Monday, December 28, 2009

Nana’s Cabbage & Apple Salad

When we started prepping Christmas dinner I had visions of doing a photo-recipe tutorial for the blog…but alas my Mom was way ahead of me in the cooking process so my brilliant idea never even got off the ground!

I did however remember to snap a few shots when I was making my Nana’s special Christmas salad because it’s not a common dish and something maybe you all haven’t ever seen.

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Honestly, it’s so simple I hesitate to even call this a recipe!  But it’s something my Grandma always brought to the family dinner and a tradition (although slightly bastardized) that my Mom and I have carried on.

Recipe:  Nana’s Cabbage & Apple Salad

Ingredients:

  • bag of coleslaw mix
  • 4 green onions
  • 2 crisp apples (we used Honeycrisp this year)
  • 1 cup Miracle Whip (we used light) (mayo works too, but add extra lemon in that case)
  • squeeze of lemon
  • salt & pepper
  • cranberry sauce for garnish

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Directions:

  • Dice the green onions. 
  • Peel, core and dice the apples. 
  • Mix everything together, ensuring all cabbage is coated in dressing. 
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours…but all day is better. 
  • Decorate top with cranberry sauce and serve.

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Of course, my Grandma never would have used a bag of coleslaw.  She painstakingly chopped a cabbage each and every year…and then when she got ill, my Grandpa did it.  But my Great Aunt gave us permission to use the bagged slaw so we only feel slightly guilty about our slacker approach.  :)  Besides, the bagged version has variety and color!

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Sunday, December 27, 2009

Turkey Lurkey

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Our traditional family Christmas dinner:

  • turkey
  • Mom’s world famous stuffing
  • mashed potatoes
  • mashed carrots & turnips
  • brussel sprouts
  • gravy
  • cranberry sauce (yes, from a can!)
  • Nana’s cabbage & apple salad

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Mom’s stuffing is just white bread, diced onion, sage, and sausage meat.  Simply perfect

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Nom nom nom! :)

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Saturday, December 26, 2009

Happy Boxing Day!

I may have just ordered myself a Boxing Day prezzie online!  :)  Stay tuned. 

Our family doesn’t actually do much of anything on Christmas Day.  A few years ago we realized that the stress caused by trying to rearrange and figure out how to see everyone wasn’t worth it just to have turkey on a specific day…so instead we have our family gathering/gift opening on Christmas Eve (we’ve done this since I was about 12) and our turkey dinner on Boxing Day.  This makes a relaxing Christmas Day for my Mom and I, and leaves it so my uncle isn’t feeling conflicted between his own family and his inlaws.  Win for everyone!

So Xmas Eve I made up a table full of our traditional family eats.  I call them “retro snacks”.  :)

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It was a small, slightly dramatic gathering this year.  I only took one freaking photo outside of the food.  How bad is that?!!  Ugh, and Mom and I both looked so nice too!  haha, oh well.

My Grandpa got a new blanket so my aunt wrapped him up and I thought it looked like a Snuggie

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As far as eats go, I’ll admit I pretty much just snacked my face off the whole night.  But I did load up on veggies first!!  haha, of course then we finished off the chips and dip after the family left.  :)  Balance?  I suppose.  ya right!

Oh…and the Xmas loot!!  Aside from this Starbucks gift pack from my uncle and his family…

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Everything else is from my Mom…

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She knows me well!  :)

And to think I still have my Christmas fun with FH when I get home and my Secret Santa gift too!!

And now I’m off to help Mom prepare the veggies and side dishes for dinner tonight.  The glorious smell of roasting turkey and Mom’s famous stuffing is calling me!  :)

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