My Christmas Eve and Christmas Dishes 2011

Advent cookie baking is behind me, and so is my older daughter's birthday, so now I can think about Christmas preparations. There won't be too much to do, but I've already taken the most important step, which is planning the menu. It will be rather simple and traditional, without many new things. The second step is planning the work. I'll make the uszka (little dumplings for barszcz) tomorrow and freeze them. If I have the energy, I'll also make little savory pastries to go with the barszcz. They'll come in handy for finishing off the leftover barszcz. On Friday, since I have the day off, I'll prepare the fish dishes and maybe a cake. And Saturday? The dried fruit kompot and the barszcz. Maybe I'll even have some time left to get the mess in the kitchen under control, along with the kids and myself. Oh, and decorating the Christmas tree. So I have to get everything done in time.

I'm curious how you planned your Christmas preparations!

Dishes for Christmas Eve and Christmas 2011

Here are my Christmas Eve dishes for 2011:

Clear red barszcz (Polish beet soup) with uszka (little filled dumplings; I chose yeast dough and a mushroom and cabbage filling).

Red barszcz with uszka is the most important Christmas Eve dish in my home. We cook it, or rather, when we all spend the holidays together, Mom cooks it shortly before serving, as the last dish. When the barszcz is ready, we sit down at the Christmas Eve table and feast… recipe >

barszcz with uszka

Dried fruit kompot

This kompot (a traditional fruit drink) can't be missing from the Christmas Eve table either. Just like red barszcz with uszka, we wait for it all year, and only on this one day does it taste so special. For the kompot, I recommend pitted prunes. I like them best when they're firm. Recipe for dried fruit kompot >

dried fruit kompot

Herring under a featherbed

This is one of my favorite herring salads. It's a great addition to a holiday menu, but it's also good for any other herring occasion. Even people who aren't big fans of herring like it, because besides the herring there are lots of other goodies in it. Recipe for herring under a featherbed >

herring under a featherbed

Kashubian-style herring

My Mom made this herring for Christmas. But this herring salad is also good every day, with bread, for example with oats, or as a snack for a get-together, so it's worth remembering this recipe. Recipe for Kashubian-style herring >

Kashubian-style herring

Salmon in aspic

This is a great way to add some variety to the dishes on the holiday table. In my family you can usually find fried carp with mushrooms or carp baked with garlic. There is also fish in aspic, but last year was the first time we got to taste the dish I'm suggesting today. Recipe for salmon in aspic >

salmon in aspic

Pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms

Pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms (Polish filled dumplings) are one of the most important dishes on every Christmas Eve table. Here's how we make them in my home. Recipe for pierogi >

pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms

This year there won't be carp with garlic and wine on my table

When I made it for the first time, I approached it with a grain of salt. Carp, parsley and garlic… I love garlic, but the thought of such a meager stuffing for carp filled me with doubts. Recipe for carp in wine >

carp with garlic and wine

Carp with mushrooms

Another Christmas recipe. This time a fish one. In my family this carp is on the table every year. Recipe for carp with mushrooms >

carp with mushrooms

but there will be other fish prepared by my mother-in-law, who will also contribute a few other dishes.

For dessert there will be makówki (a traditional Polish poppy seed dessert)

When I was putting together my Christmas menu, I hadn't thought about this treat yet. Heck, I didn't even know it. When tuptusia wrote about makówki with such enthusiasm, I decided to find a recipe and try it. Recipe for makówki >

makówki

and Viennese cheesecake

I recently tested another recipe from my family collection. Since Christmas is approaching and cheesecakes will be baked en masse, I decided to try one of the many recipes I have. Recipe for Viennese cheesecake >

Viennese cheesecake

Poppy seed strucla,

At Christmas, I can't do without makowiec (Polish poppy seed cake). It's usually a makowiec in the form of a strucla (a rolled cake). Until last year I had a hard time finding the right recipe. Then, in the depths of the internet, I discovered this one. This strucla turns out perfect, with lots of poppy seeds and dough that doesn't fall apart. Recipe for poppy seed strucla >

poppy seed strucla

Apple strudel and lots of cookies and gingerbread cookies.

My holiday dishes also include beet salad

This salad is perfect for Christmas Eve, for the other days of the holidays, and for other occasions too. It's a great side dish and complement to the fish dishes, which, after all, reign over the holiday table. It seems to me that far too few salads and vegetables in general are served at Christmas, and those are exactly what I always miss. Recipe for beet salad >

beet salad

Brussels sprout and carrot salad (new recipe)

I dug this recipe out of an old notebook of family recipes. Unfortunately, I'm giving the amounts of the ingredients "by eye," because that's exactly how I made this salad. If you don't like cranberries or don't have them, you can replace them with raisins. Recipe for Brussels sprout salad

Brussels sprout and carrot salad

Pork loin with plums

As a side to the dinner, which I don't have to make myself because my mother-in-law does it. For the second day of Christmas, or just for snacking, there will be roast beef (also a new recipe) or pork loin with plums

pork loin with plums

and the plainest vegetable slaw. There won't be a dinner on that day.

That's it for my Christmas Eve and Christmas dishes this year. Please share your ideas with me :)

In the meantime, I wish you calm and peaceful Christmas preparations.