Jersey Eats.
The House by the Parkway has been a sniffer’s delight over the past several days, as we prepare the Christmas Feed. Each year, we make way too much food and swear that we won’t do that any more. That vow has been regularly broken for as long as I can remember.
A week or so ago, it was the aroma of the makings of what will be, when popped into the oven tomorrow, baked ziti. A day or so after that, it was the distinctive aroma of gwumpkies. I suspect that there are some (particularly those of you with no relatives who came from Poland) who might not like the smell of gwumpkies cooking. I do have some Polish blood in my veins, and I grew up with the aroma. I love it.
Today, while the homemade potato salad was being put together, the place smelled like the Seaside Heights (NJ) Boardwalk. That’s because we cooked up the peppers, onions, and sausage (pronounced in Jerseyspeak either as “SAH-sidge†or “sah-ZEECH, but not “SAW-sageâ€).
The special sauerkraut has already been made and frozen, and tomorrow morning the kielbasa will be made and added to the kraut, and the spiral ham will go in the oven.
Add to that, Italian rolls, ass-kicking Jewish rye bread, Russian rye bread, cheese, deviled eggs, and The Original Bill’s homemade baked mushrooms and, quite possibly, pepperoni bread, and you’ve got a boatload of Jersey Eats.
Oh, and there will be a table full of homemade cookies (some made here and some brought by nieces) and a TJ-baked kransekake, which is a traditional Norwegian cake that looks something like this. (Mr. Surly’s mom’s family is Norwegian.)
Dieting is not permitted.
A Shitload of Cocktails, wine and beer will also be available, which should come as a surprise to absolutely no one.
Merry Christmas to all ya’ll from us’ns.
Waaaait.
Let’s try that again:
Merry Christmas to all use guys from the tree (and a half) of us.
That’s better.
xoxo
M, M, R & Little M
Comment by Margi — December 24, 2005 @ 4:02 pm
I just gained 5 pounds from reading this….
bread yum……yum bread…..yummmmm bread…
can you tell I like bread?
Comment by armywifetoddlermom — December 24, 2005 @ 4:21 pm
This may be OT but I want to personally thank you for the gift.
May you and your family have a wonderful Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
-Cammy
Comment by Craig's Spousal Unit — December 24, 2005 @ 6:38 pm
What about the kalochkis (sp?). Can’t have a Polish Christmas without them.
Comment by azygos — December 24, 2005 @ 9:09 pm
Merry Christmas to you & yours! Sounds like y’all got some good eats.
Comment by rita — December 24, 2005 @ 9:48 pm
Hey, Jimbo – Merry Christmas, and all dat.
That gwumpkie aroma? I know it well. Our version is called khalubtzi (you can see it comes from Polish-Yiddish), and it’s cabbage stuffed with beef and rice, served with a sweet-sour tomato sauce that is to die for.
Enjoy every moment up there in my former State of Residence…and have a shot or two for me.
Comment by Elisson — December 24, 2005 @ 11:51 pm
wow. now i am starving for the foods of my childhood. i would almost kill for a few italian rolls and a plate of gwumpkies right about now.
merry christmas!
Comment by antisocialite — December 25, 2005 @ 3:10 pm