Festive Family Feasts

By Jessica Hulett

Each Christmas Eve, my family and whomever else we have in tow make the hour-long drive from Schenectady to Amsterdam, NY, snow or sleet, to have a semi-traditional Italian dinner. I say "semi" because the traditional dinner includes seven fish dishes. We usually end up somewhere around three or four, plus something non-fishy for my mother, who won't bring anything that once lived in water near her lips.

My great aunt passed away a few years ago, and her last Christmas Eve dinner was by far the best. Not only was the only time everyone was in attendance, but also my family, who thinks they're a bunch of comedians, really pulled out all the stops, telling inappropriate jokes that even my grandmother couldn't help but laugh at. Now, even though we have one less attendee, the memory of that night is more than enough to keep the holiday spirit alive for all of us.

So what is it that makes a holiday memorable? Is it tradition? Location? Company? Food? We asked some folks to weigh in on their most memorable holiday celebrations and share tips for making this holiday season one to remember.


Saving the Day
"After finishing up culinary school, my cousin had a grand idea -- why don't I make Christmas dinner, and let the family elders rest for once? Eager to show off my new skills, I planned an elaborate menu, forgetting that my family wasn't exactly what you'd call adventurous eaters. When I proudly served my roasted pork tenderloin with apple and pomegranate sauce, my family just sort of stared at it. My mom disappeared into the kitchen without tasting hers, and emerged with a family favorite -- her garlic roasted chicken. I learned an important lesson about menu planning, and within an hour we were all laughing hysterically about it." - Tom T., Poughkeepsie, NY

Tip: Do a little homework before planning the menu. Finding out your attendees' likes, dislikes, and even food allergies, can help ensure that your time in the kitchen is well-spent and your meal is a success.

Table for Two
"One year, my boyfriend and I went to Vermont on Christmas Eve. We were staying at this fabulous hotel, and we just assumed they'd be serving Christmas dinner there. Well, they were, but we didn't realize we'd had to book it weeks in advance. There was a huge snowstorm that night, which in Vermont equals feet, not inches. So on Christmas day, we braved the storm in search of somewhere to eat. The only place that was open was a fast food Chinese joint. Not a traditional Christmas meal, but that year I learned that making the holidays special isn't about what you eat, but who you're with." - Julie B., Kells, Ireland

Tip: You can't always ensure good food, but you can be good company. In miserable holiday situations, make it a point to tell the people you're with how much they mean to you.

Culture Clash
"As a nice Jewish girl, I didn't celebrate Christmas and I was kind of scrooge about it, bah-humbug! But then I met my husband and finally got included in annual Christmas plans. Helen, my mother-in-law, makes mashed potatoes that probably eat up a full day's worth of Weight Watcher's points. It was the first time I'd had potatoes with cream cheese, butter and sour cream all mixed in. She also made a lovely Yorkshire pudding, another new one for me.

On my first year with them, Hanukkah coincided with Christmas and they bought me a menorah. While a very sweet gesture, my slack Jewish upbringing was revealed when I could only remember the prayers for the first night of Hanukkah and kept repeating them for the next few nights. My husband still makes fun of me to this day." - Diane G., Ithaca, NY

Tip: When entertaining someone with a different religious or cultural background than you, mix in traditional holiday dishes from their family with yours to make them feel comfortable.

Home Sweet Home
"My first year of living on the West coast, I couldn't afford to fly home to see my parents for the holidays. I didn't want them to spend the money on a ticket for me, so I told them that I was really swamped with work and would be stuck in front of the computer all weekend. Luckily, one of my friends had organized what she called a "refugee dinner" for all of us that had nowhere to go (or in my case, no way to get there). Not only was it a blast, but it made my new city feel like home for the first time. Four years later, I still think of my fellow refugees as my family away from home." - Jenna F., Portland, OR

Tip: If an important member of your family can't make the long trip home, make them a care package with some of their favorite holiday foods, music and movies. Even if they don't have a "refugee dinner" to go to, they'll have a piece of your holiday celebration with them.

Spilling the Beans
"We Cubans celebrate Christmas a little differently than those in our new adopted homeland. Our feast consisted of slow-roasted pork and rice, cooked with lard, of course. But the star of the show in my grandmother's kitchen was the black beans. There was something magical about hers. Something that said Christmas more than the 60 degree weather in Miami or the Rudolph special on TV.

One year, she left the stove unattended too long, and the beans (which are a two-day affair) were scorched beyond salvation. Without saying a word to anyone, she broke out a few cans of beans and proceeded to doctor them until they were unrecognizable as store-bought.

Something was different about them. No one said so, but we were all thinking it. After we'd all eaten, she asked what we'd thought of the beans. Everyone politely, but clearly half-heartedly gave their approval. Noting this, she revealed what had happened in the kitchen, and suddenly the mood turned to merriment. All was well again, and we could look forward to the joy of Holiday beans next year.

None of us could wait though, so we made her make it up to us in January. Even if the holiday beans came late, they were worth the wait!" - Ron G., Brooklyn, NY

Tip: When cooking a large holiday meal for family members, make as much of it as you can in advance and freeze or refrigerate it. That way, when disaster strikes, you've got time to start all over.