What's your family holiday specialty?

[spinbaby]

My late husband’s family made sauerkraut balls—a northeastern Ohio specialty from a recipe a distant aunt supposedly bought from a chef for an exorbitant amount of money many years ago. They were a kind of paste of ham and sauerkraut breaded and deep fried. My husband made them every year at Christmas. He had written down the recipe, but when we tried to recreate it, it wasn’t right. I’m trying to make it today, going from both the recipe and my memory of what he actually did.

[Blumancru]

1. Family holiday specialty used to be arguing with and trying to one up each other

Now most of those people have died off and holidays are much more peaceful.

[pandr32]

2. Zucchini fritters.

My son hates zucchini, but not these. I mix grated zucchini, Parmesan, seasoning and oregano, egg and flour and drop small spoonfuls into a hot pan with olive oil and fry both sides. Yum. They are a holiday side dish that gets devoured.

[tonkatoy8888]

3. Strife...

....arguments, hurt feelings, tears, screaming, slammed doors, for a start.

Ho, Ho, Ho.

[kimbutgar]

4. Home made eggnog

It’s been a family recipe since my Grandfather learned it from his Mother inthe early 1900’s . My Grandfsther made it, the my Dad made it, my older sister and now I make it at Xmas. Last year I spent Xmas at my husband’s family in Arizona. And I made the eggnog. I was shocked there was none left over for my coffee the next day. The grandkid’s in their 20’s - 40’s years old had never had homemade eggnog only the store brought kind and loved it. I put sugar in it but not a lot ! I was back there for Thanksgiving this year and I made it again for them. This Saturday I went to a ladies lunch and made it but half the attendees were vegetarians who don’t drink milk. So my husband is happily enjoyed my eggnog with some brandy in it last night and myself in some of my morning coffee!

[FemDemERA]

5. Those sauerkraut balls sound good

I found a recipe online that looks promising.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/sauerkraut-ham-balls/

And the zucchini fritters sound really easy and good as well!

Would like to try both. Bookmarking…

[justaprogressive]

6. Ours was a roasted pair

of LI Duckling. Mom had a secret way of crisping the verrry fatty skin
that was Awesome!

[La Coliniere]

7. Nusshorn

…which is German for nut horn. It’s a yeast dough based, large crescent shaped dessert bread my German Grandmother taught all of her kids and grandchildren how to make. The dough is rolled out and chopped walnuts, cinnamon and brown sugar are spread on top. The dough is rolled up into a large crescent shape before baking. A simple icing is applied before eating. Christmas is the only time this dessert is made in my family.

[Cairycat]

8. Pierogies and borscht

for Christmas Eve, along with various appetizers, including shrimp and deviled eggs.

This year my son decided to try his hand at making pierogies. I also made a batch this morning, getting almost twice as many, so I suspect he wasn't rolling the dough as thin.

At our house, the filling is always cheesy mashed potatoes.