Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday Reflection: The holidays
I was in a restaurant today, and overheard a boy ask his dad, "what is Kwanzaa?" The dad seemed stumped by this question. The question ended up being answered by the boy's sister, who was well-informed on the subject, and I learned something through my eavesdropping. They then debated the relative merits of holidays celebrated by various faiths, from Purim to Ramadan.
Which led me to think-- if you could only celebrate one holiday a year, which would you choose?
Personally, I think it would be Thanksgiving, which seems in a sense to be the most Christian of holidays, at least in the form we usually use to celebrate. I need that reflective moment of thanks.
Which would you choose?
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I'm partial to fires, revelry, music and dancing, so Beltane/Walpurgisnacht, or "May Day" for you cowan types.
Or perhaps Jul, though since no one will let me cook reindeer for Julblót it doesn't feel as authentic.
Or perhaps Jul, though since no one will let me cook reindeer for Julblót it doesn't feel as authentic.
I always like Halloween. It signifies a change in attitude as people slow down, get ready for winter and begin the planning for the last portion of the year. It's not overwrought with sentimentality or drama, and there's a crispness to the air that seems to be present no matter what part of the country you're in. Not to mention it's a ton of fun.
Christmas if my favorite holiday, and it isn't even close. Christmas eve service, then Christmas morning with the family. Easily two of my favorite days of the entire year, along with the first home football game of the year.
# posted by 
: 3:24 AM
: 3:24 AM
Wow - this is a tough one. I don't just have one holiday I like. Being 'middle-aged' and not having kids the meaning of holidays tends to shift and change based on what is going on in our lives at the time.
Fourth of July will always be a favorite for what it represents. And despite not being of a religious bend, I really enjoy celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. The celebration of Light! We cook latkes and eat smoked salmon and light lots of candles.
And yes, we have a beautiful, large decorated tree in our home with a modest number of gifts beneath. And LOTS of LIGHTS.
Fourth of July will always be a favorite for what it represents. And despite not being of a religious bend, I really enjoy celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. The celebration of Light! We cook latkes and eat smoked salmon and light lots of candles.
And yes, we have a beautiful, large decorated tree in our home with a modest number of gifts beneath. And LOTS of LIGHTS.
I would have to second Thanksgiving. I love that it's about coming together and sharing food with friends and family, and generally has nothing to do with presents at all. I also like that it is followed by another big holiday, so there is no let down...it's a great celebration that is made even greater by anticipation. Our family almost always spends the weekend of Thanksgiving decorating the tree while listening Christmas music or watching It's a Wonderful Life. I think it's perfection.
I would have to second Thanksgiving. I love that it's about coming together and sharing food with friends and family, and generally has nothing to do with presents at all. I also like that it is followed by another big holiday, so there is no let down...it's a great celebration that is made even greater by anticipation. Our family almost always spends the weekend of Thanksgiving decorating the tree while listening Christmas music or watching It's a Wonderful Life. I think it's perfection.
I think either the 4th of July or New Years Eve. Both are times for being with friends; they're not overly commercialized; and the bulk of the celebrating tends to take place at night, which is my favorite time for celebrating :)
Devil's Night!
That may just be a thing only people in Detroit know about. I remember asking people if they wanted to go out and cause trouble when I first moved here and they looked horrified that there is a holiday in which you try to burn down a city.
-Brennan
That may just be a thing only people in Detroit know about. I remember asking people if they wanted to go out and cause trouble when I first moved here and they looked horrified that there is a holiday in which you try to burn down a city.
-Brennan
# posted by : 11:44 AM
: 11:44 AM
Anon, apparently my family believes it is evil and cruel to eat reindeer at Christmastime. When I explain that the Finns have been doing this for years, they tell me to move to Finland.
Christine, venison tastes wonderful if it's prepared and cooked correctly, but badly if it's not. I recommend using farm-raised rather than wild unless you trust the skill of the hunter to properly track, shoot, and field dress a deer for the meat instead of for a "trophy."
After that, as with all wild meats, the preparation is the key, and that usually means a long and involved prep time. My favorite cut of venison is espresso and chili rubbed venison medallions.
