The holidays are upon us and it’s time to talk about holiday food traditions.
If you are Jewish, and it’s Hanukah, then the question for you is not are you going to make Kugel, but what kind are you going to make?
Maybe it’s because Nana cooked it, but everyone expects it at the holidays.
Known to some as a taste of heaven on earth, Kugel is a type of pudding and is an Eastern European mainstay that you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy!
It can be savory, made with potatoes or sweet made with egg noodles. My favorite recipe has been passed from generations. It’s for the sweet one … Give it a try and see your guests faces light up as they taste this culinary delight!
Beth’s Kugel Extraordinaire
1 lb wide noodles
1 stick margarine
1 small cream cheese (room temperature)
1 small cottage cheese
1 cup milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp vanilla
Topping-
5-6 graham crackers crushed
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 stick margarine (melted)
1 can Comstock pie filling (cherries, blueberries or apples)
Melt margarine-add Graham crackers, sugar and cinnamon
Sprinkle on top of fruit
Boil noodles in salted water - drain, add margarine and cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, milk, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla.
Pour in casserole, spoon cherries on top, sprinkle over topping
Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Another holiday food tradition that spans both Hanukah and Christmas is the Gingerbread house. Ok, so it’s more Christmas than Hanukah, but as you see it can be adapted!
Here’s a recipe from Allrecipes.com that does not call for black strap molasses!
Ingredients
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg yolk
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Directions
1. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until smooth. Stir in molasses and egg yolk. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg; blend into the molasses mixture until smooth. Cover, and chill for at least one hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until firm. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. Frost or decorate when cool.
I use this one for Gingerbread House Plan B, which is to make cookies to enjoy while decorating a pre-fabbed Gingerbread House! (So much easier than constructing one from scratch!)
I’d love to know what special foods you and your family make for the holidays … feel free to share your favorite recipes here!
Also, don’t forget that SimplyFineGourmet.com can provide your family with the BEST QUALITY Turkeys and Hams for a perfect holiday feast! So order now to make sure you get yours!
Hope this season is filled with joy and laughter and most important of all, here’s to your good health!
Best,
Beth
