Holiday Favorites?

[SonjaB]

The holidays are FAST approaching and I was just curious as to what your favorite holiday treats are. Snacks, homemade candies, confections, holiday suppers, leftovers ideas, etc. What do YOU most looking forward to making/eating for the holidays?

 

[beccab]

I love the stuffed oysters my MIL used to make. Since I am the only one that would eat them in my family & she no longer cooks holiday meals, I will probably never have them again.

 

[piratesmate]

Being out of work is going to limit gifts for the adults in the family, so I thought we'd do a bunch of baking this year:
various versions of Chex Mix
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Filled Cookies
Snickerdoodles
Monster Cookies - big things you cut with a glass!!
Peanut Butter Balls
Mini Fruit Cake Bon-bons
Toll House
Chocolate Dipped stuff like pretzels, apricots . . .
. . . . and we'll see from there. mssocks is going to be spending an awful lot of Saturdays over here!!

What I am most looking forward to, however, is Christmas Day. We're planning a Disney brunch. . .
Crystal Palace Breakfast Lasagna
Cindy's Au Gratin Potatoes & Cheese French Toast
Boma's Banana Bread Pudding & Frunch
Park Fare's Strawberry Soup
Haven't decided what to have for the lunch portion - we're due at my other sister's for turkey dinner. It sounds so boring to me now . . .
I had been thinking about Boma's flank steak & nut crusted fish, with Fufu & Potatoes with Afritude. That, however, is enough food for a couple of days . . . .

 

[piratesmate]

beccab - If you're having the meals now, maybe you could just ask MIL to bring the oysters as her contribution? Or just buy a 1/2 pint of oysters & make them for yourself! Or, if you get along with MIL, you could invite her for a "lady's lunch" one day close to the holidays & serve them.

We always have oyster filling/stuffing (also called scalloped oysters) but I've never heard of stuffed oysters. Would you share the recipe? Sounds good!

d

 

[Beanie]

Piratesmate...what a wonderful idea!!! I never even thought of a Disney brunch before, but I definitely have to look into that!! I have to start planning a menu for Christmas Brunch, but Le Cellier Cheddar Cheese Soup will definitely be on that menu! Thanks for the idea!!

 

[beccab]

Piratesmate, I think you are probably right about it being oyster stuffing & not stuffed oysters but she didnt cook it in the turkey. I do get along with MIL, she is a wonderful person, however she has dementia now & getting the recipe is probably not going to happen. We don't have the big family dinners like we used to.

 

[piratesmate]

beccab - I'm so sorry about your MIL.

We never put the oyster filling in the turkey (I think I want to say "Eeeuuuwww!!! now) - that's just what my great-great aunt & grandmother always called it. I've never made it with a recipe myself - just sort of throw the stuff together. The key ingredients (IMHO) are the oyster liquor, pepper & OTC crackers. I often buy extra liquor (the juice) because I don't really like it with a bunch of oysters - unless they're small. I hate it when they squish!

Anyway, grease/spray the casserole dish.
Crush the crackers - you could use saltines, the small oysterette crackers, or the big OTC ones.
Lay 1/3 of the cracker crumbs in the dish.
Add 1/2 of the oysters, drained. Dot with butter & sprinkle with black pepper.
Add 1/3 cracker crumbs, then remaining oysters, more butter & pepper.
Finish with remaining cracker crumbs. Pour oyster liquor evenly over top of casserole. Add enough milk to cover the crackers. (They will soak up the excess.)
Bake 1 hour at 350.

Do NOT pour the milk over the crackers until just prior to baking. It may curdle. I think my older sister makes hers in the microwave & then just puts it in the oven after the turkey comes out to brown it. I'll check with her later.