What's the meu going to be?

 It's December. Time to think about the next holiday dinner..Who's coming..Who can eat what..

It's Advent time already. One candle has been lit and and in three more, it will be Christmas.

We still have turkey leftovers in the 'frig, so turkey is out! Time for some planning!

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 A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving and says,"I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing". "What are you talking about?" the son screams. "We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm tired of it. Call you sister and tell her". Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts. She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow."  The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife.                "Okay," he says,  "they're both coming for Thanksgiving   and paying  their own way."

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But seriously, every region and nationality has it's favorite food and beverage, so what to serve?

Here, in the USA, Thanksgiving Dinner was usually turkey or some other poultry product, while Christmas diners will likely be feasting on Christmas ham, mashed potatoes, and meatballs with veggies on the side. Some will reach for the bread and butter while the Scandinavian Americans might have lutefisk and lefse. Meatballs will be added for those adverse to lutefisk. Tom and Jerrys or egg nog will be the beverages as they wait for the table to be set.

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While hamburgers seem to be the American national food, our European friends have some  other tastes.

Swedish tables will have lingonberry jam that is used to accompany a variety of dishes  from meatballs to blodpudding. Reindeer meat is popular in the north while southern portions of Sweden may have other game dishes, however, the traditional Swedish meatballs ( with brown cream sauce) will probably have tart lingonberry jam alongside.  Knäckebröd (crispbread) will be on hand. This 'bread' has been enjoyed for over 500 years and can last for at least a year if stored properly.

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Norwegian cuisine is based largely on the raw materials readily available on mountains, in waters, and

wilderness as well as coastal areas. Lutefisk is the common thought-of national 'favorite', but it's losing to cod or whitefish. Lutefisk lovers will make sure that lots of melted butter, white sauce, and salt with lots of condiments make this dish palatable.  Fokost (breakfast) will be milk or fruit juice, lots of coffee, oatmeal and open sandwiches on the table. Dinner (middag) diners see fish, boiled potatoes and vegetables to eat, while krumkaker (a delicious pastry) and lefse will be enjoyed. Again, lots of coffee!

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"Lutefisk" may be the 'National Norse food' , but Norwegians are currently turning to their second National Food!...

Pizza!!

Norway's new favorite food- pizza!

Norwegians like their pizza unhealthy, the more unhealthy the better, it seems.The most popular brand is "Grandiosa".  which has a habit of putting capsicum (paprika) on their pizzas.Norwegians say that frozen pizza is now Norway’s national dish as pizza usually dominates store's frozen food section. Every new pizza brand that comes out offers the same flavors  – meat, ham, pineapple and margarita.  This suits Norwegians just fine as variety isn’t cared for. Capsicum is very popular in Norway and is sold like apples.  But everyone complained that they had to pick off the capsicum before they could eat their pizza. 

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But our Norwegian Christmas diners will expect pinnekjøttt, a salted dried and sometimes smoked lamb ribs  

färikål

or färikål, which is  lamb simmered with cabbage and peppercorn. Boiled potatoes, sausages, and piles of pastry will be enjoyed with rømmegrøt, a porridge made with sour cream, again served  with butter, sugar, and cinnamon. All washed down with gløgg, a syrupy wine with almonds and raisins for taste. How will they find room for juleøl, a special Christmas beer? Or akevitt?

akevitt

Whatever is chosen, akevitt ( in Latin - water of life) is the best known and  widely accepted as THE drink. Akevitt is a distilled yellow-colored liquor spiced with caraway seeds and not for the young!

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Lots of culinary choices!
But now, how many will be coming?

gud jul!