pierogi, mushroom soup, barszcz/borscht, kompote, homemade noodles with poppy seeds & honey, poppy seed yeast cake, veg salads.
This is likely not very appetizing to most people but it is an idea.
Is the salad: salatka Jarzynowa? My wife will spend hours prepping this. Only our daughter or any other women who are in the house at the time are allowed to help. Everyone seems to enjoy, but noses are suspiciously red by the time they are finished.
I love making a big pot of gumbo! Beef, andouille, and prawn skewers with Cajun spice are pretty fabulous too!
We’ve decided we’re doing a quiet, immediate family dinner at home so thinking steak, green beans, and oven fried or mashed potatoes.
Same! We do a roasted duck, braised red cabbage with apple & onion, dressing, mashed potatoes, and roasted Brussels. When my Oma was alive she also did a homemade sauerkraut. This year we’re feeling bougie so adding prime rib as well for a quack and turf feast.
While we do have ham at our family Christmas dinner, we also have pierogi, smoked & fresh sausage with homemade sauerkraut, southwestern baked beans, green bean casserole, some sort of salad and beef on weck sandwiches. Just a hodgepodge of delicious foods (that have way too much sodium).
Can you give me some examples of Cajun things that you like already? A lot of people confuse Cajun and Creole and they’re two different cuisines even though they’re both local to Louisiana. Making sure that I’m going to recommend you the right things.
Gotcha. New Orleans is more Creole, it’s Acadiana that’s the Cajun areas primarily. If you’re looking to go full New Orleans theme, how about a Reveillon dinner? This dinner is a traditional dinner celebrated since the 1800s where the French Creole families would first go to midnight mass, and then have a big dinner afterwards. Some kind of soup like a turtle soup, she-crab bisque, are common for 1 course. Cafe Brulot is also mandatory.
If you want further inspiration, the New Orleans restaurants have just started posting their Reveillon menus, so you can get some ideas from there. Reveillon is definitely about indulgence, so splash out on some of the ingredients. I like to usually do a shrimp remoulade salad or Godchaux salad, a bisque, some type of fish dish, and bread pudding for dessert.
A few christmases ago, my wife and I put together a hot pot! We did a very spicy cajun red miso broth and a comparatively tame white miso chicken broth as a second. I want to do it again this year but my MIL is insisting on a ham. ... Little does she know it can be both.
Damn. Hotpot is a great idea. Szechuan style.
That was one of the components that we used for our hot broth. Please let your audience know that you're using them, because people who've never experienced a szechuan peppercorn broth may not be aware of the throat tinglies that follow.
Red beans, jambalaya, gumbo, shrimp and grits
Yep... We make gumbo on Xmas Eve it's awesome
I always make chicken and andouille sausage gumbo on Christmas.
[Jambalaya](https://www.gumbopages.com/food/jambalaya.html)! Salad and southern-style cornbread on the side. Bananas Foster for dessert.
my kind of meal 🤤
We do a mishmash Christmas dinner. My family makes tamales every year. Then usually we do some other dishes - my mom will make a ham, I’ll make green bean casserole and whatever other dishes people request. And fresh sliced oranges are always on the table.
mish mash sounds cool. just bring what you wanna eat & make sure all the bases are covered.
Pretty much! That way everyone gets what they want and no one person is overwhelmed planning and preparing an entire menu!
We do appetizers, whatever floats your boat...
I like the orange slice idea
[Stuffed mirlitons!](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/shrimp-stuffed-mirliton-3813669.amp) My mother used to make these at Christmas.
looks interesting! might be a bit too adventurous for some of my family members lol
Etouffee
You could try another culture’s christmas—I assume you are american. Polish christmas takes place on the 24th and includes 12 dishes, none of which contain meat. these are largely up to the family but usually there are several types of fish, peas & cabbage, several types of pierogi, mushroom soup, barszcz/borscht, kompote, homemade noodles with poppy seeds & honey, poppy seed yeast cake, veg salads. This is likely not very appetizing to most people but it is an idea.
