What food is essential to make your holiday the holiday?
I'm glad to be aware of all of the holidays at this time of year. I celebrate Christmas, friends celebrate other holidays, especially Hanukkah. I've been talking with my daughters, neighbors and friends about who is going to make what cookies and other goodies we will each bake. I probably wouldn't have to bake at all, but I make cookie plates for several friends and neighbors. Most of my stuff will go on those plates. We've got most of the sweets decided. We're having a family gathering early, and we have a lot of that planned. I've been making baklava for over 30 years. I used to alternate between baklava and ragulach, but the baklava won. I'll make teacakes, rumballs, and almond flour gingerbread. Because of the family get together, we'll have ham, potato salad, and lots of snacks.
I think mixed nuts is the constant for my Christmas. We had them every year when we grew up. Up until the last few years, I would get mixed nuts in the shell, and we'd have plenty of nut crackers around. Always a rite of passage for the little kids, a triumph when they found an elusive pecan, or cracked a Brazil nut and got it entirely out of the shell. But I haven't seen loose bulk nuts the last few years, so I make a mix of shelled nuts and have them set out in a much smaller bowl.
As I look over recipes, and enjoy memories of Christmases past, I started wondering what makes the holidays at this time of year special for other families? Do you like to combine old favorites and new ideas? My daughter's inlaws have clam chowder without fail. We've had prime rib for small gatherings, with so many vegetarians, there is usually leftovers.
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Probably one of those church recipes.
It sounds gross, but it really tasty!
Cream cheese
mayo (just enough to loosen it up)
crushed pineapple and a little juice
garlic powder
ground walnuts or pecans for texture/balancing flavor
Put in already de-stringed celery
top with a little paprika for color
my kids are in their 20s now and DEMAND it is one the table every Thanksgiving or Christmas
I started making with a college roommate - her recipe. similar to these - https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/yuletide-cherry-cookies/
Goes with all meats & even today, daughter always requests I make it for gatherings.
Easy: 1 med head cabbage, 1 green pepper, 1 small to medium onion, finely shredded.
2 packs Kroger or Good Seasons Zesty Ital dressing (powder) mix
Cider vinegar
Olive or avacado oil
Great stuff! 
The most wonderful, super healthy side dish! 
And just goes with everything from fish to spaghetti to turkey & everything in between.
Do you still make it? I do, at least a couple of times per month. Each batch lasts 4-5 days. 
Not as often as I should. I shred cabbage and add some Kroger creamy Italian dressing, so it has a zesty flavor, and lower carbs. I have a fresh head of cabbage and it is beginning to call me 
Try the Zesty Italian mix, 4 Seasons or Kroger brand. Thet'ye identical. So much better than bottled dressings of any kind, imo.
I make it with Braggs cider vinegar & Aldi avacado oil. Super healthy.
Im on a low carb, low fat, no sugar, low salt diet for various recent diagnoses, so I enjoy what I can.
A significant chunk of change for me! But well spent!
Hence the food processor. I tried all types of the hand shredders, to no avail.
Glad it works for you, though!
Only takes a quick rinse after using for slaw.
Oh, I know! I've already had a bowl of pork stew for breakfast & it's only 8:30am here. 
Enjoy!
