So many thoughts and expectations this day before Christmas Eve.
In my home growing up, Christmas Eve was the night we opened gifts, gathered with family, and enjoyed a Scandinavian feast. Christmas day was a festive dinner and quieter activity.
We are still privileged to have my wonderful parents and partake of a true Swedish Smorgasbord on Christmas eve after attending a Christmas Eve church service.
May I describe that feast?
Every year there are hundreds of Swedish meatballs, Swedish potato sausage, fruit soup, brown beans, rice pudding (with an almond hidden inside) and Julekage (a Scandinavian Christmas cake/bread).
My mother varies the side dishes, but we usually have a cabbage/apple combination that is delicious with several salads.
And I contribute the "Jansson's Temptation."
Several years back my Swedish friend joined us for Christmas, and prepared this scrumptious concoction for our feast. I've made it for this event ever since!
Basically it is shoestring cut potatoes, onions, whipping cream, and a few anchovies with LOTS of butter.
Terrible for your heart, but truly a dish that "Jansson" could not turn down. It really is good.
After we are all borderline miserable with the stuffing of delicious food we adjourn to the Christmas tree and open gifts. The one who got the almond in the rice pudding opens the first gift.
It's a very nice tradition.
In my home growing up, Christmas Eve was the night we opened gifts, gathered with family, and enjoyed a Scandinavian feast. Christmas day was a festive dinner and quieter activity.
We are still privileged to have my wonderful parents and partake of a true Swedish Smorgasbord on Christmas eve after attending a Christmas Eve church service.
May I describe that feast?
Every year there are hundreds of Swedish meatballs, Swedish potato sausage, fruit soup, brown beans, rice pudding (with an almond hidden inside) and Julekage (a Scandinavian Christmas cake/bread).
My mother varies the side dishes, but we usually have a cabbage/apple combination that is delicious with several salads.
And I contribute the "Jansson's Temptation."
Several years back my Swedish friend joined us for Christmas, and prepared this scrumptious concoction for our feast. I've made it for this event ever since!
Basically it is shoestring cut potatoes, onions, whipping cream, and a few anchovies with LOTS of butter.
Terrible for your heart, but truly a dish that "Jansson" could not turn down. It really is good.
After we are all borderline miserable with the stuffing of delicious food we adjourn to the Christmas tree and open gifts. The one who got the almond in the rice pudding opens the first gift.
It's a very nice tradition.
2 comments:
I can identify with the borderline miserable after all of the delicious food!
It's worth it this once a year!
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