The food thread

I'm currently re-writing my Mother's cook book

That's wonderful. In March of this year my wife's mother passed away, and my wife has been clearing out the family home. Her mother was 94 when she died. My wife's parents had actually inherited the house from my mother in law's aunt. There were boxes of things stored in the eaves of the house which were there when my wife's family moved in in the 1970's (or maybe 60s, not sure). My daughter was looking through the boxes and trunks and found a cookbook written by, I think, either my wife's grandmother when she was a young woman, or by my wife's great-grandfather. Either way it was from the late 1800's or early 20th century. My daughter made a loaf of brown bread from a recipe in the book, and we will try a few more. Sometimes those old recipes just show what limited choices our ancestors had.
 
Sometimes those old recipes just show what limited choices our ancestors had.

Or in some cases how fast immigrants adapted. In my case many of my grandmother's recipes are full of 40-50's American food industry shortcuts. I think of it as a third generation backlash, my father's generation was encouraged to speak only English, etc., but now we are looking to rediscover our European roots.
 
Crusciki manufacture with the flat noodle attachment -- flour, confectioner's sugar, egg yolks and rum:
 

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Well dinner is over with. I invited my ex as she didn't have anyone to eat Christmas dinner with.

I sent her home with leftovers as she doesn't cook nearly as well as I do.

The dishes are done.

Now I'm fighting sleep. The down comforter is calling my name.....
 

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I invited my ex as she didn't have anyone to eat Christmas dinner with.
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We deal with the mixed up families too. Hats off to your wife for letting you do this. My mother saved all her old photos at the beach, etc. but scratched off the faces of all her x's. My mother dated Melvin Laird in college his nickname (I kid you not) was bomb Laird (football related).
 
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She is my most recent ex, technically estranged as we are legally separated so I can still cover her under my insurance. Her daughter wouldn't have her over for dinner claiming she wasn't doing anything. Grand daughter is in jail for underage drinking (20 year old is not quit a child).

Never a dull moment with her family.
 
It seems only heart, Cal will confirm great added to burgers, and liver are kosher offal.
Hi and Merry Christmas to everyone.
Yes Scott, ground beef and hamburger are very different things to me. This is one example of hamburger.
Tonight I am treated to an asian Christmas that includes lamb, asian fondue, salad rolls and WHY. Last night was duck, roast pork and a myriad of other dishes.
 

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I'm bleeding into the Christmas traditions thread, but from a culinary perspective. 🙂 Breakfast/lunch tradition has become my mom's amazing stuffed breads fresh out of the oven -- apricot, cranberry (although she tried cran-apple this year and we all prefer the pure cranberry), and ham & cheese.

Christmas dinner here in the Heineck household went great. Food, per usual, took longer to prepare than intended, but the combo of the meal and the family to share it with was just lovely.

Too busy/distracted being a line cook to get photos out: Dad slow roasted the prime rib on the pellet grill but without it becoming too smoky. Homemade noodles (semolina/eggs/water) with a cream/mushroom sauce, and steamed green beans tossed with sliced almonds. I made up an "antipasto" of a light fennel/onion/orange salad.

Dessert was Mom's buccellati (Sicilian fig cookie), apricot cookies similar to Kolaches, and haphazardly decorated sugar cookies by my niece. The former(s) were better for eating, the latter had much more amusing presentation. 😀
 
I roasted a goose and luckily they have room for two stuffings: Porcini&Garlic and sausagemeat (boerewors in this case), chestnut & cranberries (dried, soaked in port). Also made a cream sauce with the roasting juices, wine and the goose liver.

As sides I roasted potatoes, parsnips, carrots and onion with garlic and rosemary and braised red cabbage with apples and chestnuts.

For desert I'd started a fresh cream cherry&hazelnut gateaux the night before and finished it off when the goose was already in the oven but the veggies weren't due to be started yet. All washed down with copious amounts of eggnog and sparkling wine.
 
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