Monday while shopping for Christmas dinner I happened upon a jar of Manischewicz borscht. Looking more like beet juice than beet soup, I decided to give it a try despite the $8 price tag, and paired it with a box of frozen Mrs. T’s potato and cheddar pierogies. Too sour and too watery, the borscht didn’t live up to my expectations (the pierogies were fine). Years ago I had a bowl of homemade Ukranian borscht and I seem to remember a hearty, slightly sweet, gaspacho-like texture that was just heaven with a dollop of sour cream. I’ve been trying to recreate it ever since, and I just can’t seem to recreate the experience. If any of my Eastern European friends out there have a similar recipe, please let me know. I’ll even post it here if you’ll let me!
This year for Christmas dinner I’m going with an English-style menu. I initially considered a goose, but went with the duck to keep leftovers to a minimum. The menu includes:
- Roasted English Potatoes
- Roast Duck with Red Currant Jelly
- “Spotted Dick” pudding with custard
- Mincemeat pie
I wasn’t sure about a vegetable so I’m just going with steamed asparagus. In years past we’ve had both the American pot roast and the Italian “Seven Fishes Feast,” where you cook seven different kinds of seafood. For New Year’s Day there is also a Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas and collard greens, which represent a hope for prosperity in the new year (coins and bills). What is your family’s Christmas or holiday menu?
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