Trevor Phipps
Now that Christmas is just around the corner, many are racing to get last minute shopping done.
And for those who haven’t quite figured out Christmas dinner yet, it’s not too late to plan something delicious.
And unfortunately for those who enjoy dining out, many local eateries will be shuttered on Christmas Day so their employees can enjoy the holiday with their families. There are a few exceptions, such as the casinos in Cripple Creek, or possilbe carry-out option at a few restaurants, like the Mayflower (but call before you go). But in reality, most of us will be cooking on our own for the holiday.
When I looked up traditional Christmas meals, the results varied depending on which country. According to the Culinary Arts Academy of Switzerland, turkey is the preferred Christmas meal for many countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and France. Tamales are preferred in Mexico and Latin American countries.
In America, ham seems to be the most favorite Christmas meal. During the season, most stores run specials on hams, and you can purchase ones that are cooked that just need reheating.
But even cooking a ham raw is not that hard it just takes some time. Personally, I either like to buy the pre-cooked and pre-cut hams at the grocery store, which you simply re-heat to eat. For those who don’t mind spending a little more, purchasing a pre-cooked ham from somewhere like Honey Baked Ham is also a delicious option.
In my family, we cook a turkey and a duck every year for Thanksgiving, so we avoid birds on Christmas. For turkey, I think flavor injectors (we like the Cajun variety) really make a huge difference by adding moisture and flavor. When I cook a duck, I like to stuff it with apples and glaze it with honey before smoking it for a few hours and finishing it in the oven.
When it comes to Christmas I do enjoy ham, but we sometimes opt for some type of beef roast. Prime rib for Christmas is very popular. In fact, for one year I stepped it up a notch by cooking a whole tenderloin roast.
Sometimes during the holidays, you can find prime rib and tenderloin roasts on sale. One of my secrets when preparing either one is to lower the temp on the oven and add time to the roasting process. I have found that taking the extra time to cook a beef roast at low temperatures like 200 or 250 degrees really makes the meat extra tender and tasty.
But whatever you choose, remember meals always taste better when they are made with a little love.
Happy Holidays!
