Christmas Traditions

[gearhead]

So the "backstory" behind Southerners eating peas is, as I understand it, when the union army marched through the south destroying everything they could, they didn't burn the pea patches. I'm not sure why. Maybe they weren't up yet or maybe they were considered cattle forage. Anyway that's all there was to eat.
I'm fixing to eat some....there was some chow chow and Steen's Pure Cane syrup involved too..

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by gearhead

So the "backstory" behind Southerners eating peas is, as I understand it, when the union army marched through the south destroying everything they could, they didn't burn the pea patches. I'm not sure why. Maybe they weren't up yet or maybe they were considered cattle forage. Anyway that's all there was to eat.
I'm fixing to eat some....

We had a lot going on this year and didn’t try the black eyed peas recipe. We will try sometime soon. What is chow chow? By the way it all looks delicious

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by notanlines

"Ayeshire bacon, square sausage, potato scones, black pudding"
Dan, you had me until you got to the black pudding. Yes, I grew up around some people with Scottish roots. Just where might one find 4 cups of pig blood for the recipe in this day and age?

Don't have no pigs anymore but guess you could take a goat, hang him upside down on the clothesline pole and.....well, you know. Not ever tried either so don't know which "essence" would taste best....

[gearhead]

Chow chow is shredded up cabbage in vinegar with some peppers for heat.
Steens syrup is sugar cane juice heated in open pots until it reaches the desired thickness. Southern country folks used it for sweetening instead of expensive sugar.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Don't have no pigs anymore but guess you could take a goat, hang him upside down on the clothesline pole and.....well, you know. Not ever tried either so don't know which "essence" would taste best....

My Grandfather (polish) liked to make traditional polish food. He tried on several occasions to make czernina..Duck or Goose soup..it’s main ingredient is the blood of either one..he would bring the geese home ,put them in a cage and start preparing.
My Grandmother would then open the cage and set them free
I’m not sure if he ever made one pot after all the trouble

[gearhead]

Lots of families had their own syrup "mills", or shared one with the extended famiiy. There was a part of the syrup that was removed and pulled like taffy.
Anyway here is my maternal family's mill. My grandmother is the toddler in a black dress in front of the horse. The 2 horses are powering the "squeezer" and the juice is either running down to the kettle or being carried in buckets. Sugarcane in the wagon. I think this picture was taken in 1900. South of Alexandria Louisiana.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by gearhead

Lots of families had their own syrup "mills", or shared one with the extended famiiy. There was a part of the syrup that was removed and pulled like taffy.
Anyway here is my maternal family's mill. My grandmother is the toddler in a black dress in front of the horse. The horse is powering the "squeezer" and the juice is running down to the kettle. Sugarcane in the wagon. I think this picture was taken in 1900. South of Alexandria Louisiana.

I love history. It’s impressive that you have your family lineage documented so well

[CrazyCain]

Our family tradition is Christmas eve. I make deep dish Sicilian Pizza with green peppers, onions, mushrooms, pepperoni, bacon, special secret Tomato sauce, topped with loads of mozzarella cheese all on home hand made dough. I always make a small one with everything plus anchovies!!!

Brother # 1 makes hand made Mostaccioli with tomato sauce

Sister makes a fried dough balls with sugar called Castagnole

Brother # 2 makes homemade Italian sausage cooked in a light tomato sauce

All this passed down from my mom and dad...

Endless Pisano red wine (Vino) if you dare

A whole lot of other side dishes, a feast that will lay you out!!

I might add that on Thanksgiving along with the Turkey, we have handmade Ravioli!!!

[gearhead]

Originally Posted by jasin1

I love history. It’s impressive that you have your family lineage documented so well

Thanks. I've been at it a while. It was tedious before Ancestry.com came along. Now it's easy. Pretty much just fill in the blanks. Do their DNA test and find out you have a thousand cousins. I enjoy finding the black sheep myself. There are like all families, a celebrity or two. I've got Annette O'Toole (Smallville & Superman?) and Lauren Iles, my very own county Game Warden and frequently on Lone Star Law TV show.