Happy New Year to all who are celebrating this week. I am holding the dinner, as usual and have been

E

elaine

Well-known member
busy in the kitchen. I finished the desserts -

an apple pear pie, pecan tassies and fudge brownies.

Today I will make the chicken soup and cornbread.

We do a turkey for our dinner with the addition

of chicken soup and matza balls, chopped liver.

My inlaws will be bringing the sides and salads and fish. We don't have the gefilite but love the spicy Moroccan fish that she makes. And the veggies always are great. We love the combination

of backgrounds in the cooking.

So I am back to the kitchen.

 
Much more interesting than my family's stodgy feasts.

You know, I've never had chopped liver. There are very few delis in Dallas, and none in my part of town. When one of my friends (who is Baptist) married a Jewish guy I told her she was lucky because she'd get to celebrate/observe so many holidays.

 
Elaine, you've touched on a wonderful truth that has been driven home by the economy...

...and the cost-cutting we've all been doing in my extended family. Family gatherings around good food have never been more important, or meant more to us.

There are a number of factors that have me thinking about this. A recent milestone in my life and the fact my wife and boys have taken four trips to San Diego to visit our family and I've only been with them on this last trip.

They missed me! Why? It ain't because of my charm and good humor, I assure you. It's because when I'm around, the family eats well! I enjoy cooking for my wonderful extended family so much! When I'm not there, it's spaghetti from a jar and cheese noodles, according to my boys.

It's not that my wife and her family don't cook, it's just that I love to do it and I'm always tinkering with something in the kitchen. They have other priorities. I was told by my new sis-in-law that she can hardly wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas because my father-in-law and me cook up a storm!

I'd rather budget for that then worry about hotel rooms and tourist traps.

Enjoy your holiday with family, Elaine. Shalom!

Michael

 
Thank you, Elaine -

Although I always have Rosh Hashanah and Passover at my house, I've been so crazed with my new-ish business that my parents wanted to host it. My parents are making the roast chickens and chicken soup and matzo balls (my father is making them - wish my mom was because hers are like lead and I like them that way:) and we are in charge of everything else. I am bringing dessert (lemon blueberry bars and cream cheese brownies) as well as a platter of home grown tomatoes with fresh mozzarella, avocado and basil. Not sure what my sisters are making.

My lil sis is having a gathering at her home on Thursday after services and I made these cupcake pops for the kids: http://www.bakerella.com/category/pops-bites/cupcake-pops/

Happy New Year!

Deb

 
Michael, I also love to cook and I think that family gatherings make such good

memories. All my desserts are first timers and I love the opportunity to try new things. My kids
refuse to let me try any new stuffing or gravy but everything else I can fool around with.

Deb your veggies sound great and I love the cupcakes. Have to disagree on the matza balls though. Mine just fly away. I wanted not to make them with margarine anymore - I tested with butter - they were okay but heavier. No one would accept that!! I will test with canola over
the weekend.

Again,

Happy and Healthy New year.

Elaine

 
Matzo Balls...

My father makes the light and airy matzo balls (I think from a mix) as did my mother-in-law. So those are what I made (that's how my husband likes it). But I so remember when my mom made it (I have no idea why my father makes them now) and they were heavy and doughy - and the thing is, I'm a dough nut:) I'd rather have a pie crust than the filling, same thing with pizza. I have this wonderful childhood memory of putting my mom's in creamy tomato soup and thinking it absolutely divine. I'm pretty sure, however, if I made them the way my mom did I wouldn't get many takers:)

 
LOL! You know the joke about the woman who kept trying to replicate her m-i-l s matza balls

She made a batch every day and they came out lighter and fluffier and delicious and her husband kept saying - they are delicious but not like my mothers. One day, a box of matza meal fell into the mix. She was tired and so just left
it and mixed it in...they were very heavy but she served them anyway and her husband said - oh
these are just like my mothers!!

 
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