Make Boxing Day Your Own Day-After-Christmas Tradition
(ARA) - At this time of year, there are parties for everything from Christmas to Hanukkah to Kwanza. But have you ever considered celebrating Boxing Day?
The Boxing Day holiday began in Europe as a “day after Christmas” tradition, where the landed gentry gave their servants supplies they would need for the coming year. Today, Boxing Day is still very much alive in England, Germany, Canada and the United States, but as a day-after-Christmas open house for family, friends and co-workers.
“The day after Christmas is the perfect time to entertain,” says Linda West-Eckhardt, a James Beard & Julia Child Award-winning cookbook author and food educator. “The decorations are still up. The fridge is still full of leftovers. Ball games are on the TV. It’s probably the easiest party you’ll throw all year.”
To get the party started, Eckhardt recommends the following stress-saving strategies:
* Start with an all-purpose wine like German Riesling.
Riesling is one of the few wines that will go with nearly any food, from spicy ethnic dishes, to the holiday ham or turkey and even beef, Eckhardt says. “A case gets me through the holidays.”
German Rieslings, such as the top-selling Relax Riesling from Schmitt Sohne USA, usually sell for less than $9 a bottle, and offer a crisper, cleaner taste because of the rocky, cool growing climate in Germany. Buy one bottle for every two adults attending. For more information and serving ideas, visit www.littlegerman.com.
* Forget the fancy invitations.
Call to clear the timing with your guests’ schedules about three weeks in advance, so you have an accurate headcount. Or save more time by using free online invitation services like evite.com, which will also allow you to receive online RSVPs.
* Make what you love and improvise the rest.
Eckhardt recommends choosing one or two easy recipes to make from scratch that will make an impression, like the ones below. Supplement the buffet with build-your-own sandwiches made from leftover turkey, miniature buns and gourmet mustard. Buy sides from the grocery deli like roasted vegetables, steamed green beans, cooked mashed potatoes, deviled eggs or pea salad. And don’t forget to reheat grandma’s sweet potato casserole. Set out the last of the Christmas cookies and candies in festive bowls and trays and there won’t be any left to ruin those New Year’s resolutions.
* Consider your guests’ comfort and interests.
“If you’re serving food that requires a knife and fork, are there enough dining tables, card tables and coffee tables for people to put their plates down? If you have kids and adults attending, will there be enough things for them to do to keep them happy?” Eckhardt says. She recommends making the “Riesling Cookie” dough the night before, and letting the guests butter their hands then shape the cookies, bake and share them with the whole party. Ask family members to bring their favorite old photos to compare, set out board games or sponsor a card tournament.
* Use recycled table decorations.
“You don’t need a dining room cabinet full of fancy trays and crystal for an event like this,” Eckhardt says. “Decorate like the professionals do. Create 'stands' for two or three of your showier dishes using short, wooden crates or a thick hardbound book. Then just scrunch a coordinating tablecloth over and around the boxes for a soft effect. In between dishes you can put ornaments, candles, or sprigs of pine or holly. Don’t be afraid to take other decorations, like that potted miniature live Christmas tree from the entryway, and put it on the table. You already have everything you need.”
Riesling Braised Pork Loin with Prunes and Apricots
Adding Riesling soaked fruit to the meat adds a new dimension to the flavor. Garnish with fresh herbs and apricots from the sauce. Each round slice will have a heart of dazzling apricot or prune. Pool some sauce on the plate, add a succulent slice and you’ll swear it’s better than the Christmas dinner you had the day before. For making the roast, keep in mind that 3 to 4 ounces is a typical serving for one person, so adjust the recipe accordingly.
Makes 20 to 25 servings
2 cups Relax Riesling
20 dried, pitted prunes
12 dried apricot halves plus more for garnish
1 - 5 to 6 pound boneless pork loin roast
Salt and freshly milled black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion, peeled and minced
6 cloves garlic, smashed
1/2 cup half and half cream (may use nonfat if you wish)
3 tablespoons currant (or apple) jelly
(optional) 1 spaghetti squash cooked according to directions on the squash itself, which usually involves slicing it in half and cooking for a few minutes in the microwave.
Combine Riesling, prunes and apricots in a bowl, cover and let marinate one hour to overnight.
To save time, you can take your marinade to the butcher and ask him to stuff and tie the roast for you. Or, if you’d rather do it at home, make a deep slash down the length of the roast, not cutting through to the fat, and add fruit, alternating one prune and two apricots. Reserve leftover fruit and the wine. Tie securely with cotton string at 2-inch intervals making a long, cylindrical roast. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Preheat the oven to 325 F. Heat oil and butter in a large Dutch oven over medium high heat then add the roast and brown on all sides. Remove the meat to a plate. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat. Brown onion and garlic in the fat, then add the meat back. Add leftover fruit and 2 cups Riesling to the pan. Cover and place in the hot oven. Bake until meat reaches an internal temperature of 150 F. (for medium rare). Test with a meat thermometer. The meat should be slightly pink in color. Overcooking the roast will make it tough.
Remove the roast to a warmed platter and cover. Let it rest at least 15 minutes while you make the sauce and cook the squash. To make the sauce, simply add the cream and jelly straight into the Dutch oven and place on top of the stove. On medium heat, boil down by 1/3, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Pour sauce into a gravy boat.
To serve, put the roast on your platter on top of the golden spaghetti squash, cut and discard the roast’s strings. Add apricots and herbs for garnish. Fan out the slices on the platter and drizzle with the sauce.
Spicy Riesling Punch
Makes 12 to 16 glasses
Boxing Day will get a kick out of this subtly spicy punch based on Relax Riesling. It’s always best to count the number of guests you’re having (figure on 2 to 3 cups each) and make up the punch base ahead, storing it in the refrigerator in pitchers, filled up about halfway. Add the ginger ale and ice to each pitcher (or your punch bowl) right before serving, so the ginger ale doesn’t lose its fizz.
3 cups fresh orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
1 bottle Relax Riesling
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-1/2 quarts chilled ginger ale
2 trays ice cubes
Riesling Cookies
Simply make up the dough the night before, place it in a covered bowl overnight in the refrigerator, then hand it over to the cookie makers while it’s still cold. Let them coat their hands with butter and make whatever shape they choose. Or, to simplify, have them scoop out the dough with a small ice cream scoop, make a thumbprint and fill with any jam or a pecan half.
Makes about 40 cookies
2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
6 tablespoons Relax Riesling
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Coarse colored sugar to decorate the cookies.
Combine in the stand mixer or food processor all the ingredients except pecans. Process until smooth and satiny. Fold in nuts by hand, cover and refrigerate overnight. When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 F. Spritz baking sheets with cooking spray and place them on the clean kitchen table.
Place finished cookie shapes on prepared baking sheets, brush with egg then decorate with colored sugar. Bake until brown around the edges, about 8 minutes. Send cookie “favors” home in decorative bags tied with a Christmas twisty.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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