Salads at Your Traditional Holiday Meal

[Holly56]

Originally Posted by BethK

...ours also had the homemade bread 'n butter pickles, trimmed green onions

I forgot about both of those and the onions reminded me about the salt cellars, put out to dip the onions and radishes. There was usually herring and crackers as well.

Originally Posted by BethK

Mom always yelled not to fill up and to wait for dinner. Grandpa sat at the head of the table and urged us on...then Mom would yell at us again.

lol Yep, yep, yep. Relish dish snitching netted less scolding than dipping into the nut cup.

[mpf1945]

How about celery sticks filled with peanut butter or cream cheese & sprinkled with Paprika????

mpf1945

[Holly56]

Originally Posted by mpf1945

How about celery sticks filled with peanut butter or cream cheese & sprinkled with Paprika????

We never did those, but I'd go with little dipping cups or plates, forgetting presentation in favor of selection.

[cjs]

"How about celery sticks filled with peanut butter or cream cheese & sprinkled with Paprika????" these were always on the holiday table at my mother's and my house!! The cheese came in a little glass that we kept for drinking out of and had pimiento cheese in it. Haven't done that for a long time!

[ChefJune]

In our family, salads were salads, and were always on the table, especially at Christmas and New Years (and Hanukkah). The condiments we rather thought of as snacks... things like the stuffed celery and the like, and they tended to be served with the appetizers.

Since my birthday is on Hanukkah this year, I am thinking of doing a combo dinner, and let everyone bring me presents!

[cjs]

There you go, June - good idea. I have a BIG one next May and I'm inviting everyone to my party and I expect gifts, that's for darn sure!!

[Holly56]

Originally Posted by ChefJune

In our family, salads were salads, and were always on the table, especially at Christmas and New Years (and Hanukkah). The condiments we rather thought of as snacks... things like the stuffed celery and the like, and they tended to be served with the appetizers.

Appetizers? More than one course? We'd never get those watching the football game to the table with less than, "the turkey is getting cold". Most of the relish dishes were eaten while waiting for the mandatory pictures of the family around the table. Our big meal was always between one and three.

Even the dessert was usually served with the second round, turkey sandwiches as the card tables were set up, tho they were always offered to anyone who still had any room left in their stomach.

Originally Posted by ChefJune

Since my birthday is on Hanukkah this year, I am thinking of doing a combo dinner, and let everyone bring me presents!

As a Christmas baby, I always say that everyone in the family gets to celebrate my b-day with me. I call the tree my birthday tree and they all know that I am offended if my b-day gifts wrapped in Christmas paper.

I back you on your combo dinner strategy, tho kinda wonder how you're gonna get the gifting hint dropped without getting too blatant about it.

[cjs]

"without getting too blatant about it." No reason to be subtle about it!!

[moly02]

Our family jello salad was made from grape jello, canned sweet cherries and cream cheese rolled into little balls. Chopped pecans were sprinkled on top. My children still like it. I would just rather have a little tossed salad with vinegarette to lighten things up a bit.

[ChefJune]

Originally Posted by Holly56

Appetizers? More than one course? We'd never get those watching the football game to the table with less than, "the turkey is getting cold". Most of the relish dishes were eaten while waiting for the mandatory pictures of the family around the table. Our big meal was always between one and three.

Ours was always in the evening, around 5:30. and back in "those days," there was only ONE football game on! so when it was over, football was over for the day. Mom and Aunt Elsie were smart enough not to compete.

I back you on your combo dinner strategy, tho kinda wonder how you're gonna get the gifting hint dropped without getting too blatant about it.

"Subtle" has never been my strong suit, Holly. I have no problem reminding the guests we will be celebrating my Birthday with a Capital B!

[ChefJune]

Originally Posted by moly02

Our family jello salad was made from grape jello, canned sweet cherries and cream cheese rolled into little balls. Chopped pecans were sprinkled on top. My children still like it. I would just rather have a little tossed salad with vinegarette to lighten things up a bit.

You must be a youngster, Moly! When I was a kid there definitely was NO grape jello. Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry, Orange, Lemon and Lime. That was it! (and we NEVER used lime. If mom wanted green jello, she tinted the lemon with blue food coloring.)

[ArrrTea]

Originally Posted by ChefJune

You must be a youngster, Moly! When I was a kid there definitely was NO grape jello.

Now THERE is a "foodie" allrighty! LOL! Now that I think on it...that's true

[BethK]

Originally Posted by ChefJune

You must be a youngster, Moly! When I was a kid there definitely was NO grape jello. Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry, Orange, Lemon and Lime. That was it! (and we NEVER used lime. If mom wanted green jello, she tinted the lemon with blue food coloring.)

June, Oh, so true about the "grape" jello. LOL

But the lime was the one my Grandma made the ginger ale salad with:

Lime jello, dissolve w/hot water, add VERNOR'S GINGER ALE (not available past the Mississippi River, I believe...), stir in softened cream cheese, chopped nuts (usually walnuts ground in the hand grinder where you put the nuts in the top and turned the handle and they fell into the glass container below) and pineapple tidbits. The Vernor's Ginger Ale kept it's "sparkle" and "fizz" somewhat and was a refreshing salad....cut into squares and placed upon a lovely piece of leaf lettuce. LOL Gawd, I haven't thought of that in years!

[Norm]

Ever since I was little, I loved Canada Dry ginger ale except for the fact that it went flat too quickly. Thank goodness it isn't like that now. Not a fan of Vernors at all. Other two favorites were Squirt- with floaties still in it- and Dr. Pepper, especially when it was still made with cane sugar.