Sunday, December 28, 2008

Christmas Dinner 2008


Santa welcomes you.

[ts]
This dinner almost didn't happen.

Well, it almost didn't happen in this scale. We had planned to have a get-together at our house but we were getting semi-cancellations about 2 days beforehand because of the snow here in Vancouver. So, we were set to have a dinner at home ourselves, especially when there was new snow falling on the 24th! However, that snow turned "rainy" and by Christmas morning, the semi-cancellations were themselves cancelled and the party was on!

Menu


Dry-Brined Roast Turkey
w/ Turkey Gravy
w/ Cranberry Sauce

Ham with Sweet Glaze

Moroccan Chicken Tagine

Garlic Bread
Mashed Potatoes
Mesclun Greens w/ Dried Cranberries & Balsamic Vinaigrette
Cabbage with Corned Beef
Gailan (Chinese Broccoli) w/ Oyster Sauce
Pesto Pasta with Shrimp
Philippine Chicken Macaroni Salad


The Proteins


Dry-Brined Roast Turkey
Served with homemade gravy and cranberry sauce. This is our first-ever turkey and we do have a lot to say on the topic! Read all about it here.


Ham with Sweet Glaze
We didn't make this ourselves... it was {muffled}. It was store-bought! (Gasp!). Still tasty, though.

[js]
Well, the ham did take 3 hours in the oven -- so every minute that it was using up our gas, it's kind of like we were "cooking" it. ;)


Moroccan Chicken Tagine
I'm sorry, but I can't seem to make this dish look good in pictures! But, like before, it was mighty tasty. This is pure flavor in a pot. See our post with recipe.

The Sides

Garlic Bread and Mashed Potatoes


Mesclun Greens with Dried Cranberries and Balsamic Vinaigrette
This is our "house" salad and it's always popular (seen here before).


Cabbage with Corned Beef
This is a Philippine or Filipino-Chinese home-style dish. Simply sauté some onions and corned beef in a pan and add your cabbage. Cook until the cabbage is soft.

Oh, by the way, by corned beef, we mean canned corned beef. We from the Philippines do love our Spam and corned beef.


Gailan (Chinese Broccoli) with Oyster Sauce
A 3-ingredient wonder of a dish. See our gailan post.

And finally, these 2 dishes were brought over by the B -- of the B's Hong Ba (Red-Braised Pork Hock) fame -- and his wife.


Pesto Pasta with Shrimp
Simple and delicious. Thanks, the B's wife!


Philippine Chicken Macaroni Salad
This had minced carrots, chopped pineapples, macaroni and shredded chicken all combined with mayonnaise. A classic Philippine dish, one we haven't had in a very long time! This is especially good eaten with the ham. Thanks, the B!


The Buffet


We consider these 2 items great early Christmas gifts, having received them early in December.

Thanks to Ben of What's Cooking for the book on tapas

and to

Jen of The Leftover Queen and the Royal Food Joust for the apron!



Christmas Dinner 2008 on a plate
clockwise from top: mesclun greens, Moroccan chicken, cranberry sauce, roast turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, gailan (Chinese broccoli), cabbage w/ corned beef, ham, garlic bread, chicken macaroni salad, and finally, below the greens, pesto pasta w/ shrimp.

Now, we just have to worry about our New Year's Eve feast!

21 comments:

  1. What? You mean there weren't leftovers?!

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  2. I am glad you got the apron! It looks awesome! Great spread too! WOW!!!

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  3. Ahhh - looks like a very similar table! I love the macaroni salad and cabbage/corned beef dishes (naturally) and every thing looks amazing! Glad you had your celebration dinner and it turned out well!

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  4. Great looking feast! I wish I had taken more pictures of mine. I doctored a store bought ham as well but made up for it with three day short ribs.

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  5. Looks fabulous! Glad that weather made a turnaround!

    We didn't get ANY photos of our finished feast this year... so kudos for taking the time on that front. I know the time that takes!!

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  6. What a tasty feast! Happy holidays!

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  7. Wow, that is quite a spread!

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  8. I want to hear all about the turkey!

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  9. oh boyyyy....that looks like my usual plate in any all-you-can-eat joint...and gosh, you guys stepped all over santa eh?

    btw...i am in love with your gravy pot T_T

    happy holidays, girls and family :)

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  10. What a delicious feast.

    Can't wait to hear your opinions about dry-brining turkey.

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  11. Umm - so yea, I need to have been invited to your house - this feast looks fantastic!

    -DTW
    www.everydaycookin.com

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  12. Uh... yeah... we had maccaroni.... at my mom's.... Seriously, this looks really good and I'm so envious!

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  13. yowza! i'm totally coming to your house next year. i thought my xmas brunch was pretty impressive, but it PALES next to this spread. shine on, you crazy diamonds.

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  14. wow!! what a nice spread you guys had there!! east meet the west dinner!! Happy New Year to both of you!

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  15. What a phenomenal spread!! Jeez, there's a capital I in Impressed!!!

    My favorite part is the variety of food on your table - I absolutely love it. Our family/friend meals are similar, and we have hummus with the turkey, and gingered carrots sit beside smoked herring and tabouli....it's a melting pot, and it makes me fat and happy!

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  16. Wow.. Where's the balut? I'd probably go for that cabbage dish right off the bat.
    Happy new year!

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  17. I'm so glad it all turned out great for you!
    I love looking at your Christmas lunch, wonderful!

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  18. That is a fabulous international meal, Moroccan, Filipino, Chinese, Irish, Italian, I've lost track.

    Happy New Year to you two ladies.

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  19. What a great extensive spread of food!

    Happy 2009!

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  20. Joan Nova:
    Actually, not so much! Perhaps the gailan, hehe.

    JennDZ - The Leftover Queen:
    We were quite pleasantly surprised that it even had the name of our entry on it! Thanks again. =)

    Joelen:
    Thanks!

    Maggie:
    I don't kow if we'll ever make ham from scratch at home! =) Those store ones are pretty good.

    Lo:
    Yeah, had to take quickie shots of the food. The lighting is/was different on different parts of the counter! So as I was uploading them onto the computer, some were so nice and white and bright, and some were so dark and yellow!

    Kevin:
    kat:
    Darius T. Williams:
    Thanks!

    Pam:
    Nate-n-Annie:
    Haha, it's going to be posted "soon"? =) It will be posted, period.

    Mochachocolata Rita:
    Sad thing was, Rita, that that was only my *FIRST* plate of food. ;D

    Fearless Kitchen:
    Well, you *do* do A LOT of cooking anyday else! You should take a day off on Christmas! =)

    michelle @ TNS:
    That may be the most inspiring thing anybody has said. ;) I should design a T-shirt with that. Teehee.

    noobcook:
    Beachlover:

    Choosy Beggar Tina:
    Yeah, we rarely have a "theme" now, especially when there's quite a number of people. It's easier just to have something for everybody.

    Jude:
    Haha... I think some diehard corned beef fanatics were "disappointed" that the cabbage was butting in on the corned beef action.

    nicisme:
    tigerfish:
    Thanks! =)


    Hope everyone has had lovely holidays!

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