Mediterranean Vegetable-Lentil Stew
(Offered picture — Yvona Quick)
The climate is chilly. The times are quick and grey. Nights are lengthy. However that is the time for vacation cheer! Have fun with meals!
Hanukkah is previous, however Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New 12 months celebrations are simply across the nook.
People hail from many meals traditions — our ancestors got here from throughout the globe.
Jews from central Europe have fun the miracle of Hanukkah oil with latkes, fried potato pancakes. For a sweeter deal with, these will also be made with different greens, like carrots or parsnips. And plenty of different fried meals, like jelly donuts, are a part of the feast.
In lots of northern European cultures, Solstice (additionally known as Saturnalia or Xmas) celebrations are in style. Mistletoe, the Xmas log, singing and dancing are a part of Scandinavian traditions. Romans would loosen up and alternate presents at Saturnalia.
Meals are likely to focus across the fall harvest — roots, apples, porridge, pork and, in fact, scorching soup to heat you from the chilly winter days. Scorching cider spiced with nutmeg and ginger — additionally known as Wassail (translated to ‘be properly’) — is a well-liked beverage. The customized of bringing this spicy alcoholic beverage from home to accommodate whereas singing songs is what pre-dates trendy Christmas caroling.
Christmas treats across the globe embrace mince pies (England), Buche de Noel (France), stollen (Germany), melomakarona (Greece), makosh and (Hungary).
Fish is historically eaten as the principle course on Christmas Eve in Italy, Poland, Spain and Latin America. Within the Philippines, the flowery Christmas feast typically features a complete roast pig.
Kwanzaa is a Swahili phrase that means first fruits. The vacation is the brainchild of Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Black Research on the College of California in Lengthy Seashore. It’s an effort to carry the Black group collectively. Candles are lit, tales and poems are shared, and the seven rules of Kwanzaa are mentioned every evening over the festive meal.
Frequent meals embrace candy potato biscuits, cornbread, jerk rooster, groundnut stew (a tasty West African dish), Cajun catfish, African Creole meals, beans and rice. Collard greens, Kwanzaa slaw, okra, and Jellof rice are widespread sides.
Conventional Kwanzaa desserts embrace ambrosia, coconut cake, candy potato bars, peach cobbler, and mango pound cake.
The December holidays in fact culminate with New 12 months celebrations on the final day of the 12 months.
In Vietnam, Bahn Chung — rice truffles filled with pork, beans, and different delicacies — are conventional fare for New 12 months’s. Koreans ring within the New 12 months with conventional kimchi and rice cake soup (Dduk Gook).
In Portugal, Spain, Italy, and components of Latin America, 12 grapes are eaten at midnight, to make sure happiness within the coming 12 months.
Italians have fun with lentils; a vegetable and lentil stew is widespread New 12 months fare. Lentils and beans, as symbols of wealth, are eaten in Brazil and Italy. Pork is in style in Austria, the place a suckling pig is an effective luck image. In Poland and Germany, herring is eaten at midnight to carry luck. In Holland, particular donuts, Olle Bollen, are eaten for a candy New 12 months. In America, finger meals and hors de oeuvres are typical at New 12 months’s Eve events.
–
Mediterranean Vegetable-Lentil Stew
–
This high-fiber, low-fat vegetarian or vegan dish (omit Parmesan) is acceptable both for the meatless Christmas Eve meal conventional in Italy, Spain and Portugal, in addition to for New 12 months’s Eve the place lentils are symbolic of cash.
Components:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 giant onion
1 stalk celery
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 medium pink bell pepper
2 cloves garlic
1 1/2 cup dried lentils
1 bay leaf
2 cups cubed Butternut squash
1 giant potato
1 bay leaf
1/2 pound inexperienced beans or 1/2 pound kale greens, stripped from stems
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped recent basil
1/2 cup chopped recent flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
Salt and pepper
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
About 1/2 cup sliced olives, for serving
Instructions:
Warmth oil within the backside of soup kettle to medium-low. Peel and cube the onion, and add. Sprinkle with salt. Cowl and prepare dinner. Within the meantime, wash and slice celery; wash, seed and chop the pink pepper, and add. Peel and mince the garlic, and add.
When the greens have cooked about 10 minutes, add lentils, bay leaf, Butternut squash, potato and 4 cups broth or water. Carry to a boil, then decrease warmth to simmer; prepare dinner till lentils and greens are nearly tender, about quarter-hour.
Add inexperienced beans or kale (stripped from stems and washed) and diced tomatoes. Prepare dinner 10 extra minutes. Stir in basil and parsley. Style and alter seasonings as wanted.
Serve in bowls or soup plates, with crusty Italian bread or French baguette. Cross Parmesan cheese and olives to garnish on prime.
Serves 3 – 4.
To make in sluggish cooker: Place lentils, broth, and remaining components besides olive oil in crockpot. Prepare dinner 10 hours on low. Stir in olive oil simply earlier than serving.
–
Bacon Braised Greens
–
Braised greens are an ideal aspect for any meal, however are conventional southern and African-American fare for Kwanzaa.
Components:
2 or 3 strips bacon (or 1 – 2 Tablespoons additional virgin olive oil)
1 onion
2 kilos recent greens or about 16 cups. Greens can embrace collards, kale, turnip greens, beet greens, Swiss chard, bok choy
3 – 4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup broth or water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar
Elective: 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes; diced cooked ham, for serving; shredded sharp cheese, for serving
Instructions:
Wash greens and chop coarsely. Put aside in colander.
Place bacon in deep, straight-sided skillet or pot with lid. Prepare dinner on medium-low to render fats, about 10 minutes. Take away and drain on paper towels. (alternately, use olive oil).
Add onion to bacon drippings (or olive oil), cowl, and prepare dinner on low 5 – 10 minutes, till gentle and golden. Peel and mince the garlic, add, and prepare dinner a few minute.
Add the greens and raisins, sprinkle with salt, and toss till wilted. Add broth, cowl and prepare dinner 5 – quarter-hour, till tender (it will depend upon the kind of greens – chard and spinach prepare dinner in lower than 5 minutes; kale and collards might take 15 – 20).
Crumble within the reserved bacon. Sprinkle with vinegar. Add the tomatoes and / or ham, if utilizing.
Serve scorching. I like this over cooked pasta.
–
Primary Fruit Cobbler
–
Peach cobbler is conventional for Kwanzaa. However a fruit cobbler is an excellent dessert anytime!
Components:
5 cups canned peach slices, drained (or 5 cups frozen berries, thawed)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon cornstarch
4 tablespoons bitter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 levels F.
Butter or oil 9” x 9″ baking dish.
Place peaches (or different fruit) within the backside of baking dish. Sprinkle with cornstarch and drizzle with maple syrup.
I small saucepan, warmth milk and butter till butter is melted.
I mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Stir in milk and butter combination.
Spoon topping over fruit; bake half-hour, or till golden brown.
——
Writer of the award-winning cookbook “Backyard Connoisseur: Recent & Fabulous Meals out of your Backyard, CSA or Farmers’ Market,” Yvona Quick lives in Lake Clear and has two passions: cooking and writing. She will be discovered at www.yvonafast.com and reached at yvonawrite@yahoo.com or on Fb at Phrases Are My World.
