My 10 Favorite Holiday Foods
By GlindaCould I technically have any of these things at any time of the year?
Yes.
But holiday foods are associated with the holiday, and somehow it just doesn’t seem right to eat candy canes in July. Or, at least it doesn’t seem right to me. So here are my favorite goodies that I only indulge in once a year.
Thumbprint cookies
If you’ve never had these, bake some or find someone that will bake them for you. Soooo good.
Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Ahhh, mint and chocolate. Never a bad combination.
Russian Tea Cakes
Now some may say that these are not holiday cookies, but in my family they are. And it’s my list, so there.
Fudge
Again, most people I know only do homemade fudge at this time of year. I’ll take mine with walnuts, please.
Gingerbread
I will admit to not actually liking the taste of gingerbread. But I enjoy looking at things made with gingerbread, so on the list it goes.
Candy Canes
Yes, they are totally ubiquitous, but it isn’t Christmas until somebody breaks out the candy canes.
Cut-out and decorated Sugar Cookies
Angels, bells, Santas, stars, all of them taste great and are fun to make with the whole family. Silver pastilles on them scream Christmas to me.
I am part Italian, so these bring back lots of memories of Christmas at Nonna’s house. Light, not-too-sweet, and tinged with anise, they are a great complement to a heavy Christmas meal. Or, uh, before a meal. Or sometimes during a meal…
Fried dough, jelly, and powdered sugar? I’m all over that.
Peanut Brittle
Why is this candy associated with Christmas? I don’t know, but it is, and I’ll take some any time somebody offers it.
What about you? What foods do you look forward to?
December 17th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
CHEESY OLIVE BALLS. Seriously, they’re awesome. Technically, we have them at Thanksgiving, but I want am going to start making them on Christmas as well. http://whatscookingamerica.net/RestaurantReviews/HoneymanCreekFarm/OliveCheeseBalls1.jpg
December 17th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Crab! Not usually on Christmas day, but it’s the season around here, and boy, SO good.
I like thumbprints and peanut brittle, too! Are russian tea cookies the same as mexican wedding cookies? I love them both, but I’m not sure which is which.
My grandma used to make us gingerbread cakes. YUMMY!
December 17th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
@J- Yes, they are the same as Mexican Wedding Cookies. I’d never heard of them referred to by that name, though, and I live in Southern California!
December 18th, 2008 at 10:06 am
It doesn’t feel like Christmas for me unless there is some kind of decorated green thing and a plate of pizzelles.
December 18th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Pizelles, Russian Tea cookies, Macaroons with pinola nuts sprinkled on top, those great red, white and green cookies layered with raspberry filling and topped in chocolate (we always called them Italian flags, some call them 7 layer cookies). Oh, and don’t forget the Canolli 🙂
December 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
My mother’s idea of cooking was to fry up some spam and crack open a can of green beens. However, at Christmas, she channels her inner Martha and WOW! Homemade fudge, divinity fudge, pecan pies, pumpkin pies, several kind of coated pretzels, and half a dozen other sweets. Then the turkey with homemade stuffing, ham, sweet potatos, mashed potatos, cranberry salad/sauce, green bean salad, etc… I think this is why she is burnt out the rest of the year.
December 18th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
My Great Grandma made enough sweets to give an entire county diabetes every year. I am the only one that even attempts any of her recipes now that she’s gone and my favorite is Mint Brownies. They look like Ande’s Mints but have a cake like brownie on the bottom. To do them right takes at least two days but it’s well worth it.
December 18th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Pate and seasonal beer. And gingerbread which I dunk in cocoa. I feel no remorse for cheeses and organ meat-based delicacies consumed from December 1st to January 8th or 9th or whenever they run out.
My mother always used to make mashed carrots and turnips for Christmas, and it is the one food I loathed above all others, growing up. I think she only made it as an in-joke in the family after the first couple of “AUUUUUGH I AM NOT EATING THAT” years.
What’s funny is, my favorite restaurant have adapted my favorite meal, bangers and mash, to include 50% mashed carrot and turnip and I suddenly like it. God humbles us by bringing us to love what we once publicly despised.
Unless it’s just that they are better cooks than my mom.