Christmas is a time to celebrate, to rejoice, and to eat. Whether you are hosting a festive feast for family and friends or looking for delicious dishes to bring to a potluck, there are many options. In this blog post, we'll share some of the most popular and traditional holiday foods from around the world. We'll also provide some tips and recipes for making them at home.
Turkey
Turkey is the star of many Christmas tables, especially in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The large bird can feed a crowd and is often roasted with herbs, butter and stuffing. Some people prefer to brine their turkey before cooking, which helps to keep it moist and flavorful. To make a simple brine, dissolve 1 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of sugar in 4 quarts of water, then add aromatics like garlic, onion, bay leaves, peppercorns and thyme. Submerge the turkey in the brine and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours. Rinse the turkey well and pat it dry before roasting.
To cook turkey, heat oven to 325°F. Place turkey in large roasting pan. Brush skin with butter or oil, salt, pepper, and herbs. You may want to add more herbs, an onion, a lemon, an apple, or an orange. Place foil loosely over the turkey and roast for about 15 minutes per pound, basting occasionally with the juices from the pan. Remove the foil during the last hour of cooking to brown the skin. Turkey is cooked when an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165°F. Allow turkey to rest 20 minutes before carving.
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is a common side dish for turkey and other meats. The tangy and sweet sauce adds a pop of color and flavor to the plate. You can easily make your own cranberry sauce with fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, and water. Start by boiling 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar in a medium saucepan. Then, add 4 cups of cranberries and simmer until they burst and thicken, which takes about 15 minutes. For added taste, you can also mix in some orange zest, cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg.
Fruitcake is a rich and dense cake filled with dried fruits, nuts, and spices. Fruitcake is a popular Christmas dessert in various countries like Germany, Italy, France, and England, each with its own version of the recipe, such as stollen, panettone, bûche de Noël, or Christmas pudding.
To make a simple fruitcake, beat 3/4 cup of butter and 3/4 cup of brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add 4 eggs to the mixing bowl, one at a time, and beat well after each addition. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon of cloves. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well. Stir in 2 cups of chopped mixed dried fruits (such as raisins, currants, cherries, apricots, and dates) and 1 cup of chopped nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, or pecans). Pour the mixture into a greased 9x5-inch baking pan and bake in a preheated oven at 300°F for approximately two hours or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack.
"Happy Cooking!"- Food, Fashion, and Family
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