Ingredients:
12 ounces Shiner Bock or any bock beer
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 dried ancho chiles, chopped and seeded
1/4 cup heavy cream
Juice of 1 lime
2 sticks butter, cut into 1-inch pieces, at room temperature
Salt and white pepper
1/4 cup finely ground espresso coffee beans
1 tablespoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds venison boneless loin
Combine the espresso beans, sea salt, chili powder and black pepper into a separate bowl. Coat the venison for about an hour before cooking.
In a large sauce pan over medium heat, combine the beer, shallots, garlic, dried chilis, and cream in the pan and simmer until only about half is left. Add the lime juice and heat it back up to a simmer. When it's hot, put it in a blender and puree, while dropping the pats of butter in one-by-one. Season to taste with salt and white pepper. Remove from the heat and keep it in a well-insulated container.
Prep your grill... burn your coals down to a medium heat, and put in a smoker box (a metal box filled with soaked wood shavings). I recommend hickory or pecan. When the smoker box has heated up, put the venison on the rack. Put in a meat thermometer, and cook until the internal temp is 130° (usually 15-20 minutes).
When it's done, remove the meat, cut into 1/2 slices, and fan them out on a plate. Glaze with your sauce and serve with flavored mashed potatoes, like garlic or wasabi, fresh local veggies and a spinach and lettuce salad with vinegar and oil dressing.
After that, as with all wild meats, the preparation is the key, and that usually means a long and involved prep time. My favorite cut of venison is espresso and chili rubbed venison medallions.
Ingredients:
12 ounces Shiner Bock or any bock beer
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 dried ancho chiles, chopped and seeded
1/4 cup heavy cream
Juice of 1 lime
2 sticks butter, cut into 1-inch pieces, at room temperature
Salt and white pepper
1/4 cup finely ground espresso coffee beans
1 tablespoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds venison boneless loin
Combine the espresso beans, sea salt, chili powder and black pepper into a separate bowl. Coat the venison for about an hour before cooking.
In a large sauce pan over medium heat, combine the beer, shallots, garlic, dried chilis, and cream in the pan and simmer until only about half is left. Add the lime juice and heat it back up to a simmer. When it's hot, put it in a blender and puree, while dropping the pats of butter in one-by-one. Season to taste with salt and white pepper. Remove from the heat and keep it in a well-insulated container.
Prep your grill... burn your coals down to a medium heat, and put in a smoker box (a metal box filled with soaked wood shavings). I recommend hickory or pecan. When the smoker box has heated up, put the venison on the rack. Put in a meat thermometer, and cook until the internal temp is 130° (usually 15-20 minutes).
When it's done, remove the meat, cut into 1/2 slices, and fan them out on a plate. Glaze with your sauce and serve with flavored mashed potatoes, like garlic or wasabi, fresh local veggies and a spinach and lettuce salad with vinegar and oil dressing.
I agree with Lane. My roommate and I got up early most Saturdays this summer to get our hands on the most recent batch of reindeer sausage at the local outdoor market, and it was delicious. It was local too, which made me feel that much luckier to be eating it.
ok Lane - this sounds better than the mustard and herd crusted leg of lamb I just had for dinner.
No trophy hunters in my neighborhood. In fact there were 9 deer just out my kitchen window at about 4:30 this afternoon. I'll have to check the farmers market this winter to see what I can find.
No trophy hunters in my neighborhood. In fact there were 9 deer just out my kitchen window at about 4:30 this afternoon. I'll have to check the farmers market this winter to see what I can find.
Hey, the tagline says that recipes will be included. Just making sure the Prof keeps his recipe quota up.
Also, what magical state is this that you live in where you can buy venison at your local farmer's markets? Stupid Texas laws.
Also, what magical state is this that you live in where you can buy venison at your local farmer's markets? Stupid Texas laws.
The "most Christian" must be Easter. Though Thanksgiving certainly carries a fantastic moral message that is entirely consistent with the Christian message, Easter is the definition of the Christian message: a celebration of Christ raised from the grave.
# posted by : 7:36 AM
: 7:36 AM
Lane, I live in RURAL! Durham, NC. As I remember from last year I will have to beg some deer from a neighbor. Let's just say the deer are becoming a nuisance as many of my neighbors think it is 'cute' to feed them during the winter. These are the same people who don't try to grow stuff in the summer.
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