New Year's Eve
Crab Stuffed Flounder w/ Shrimp Sauce
Steamed Artichokes w/ Lemon Butter, if available (or) asparagus
Crusty Bread
Champagne at midnight
Valentine's Day
Chocolates
Gianduia Gold Cups
Chocolate Truffles (or) Chocolate Truffles flavored with liqueur
Peanut Butter Cups
Valentine's Day
Surf 'n' Turf: Filet mignon & Broiled Lobster Tails
Endive, Beet & Red-Onion Salad
(and/or) Chocolate Covered Strawberries (could be used as a garnish)
or Chocolate Fondue w/ fresh strawberries & pound cake cubes
New Year's Day
Roast Pork w/ Boiled Potatoes & Sauerkraut
(or) Sauerkraut & Country Ribs w/ boiled potatoes
Steamed Swiss Chard w/ vinegar
Apple Dumplings w/ whipped cream
(Mom says sauerkraut is traditional for good luck (viel glück in German) in the coming year - this is an old German tradition)
St. Patrick's Day
Corned Beef & Cabbage (carrots & potatoes)
Rye, Pumpernickel or Irish Soda Bread
or Walnut Oatmeal Irish Soda Bread
A good beer
Desserts
or Hot Nutty Irishman (Bailey's & Frangelico - hazelnut)
Other Ideas
Smoked Sausage & Cabbage (an alternative to Corned Beef & Cabbage)
Pork Chops in an Irish Whiskey Cream Sauce
Leftovers
Easter (con't)
Dinner
Baked Ham w/ Cloves & Pineapple Rings
Roasted Sweet Potatoes (perhaps mashed)
Asparagus w/ Lemon Butter or Hollandaise Sauce
(or) Snow Peas w/ Lemon
Spring Green Salad w/ Strawberries & Pecan Crusted Goat Cheese
(or) Spinach & Strawberry Salad w/ Poppy Seed Dressing
Desserts
Rhubarb Pie (or) Rhubarb Tart w/ Vanilla Ice Cream
(or) Strawberry Shortcake, if in season
(or) Lemon Pound Cake w/ Lemon Glaze
(or) Easter Nest Cake (chocolate mousse cake)
Easter Candies
Platter's Easter Chocolates
Zitner Double Coconut Eggs
Easter
Easter Morning
Colored Easter Eggs (hard-boiled)
Easter Appetizers & Dinner
Appetizers
Thin fresh green onion w/ Salt
Zabar's Cream Cheese Spread (green onion)
Sweet & Salty Honey Cheese Spread
Brie cheese (Susan really likes)
Assorted Crackers
Cocktails
Vodka & Homemade Lemonade
Labor Day (end of cookout season)
Grilled Steaks w/ Fried Mushrooms
Baked Potatoes w/ Sour Cream & Chives
Crusty Bread
Boston Cream Pie (or) Cheesecake w/ end of summer fruit topping (or) Peaches & Cream Pie
(or) Smoked Prime Rib
4th of July
Picnic or Outing
Philly Firecrackers (beef wraps w/ horseradish sauce)
Cookout
Appetizer: Steamed crab legs w/ lemon butter
Barbecued Chicken (fireman's style)
Toasted Italian Bread
Watermelon Slices & Brownies (or) Quick Chocolate Cake for dessert
Thanksgiving Dinner
Chestnut & Raisin Dressing (or apple & raisin)
Cranberry Sauce (jellied & whole berry)
Baked Acorn Squash or Oven Roasted Parsnips
Green Beans w/ Bacon, Onion, & Vinegar
Relish Tray: Spiced Apples, Watermelon Pickles & other relishes (tradition when young)
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (Susan's family loves)
Cranberry Bread or Brown Bread w/ Cream Cheese
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Morning
Ginger Pumpkin Bread (or)
Appetizers Through the Day
Shrimp Cocktail w/ Cocktail Sauce
Crab Spread (w/ crackers)
(or) Crab Cocktail
Stuffed Mushrooms (Jamie's favorite)
Boursin Cheese (w/ Cracked wheat crackers)
Brie cheese (for Susan)
Assorted Crackers
Stuffed Celery (tradition when young)
Pistachio Nuts in the shell
Fruits: grapes, clematines (for the kids)
Drinks
Mulled Apple Cider w/ rum option
Cold Apple Cider
Christmas Customs
How Saturnalia became Christmas: The transition from ancient to present and pagan to Christian
Christmas Food Garnishes
Sugared Cranberries & Rosemary
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve Breakfast
Orange juice
Christmas Eve Dinner
Cream of Parsnip Soup (1st course)
(or) Spinach Salad w/ Feta, Dried Cranberries, & Sliced Almonds
Christmas Cookies and Fruitcake
Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italian tradition on Christmas Eve)
Christmas Cookies
Thumbprint Cookies (Christel's favorite)
Russian Tea Cakes (Jane's favorite)
Neapolitan Cookies (Mom's & Faith's favorite)
Chocolate Dipped Coconut Shortbread
Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies
Soft Sour Cream Cookies (Brian's favorite)
Christmas Candy
Pecans in White Chocolate
Hazel Nuts in Milk Chocolate
Almonds in Dark Chocolate
Christmas Candies When I Was Young
Purchased Box of Chocolates
Christmas Day
Christmas Morning
Stollen or other Xmas Bread
Appetizers throughout the day
Dried Figs & Apricots
Brie Cheese, Smoked Gouda, etc.
Smoked Duck Spread w/ Dried Cherries (if we smoked any)
Assorted Crackers
Pistachios
Mandarin oranges, pears
Christmas Dinner
Standing Rib Roast w/Yorkshire Pudding
Parslied Potatoes (or) Potatoes roasted in au jus
Roasted Parsnips (or) Braised Brussels Sprouts
