About your tried and true holiday menus

[Georgiagranny]

How likely are you to introduce something different into your traditional meal? I keep seeing articles for a recipe for some new game-changing dish that's going to for sure make the holiday "The Best Thanksgiving (or Christmas) Dinner Ever!"

I'll look at the recipe and either wonder what's so special about it or ask myself why I'd add it. You know...some goofy thing like a fish stew or mixing spinach in with the mashed potatoes or a dessert that will replace the dessert that the whole family has looked forward to and is only served at holidays. Sometimes there will be a recipe that calls for this or that spice that's going to make you a believer, exclaiming "I should have been adding this all these years!" Sure...add that spice and take the chance that the whole family is gonna hate the addition.

Our holiday dinner menus are almost carved in stone with family dishes we've made since forever. Makes me think we might be guilty of the "We've-Always-Done-It-This-Way" Syndrome and passing up an opportunity that really would make the meal the "best ever" with a recipe that will get handed down again and again. Maybe.

How about y'all? Gonna stay with what you know? Gonna start serving prime rib and lobster for Thanksgiving and duck l'orange for Christmas? Spend hours in a wine specialty shop pairing your new menu up with what wine to serve or stick with the jug wine that everyone likes just fine?

 

[Capt Lightning]

We did try a different approach to Christmas dinner one year with a variety of cooked meats and sides. This did not go down well with our children who wanted the traditional turkey with the trimmings. Although we don't celebrate Christmas as such, it's just easier to go with the crowd and have the traditional meal - although I would prefer goose to turkey.

According to the papers with their gloom & doom headlines, because of the spread of Avian flu, there will be a shortage of birds for Christmas. I suppose that will be another excuse to raise prices.

 

[NorthernLight]

I remember one Thanksgiving in West Virginia. I made delicious scalloped potatoes. My boyfriend and I were the only ones who ate them. Everyone else went for the mashed potatoes! This seemed very strange to me.

On the other hand, I knew a woman (also in West Virginia) who got tired of cooking on Christmas day while everyone else got to relax. So she bought potato chips and cheap cookies at the grocery store, and that was what we ate. Everyone was fine with it.

Me, I like to stay home alone and eat regular food.