Instead of the holiday traditions relating to decorations or events,
Famdishions relate to the influence's and fusions of cuisine that have become a staple in your holiday meals.
It could be the special seasoning that your Irish Grandfather added to the stuffing recipe that made you dream about it for weeks prior to the holidays.
It could be the amazing fresh bruschetta that your girlfriends introduced you to at a holiday gathering.
Or, It could be that crazy jello mold your Aunts made each year
that reminds you of fond childhood memories.
My personal Famdishions include the following:
Apple Pie
,
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
,
Candied Sweet Potatoes
and stuffed celery.
My love of pie making came from my fraternal German Grandmother. Each holiday celebration, she would prepare a special pie for each of her grandchildren.
What she could do with a pie crust and meringue was simply amazing. It still, years after her passing, has all of her grandchildren pining for her and her pies at Christmas time.
The introduction to
Fresh Cranberry Sauce came from my paternal Irish-mix Grandparents.
They loved the flavor of the tart raw cranberry sauce pared with turkey and dressing. As a child, the tartness was overwhelming. It wouldn't be until years later that I would come to appreciate the rich flavors of this dish.
The appreciation came from a cooking class, my girlfriends and I took, where we were introduced to a different method of preparing the cranberry sauce that minimizes the tartness.
The last two Famdishion staples for my holiday meals come from my mother.
Throughout my childhood, my mother would prepare
Candied Sweet Potatoes and stuffed celery for my brother and me.
The sweet potatoes become caramel coated and topped with crunchy toasted marshmallows, perfection in a childs eyes.
The cheese stuffed celery was a wonderful crunchy pre-meal treat to sustain us until dinner was served. These were (and still are) fun, tasty side dishes that lure us to the holiday dinner table.
These are my Famdishions that are a staple in my Thanksgiving and Christmas meal planning. Take a look, try them out and see if they can be integrated into your family meal planning Famdishions.
Merry Christmas!
bGizmo