Wow! I thought I was the only vegetarian in Rural America. Everyone I know thinks Im some sort of nut job for not eating meat. If Soy milk was cheaper and if I could find a good soy cheese that tastes and melts like the real thing, I would never touch an animal porduct again (except eggs, of course!)
My husband is not fully in camp yet (after 10 years together, you'd think he's just give up already) so we will be having a turkey for Christmas eve dinner. (truth be known, my snooty inlaws porbbly would not come over if we didnt have some sort of dead animal on our table!)
Other than that, here is the menu:
Appetizers:
Apple chips with yogurt dip
Zucchini chips with ranch dressing
Deviled Eggs (using the smoked egg recipe from BYC
Alternate Main course:
Colcannon (Traditional Irish dish made of Cabbage and Potatoes)
Side dishes:
Marbled mashed potatoes (with sweet and red potatoes, swirled together)
Home made cranberry sauce
Home made apple sauce
Roasted baby carrots
Cheesy veggie casserole (contributred by SIL)
Corn casserole (from hub's niece)
Whole wheat dressing
Breads:
Honey whole wheat bread
Butternut Squash bread
White whole wheat braided bread
Apple butter
Plum Jam
Dessert:
Coffee
Peanutbutter chocolate chip cookies
Maybe a gingerbread cake if I have time.
Everything on my table with the exception of some condiments, beverages, and family contributions will be made by our family. THat includes all the breads, jams,. chips, etc. I have apples and zuchini in the dryer right now, and shredded apples in the crockpot turning into sauce.
My kid made the braided bread. He makes the cranberries, too. And the cookies. He is only 10 and he had been doing the cranberries for 2 or 3 years now.
Aso f now all the breads are done (except one that is going to be in the bread machine when guests arrive!) and of course the jams. Also the cookies and potatoes. I will devil the eggs and make the stuffing after work tonight. Kiddo will do the cranberries and the colcannon on Saturday (His idea, so he will do most of it.) THE carrots will have to be done saturday as well, since they do not keep.
It seems like an ungodly amount of work. I learned years ago to space things out. Potates, applesauce, jams, and quick breads all get made ahead (except for the applesauce this year. Oh well!) Cranberries are better fresh, so they get made the day of. I use the baby carrots so I dont have to chop. They look neat, too.
At first I bought large parts of the meal, like desserts and breads, already made (we used to have money!). Then my goal became to make everything on the table. I want to learn how to make wine, but otherwise I'm pretty close. My next goal will be to produce most of what is on the table (eggs, veggies, etc.) Eventaully I'd like to eliminat the giant dead bird, but that may take some time. Ah, well.
