Christmas is rightfully considered the most significant, even more important than the New Year. On the evening of the 24th, families gather together at a large table filled with delicious holiday dishes. Americans like to eat a lot and tasty, in particular, they love meat dishes (from pork, beef, and lamb) and tasty beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic as well). Here are some Christmas recipes for you.
Christmas Ham
Meat dishes make up the bulk of any holiday table in American families, and Christmas is no exception. This moderately spicy, fragrant, and savory dish most often appears on the festive table of Americans on Christmas Eve. To cook this dish you will need to prepare the following ingredients:
• Pork (preferably ham) - 2 kg.
• Salt, bay leaf - to taste.
• Dijon mustard - 1 tbsp.
• Cloves and allspice - 1 tsp each.
• Sugar (regular or Cassonade) - 5 tbsp.
• Maltose syrup - 3 tbsp.
• Zest from one medium orange.
• Red wine - 20 ml.
Place the meat in a saucepan, cover it with cold water, and add half the volume of the zest, all the spices, and molasses. Bring the mixture to a boil, periodically remove the foam, and reduce the heat. Simmer the meat over low heat for another 1.5 hours. Then cool it, make a diamond-shaped size on the meat, and place a clove in it. Put the meat into a roasting pan.
Now let's prepare the mixture for coating. To do this, mix sugar, mustard, the remaining zest, and wine. Use the mixture to coat the meat. Bake it in a preheated oven at 220C for 25 minutes. Be sure to let the dish cool before serving.
Traditional Eggnog Christmas drink
The second recipe I would like to share with you is Eggnog, which came to the American colonies from Britain back in the 18th century. Prepare the following set of products:
• Egg yolks - 4 pcs.
• Milk - 400 ml.
• Sugar - 100 gr.
• Cream - 200 ml.
• Carnation - 2 pcs.
• Cinnamon - to your taste.
• Nutmeg, and vanillin - a pinch each.
• Rum (optional - Brandy or Bourbon) - 4 tbsp.
Beat the yolks thoroughly with a mixer or a regular whisk in a large bowl. Continue beating the mixture while adding sugar until fluffy.
Mix milk, cinnamon, and cloves in a separate bowl. Heat the mixture, but do not let it boil. Next, pour the beaten eggs with sugar into the milk. Continue to cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened (approximately 160°F). It is important to prevent boiling, otherwise, the future drink may curdle (you can solve the problem by reapplying a blender or mixer).
Remove the saucepan from heat, and add to the cream. Next, you need to strain the resulting mixture carefully to separate the cloves from it. It gave its rich aroma and is no longer required. Leave the future drink to cool (at least 60 minutes).
Add vanilla, nutmeg, and alcohol (choice of brandy or bourbon) to the already chilled mixture. If the drink is prepared for children, the alcohol-containing component should be discarded. Even without rum, the mixture is very tasty and aromatic. Before serving on the festive table, decorate each glass of drink with whipped cream and cinnamon sticks.
These two simple and at the same time, original recipes will create a special atmosphere of a cozy family holiday. Americans love large feasts and lovingly prepared food, so when planning your menu in the best American tradition, try these two suggested recipes. Guests will definitely be delighted with their excellent presentation, extraordinary taste, and excellent aroma.