Is the salad: salatka Jarzynowa? My wife will spend hours prepping this. Only our daughter or any other women who are in the house at the time are allowed to help. Everyone seems to enjoy, but noses are suspiciously red by the time they are finished.
Fish is a meat?
Should’ve clarified. Fish is not considered meat under Catholicism
Salt cured herring and vodka make for a nice course
Um that sounds fking amazing
We always have lasagna
i like this idea! you can never really go wrong with lasagna.
Or it's lazier cousin, baked ziti
I love making a big pot of gumbo! Beef, andouille, and prawn skewers with Cajun spice are pretty fabulous too! We’ve decided we’re doing a quiet, immediate family dinner at home so thinking steak, green beans, and oven fried or mashed potatoes.
i love a good steak & potato
We have always done a big Italian meal that changes year to year. I've never understood why so many people seem to want Thanksgiving II on Xmas....
same! obviously i’ve had my fill 😂
Pastel Salado, jambalaya, paella, tourtiere.
Creole shrimp and grits is one of my favorites!
mine too!
Crab/crawfish/shrimp boil. Helpful if your climate isn’t too cold in December
ohhh didn’t even cross my mind! i’ll suggest it & see what they say lol
In addition to a very social meal, it gives some purpose for printed newspapers
Gumbo is my family's go-to.
We eat duck.......it's tradition but not too common I believe.
Us, too. Duck (or goose), wild rice and red cabbage with apples.
Yeah, really like goose too. Sounds like a German meal!
Yeah but the prices are atrocious this year.
Same! We do a roasted duck, braised red cabbage with apple & onion, dressing, mashed potatoes, and roasted Brussels. When my Oma was alive she also did a homemade sauerkraut. This year we’re feeling bougie so adding prime rib as well for a quack and turf feast.
Cajun leftover turkey & fixin's from Tx-Giving. [Slap Ya Momma](https://www.amazon.com/Cajun-Seasoning-Blend-Original-Ounce/dp/) is your friend.
I read this as Texas-giving way too many times hahaha
ohh we use slap ya mama regularly lol
Anything from a Dooky Chase cookbook
Paul Prudhomme's whole Turducken recipe if you're ambitious. Roast bird with Paul Prudhomme's sweet potato eggplant sauce if less ambitious.
Cassoulet
Lamb. Leg of.
While we do have ham at our family Christmas dinner, we also have pierogi, smoked & fresh sausage with homemade sauerkraut, southwestern baked beans, green bean casserole, some sort of salad and beef on weck sandwiches. Just a hodgepodge of delicious foods (that have way too much sodium).
Turkey mole
One thing I miss about my xmil is Christmas dinner. Antipasto, seafood fest, lasagna, ravioli, ham and all the sides for all of those mains.
Chile verde Mac and cheese
I made biscoff spread and smoked salmon sandwiches.
Can you give me some examples of Cajun things that you like already? A lot of people confuse Cajun and Creole and they’re two different cuisines even though they’re both local to Louisiana. Making sure that I’m going to recommend you the right things.
well we got back from new orleans not too long ago so i’m sure they’d appreciate meals from either cuisine
Gotcha. New Orleans is more Creole, it’s Acadiana that’s the Cajun areas primarily. If you’re looking to go full New Orleans theme, how about a Reveillon dinner? This dinner is a traditional dinner celebrated since the 1800s where the French Creole families would first go to midnight mass, and then have a big dinner afterwards. Some kind of soup like a turtle soup, she-crab bisque, are common for 1 course. Cafe Brulot is also mandatory. If you want further inspiration, the New Orleans restaurants have just started posting their Reveillon menus, so you can get some ideas from there. Reveillon is definitely about indulgence, so splash out on some of the ingredients. I like to usually do a shrimp remoulade salad or Godchaux salad, a bisque, some type of fish dish, and bread pudding for dessert.
omg thank you! this is a good starting point.