Between The Holidays

 These days between Christmas and New Year should be easy. No work. Sleeping in. Cooking should be easy too. Think air fryer and microwave dishes that are simple to make. 

I found this with all Lidl products. I just wanted something simple but tasty. I used their chili starter which is just tomatoes with cumin and chili powder and microwaved it with chickpeas and red kidney beans.

I just added a splash of olive oil and water. It was then microwaving it for five minutes .

I added rice  and it was a great meal, simple without too many frills. To add to it I threw in Lidl's El Taquito's avocado bits.

These are the size of chicken nuggets but there's creamy avocado inside a tasty, fiery crust. This gave the chili some oomph. Yes there was dessert.A gain it was Lidl's Favorina brand of Pandora, the Northern Italian holiday sweetbread. Mine was a mini version.

it was a fun treat afterwards. plain simple, but oh so buttery.

This week is a time for rest and relaxation. Keep the cooking simple. Use the air fryer. use the microwave. It's make for easier meals.

A Kwanzaa Treat Gingerbread

 Kwanzaa is  known for the foods that represent African life and their contribution to the American table. Most are savory main dishes yet there is one dessert that is perfect on the holiday table. A molasses rich gingerbread cake that's perfect for any table.

Regular contributor and chef Tejal Rao wrote about this in Wednesday's new York Times Christmas Day Food section. The recipe comes from cookbook autohr and culinary  historian Jessica B. Harris. Some may know her from the  2021 Netlifx series High On The Hog, , based on her book of the same name. She has been educating Americans about the complexities of Black cuisine for decades. She first published another Kwanzaa recipe collection, A Kwanzaa Keepsake and Cookbook. She felt that she needed to connect meaningfully beyond her family. She read the work of African American activist Maulana Karanga who codified the holidays back in the Sixties.  She filtered it through her work which was equal parts historical guidebook and cookbook. Dr.. Harris made corn and Hopin John , black eyed peas for American and African friends. There was also roasted pork. This November she published a new edition of "A Kwanzaa Keepsake".

The book remains organized around the seven principles of the holiday that she brings in seven themed menus. The third night, Ujima which celebrates collective work and responsibility is full of portable dishes. There are portable dinners , perfect for potluck suppers. There is a spicy baked mac and cheese. broiled chicken thighs that are good hot or cold and a deep dis apple cobbler. There is the gingerbread,a hot water kind, spiked with ginger and cinnamon, served on Nia , the fifth night  and it means purpose. She had made the gingerbread for Betty Shabazz,Malcom X's widow.It uses the old fashioned but reliable method of adding hot water to the batter. Dr. Harris bakes it throughout the season A barely sweetened cream is dolloped on top of it. A cup of dark molasses is added for a richer flavor while cinnamon and ginger round out the spice flavor. There is also brown sugar added for a deeper,earthier taste. The molasses and boiling water are combined together. The dry ingredients are added then melted butter and brown sugar. It takes about thirty-five minutes to bake in a 350 degree Farenheit oven, Molasses and cream and whisked together for the topping.

This gingerbread is perfect for anytime of year but appropriate for Kwanzaa.It celebrates the spices of Africa while combining American baking., It's a good blend , great for any holiday.

Bakeries On The Rise

 One of the best dreams as any home baker can have is owning their own bakery. This is happening for several  whether they've baked at home or in a well known restaurant. There is a golden age of bakeries happening and it's coming with delicious results.

New comer , food journalist Meghan McCarron who has won a James Beard award along with co-producing the web series Queer Table wrote this interesting piece in Christmas Day's New York Times Wednesday Food section.Smaller bakeries are having a Renaissance. More and more former pastry chefs are opening them up in such diverse areas from big cities like Los Angels to smaller ones in Parker,Colorado. Most of these are not in well known areas like New York's Soho. Some like Poulette, are in Parker Colorado, in a strip mall, Others have evolved from pop up kiosks to small brick and mortar places. Unlike eateries , bakeries really don;t require a lot of space. There's no need for a dining area. A few tables inside and out will suffice. There's no need for a big staff, unless the place branches out to other locations.Also being in such diverse areas brings good pastry to those who never would have had access to this. This is the case of Poulette where  vanilla bean spandauers Danish pastry filled with either custard or jam are favorites of the local Little League team.Locals are ordering honored Bretagnes for birthday parties.

Other pastry chefs nationwide are also reaping the benefits.Some like  Elaine Uykimpang Bentz and her partner moved from Chicago to Cincinnati to start a restaurant. SHe didn't want to bake however her pandemic pastries got such a following the only course going forward was opening up a patisserie.This trend has also been beneficial to obsessive home bakers who want to pursue their dreams. Jesus Brazon the owner of Caracas Bakery started at home with his sourdough loaves. It took a few tries before he [perfected the recipe. After baking success he started to share his loaves with family and friends. A friend with a restaurant asked him to bake loaves.He thought he could have a part time business selling just coffee and rolls but figured he might as well devote his whole time to running a bakery, He did have help from his chef father Manuel who taught him to make French style pastries. Now he has three locations. Another baker,Peter Mitchell, co owner of The Sour in South Dakota, He started as a corrections officer and watched enough YouTube to become a baker, Some like Deborah Yee trained in restaurants like French Laundry before starting her business.

Bakeries are enjoying a golden age. People want good croissants wherever they are. It could be a big city or a country town. 

A Very Delicious Christmas

 Hopefully all my readers worldwide had the same delicious Christmas I had ( big thanks to Lidl for the sides and desserts - yum and Shop Rite for the Gardein turkey

The best Christmas gift is a good Christmas meal !!! HOpefully everyone had one, filled with good flavors and love.

Happy Full Christmas

 Happy Christmas to my readers worldwide. May it be full of good food and good friends and family.

An Exotic Holiday

 Christmas doesn't have to have traditional ham or turkey . If you want try something different. It could be a dish reflecting your heritage or from a cuisine you adore.Skip the turkey leg with gravy and explore what's out there.

This cold weather deserves a kick of spice. Asian and Mexican food can provide much needed heat. Indian food is loaded with delicious spices that make any ingredient sing.One dish that makes for a fun party meal is butter chicken or makhani. This is a relatively  easy dish to make., It's firstst creating the marinade and using Kashmiri red chili powder or smoky paprika. Garam masala along with ginger paste is used too. Greek yogurt is added to this and the chicken is marinated in it for twelve hours in the fridge. Tomato puree or tomato paste is mixed with cashews and water. It's then cooking the  butter sauce, redolent with cinnamon cloves and cardamoms.. Garlic paste and green chiles are also added.It's then cooking and straining until the sauce is free of any hard bits. The chicken can be grilled baked or air fried  and then added to the sauce. You could also make chicken Tikka masala, similar in some ways but spicier than the butter chicken. You could also buy a tasty array of samosas, veggie filled puffs at any super market like Lidl for a fun appetizer platter .

Mexico has its' own traditional Christmas dishes that anyone can make. Think  a holiday plate filled with carne asada. This can be made in a slow cooker, allowing you to create other dishes like salad or frying up cinnamon churros for dessert.it requires flank steak that's first sauteed in olive oil before it's transferred to a slow cooker.Onion and garlic are cooked up in the leftover olive oil until the two veggies are crispy. Add a mix of orange and lime juice along with vinegar, soy sauce and seasonings. This is brought to a boil and then added to the meat.It's slow cooked for four hours  until the meat is butter tender.Mole is a chocolate rich sauce with a savory and picky punch. It can be served on any meat for an elegant sauce.it's a powerful marriage of cocoa powder, tomato sauce.Onion, garlic and chili powder give this rich sauce its' kick. It's perfect with beef or chicken  but you could do a  turkey breast mole. Serve with rice or cornmeal to absorb the sauce. Mexico has so many perfect Christmas desserts. Churros is one , fried dough sticks coated with cinnamon sugar and then dipped in a dark chocolate sauce. There are also marranitos , gingerbread cookies baked in the shape of pigs - how cute- and capirotada, Mexican bread pudding . THis last is baked with cinnamon and cloves along with piloncillo - Mexican brown sugar. Cheese is added for a salty - sweet mix.

Christmas is an exciting time. Make non traditional dishes that kick up the level. They can be spicy and savory or spicy and sweet.It's up to you. HAve a good time in creating them

Christmas Your Way

 Many are stating home on Christmas,away from family. It's the joy of having freinds over for good food and fun presents.It's also a chance to get away from traditional dinners. People are serving what they like and not' what's dictated by decades of tradition. eat what you like. It's a feast to celebrate but it's your feast too.

One aspect of celebrating Christmas your way is breaking free of recipes you may not like. For many it's home made pasta with sauce instead of the usual ham or turkey. This is perfect for those who love cacio e pepe or even an Alfredo, with creamy white sauce. Another festive holiday dish is risotto Milanese or any risotto for that matter. This is the perfect celebratory dinner for two or even three. Add a good bottle of wine and enjoy. Keep in mind that you can also make a smaller version of the traditional holiday meal. You can get a turkey breast at any grocery like Acme or Stop and Shop. As for gravy and stuffing go for the best- LIdl. Their cornbread stuffing and turkey gravy are the best, very flavorful and just easy to make. Just have a slice vegetable if you want.. I went with Lidl;s  potato and squash puree. I'm having a small vegan Christmas with Gardein;'s turkey slices which are easy to air fry. Vegans can also have their own holiday away from me at loving relatives. Garden and Tofurkey offer small roasts that can be roasted in around an hour and a half. They come with their own wild rice stuffing and gravy . This is perfect for two and their might even be leftovers.

What about desserts? The good thing about Christmas your way is desserts your way. Don;t make the traditional trifle if you';re not into it. Buy a fancy ice cream loaf - my way of celebrating. Again this is a fancy, lacy looking ice cream log, full of , chocolate bourbon and vanilla. There is no way I could duplicate this dreamy sweet. It's perfect for two and a bit nontraditional  for Christmas sinc it is a cold dessert.. As for cookies again, don;t bake if you have to. All stores have trays of them and you can get a smaller one. If you just fancy fruit, then go for it. Nothing beats a  light dish of different fruit after a heavy meal. Pears and apples are still big right now. have a plate with sliced pieces . You can also do a quick poached pear . Add a sweet red wine to them and maybe a dab of butter.it just takes a few minutes and then they're done. Of course if you want to spend the night gorging on Christmas candy , then do so. Also break open the champagne. Drink your way  too. Pop open a bottle of bubbly or chill in front of a fire with a hot toddy or mulled wine.It's your celebration.

Do Christmas your way if you don;t want to celebrate it with family. eat what you want. Drink what you want. Make it a day to celebrate the Lord in the way you want.