CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR MENU - KERALA STYLE
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| CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR MENU - KERALA STYLE |
One time of the year I personally would like to visit Kerala is during Christmas/Onam. Least to mention, at least to our hometown now. I have started to miss India after all these recent travel restrictions and pandemic. My husband always says the real feel of Christmas comes once you step into God's own Country. The moment you almost cross the boundaries of Palaghat, a majority of the population would have decorated their houses at least by hanging a star, some lights and decorations. And especially Cochin seems to be illuminated by the season.
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| CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR MENU - KERALA STYLE |
I knew or literally celebrated Christmas only after getting married to my beloved. A Kerala Style Christmas is indeed a beautiful scenario. Still, its the only way I know how a Christmas is celebrated. Well, broadly speaking we are Roman Catholics - tracing back to Saint Thomas – supposed to be one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. In keeping with conservative religious faiths (of suffering before celebration), the first 24 days of December or the Advent, leading up to Christmas, are austere and restrained. Most traditional families observe "Noyambu"or in simple terms fasting or refraining from certain food & activities. Mostly, no meat, seafood or dairy is consumed. One leads a pared-back, frugal lifestyle. So the day of Christmas comes with a pomp & merriness and in all terms of food and drinks.
Every Christian household have their own favourite Menu. But what I can always flaunt is the set of Recipes I usually cook
up for a Christmas/New Year Menu, very much Indian to heart & a combination of dishes
from various Regional Cuisines and a few from Around the World along with
a touch of traditional must-have family dishes. According to me, Festival is always
synonymous not to just good food, but to GREAT FOOD. So, anything in the name of celebration comes with Food - special food to commemorate the festival or the occasion.
So, let me bring you a new set of menu choice for this years Christmas/New Year Menu. Here I have tried to bring out a collection of those recipes put together for a quick Menu Planning. Throw your Party with a fabulous selection of Recipes in an Indian style, including Traditional Cakes, Home-made Wines, recipes for Appetizers, Indian Breads, Side Dishes, Flavoured Rice, Raithas, Rice & Curries and finish off your meal with a wonderful combination of Desserts & Drinks.
CAKE & WINE
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| CAKE & WINE |
Family Christmas ritual or tradition
The one & only
Christmas Cake/Fruit cake or simply the Kerala Plum Cake. So it begins
with the tradition of soaking the fruits(which we do not follow in our
family), but I have started doing it. Then comes the laborious day of baking 8-10 Cakes, making Murukku, Square Biscuits etc., for Christmas goodies. And happily eating warm cakes.
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For CHRISTMAS FRUIT CAKE RECIPES, Click here...
Then comes a Homemade Wine.
Indeed the party or the family get together would be flowing out with everything in the name of an alcohol. In spite, it is a ritual to begin the toast with a homemade wine and slice of Fruit cake. What's a Party without Wines and when it comes to home-made Wines it adds an extra Zing. Serve it along with Classic Fruit Cake for celebration. If you are not a fan of Fruit Cake serve Cakes of your choice instead.
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Along with homemade wines & alcohols, plan for sober drinks for non-drinkers or spike up the party with your favourite Mocktails/Cocktails.
DRINKS/COCKTAILS:
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FIRST COURSE
Appetizers/Starters
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For more recipes on STARTERS/APPETIZERS, Click here...
SECOND COURSE
APPAM STEW WITH OTHER SIDES /MALABAR PAROTTA WITH CURRIES
If you are in a mood to give a twist to the traditional style, then another best serve would be a Malayalee favourite combo -
Malabar Parotta with Beef Dishes like Beef Vindaloo or Beef
Ularthiyathu. If you do not prefer Beef then just cross the border and serve Parottas with Chicken Salna or
Prawn Gravy in a typical Tamilnadu style.
THIRD COURSE
THALASSERY CHICKEN BIRIYANI WITH SIDE DISHES & RAITHAS
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| THALASSERY CHICKEN BIRIYANI |
Side Dishes for Biriyani
Raithas for Biriyani
FOURTH COURSE
PLAIN RICE SERVED WITH FISH CURRY/SEAFOOD
Side Dishes for Rice:
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| PAPPADAM |
FIFTH COURSE
Desserts
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After such typically elaborate lunches, everyone finds a spot to comatose until someone offers to make a round of coffee/tea. And there comes along a lengthy list of nadan palaharams(snacks) to crown the mgnificient tea time. Anyway, its a day of celebration.
- Achappams or rose cookies
- Diamond Cuts
- Avalose Unda—balls made out of rice flour, jaggery and coconut
- Kul Kuls/Square Biscuits
- Unniyappams/Neyyappams
- Kozhalappam
- Murrukku
- Vattayappam
- Aval Vilayichathu(sweetened beaten rice flakes) etc.,
A list which is sure to get back you into a comatose. But don't you bother, there you would be woken up for yet another round of food & drinks for Dinner.
What's a celebration without GREAT FOOD!!!
Whether you're planning a large gathering or just a small soirée, these Christmas/New Year's Eve Menu will be a hit at your party. I have tried to round up the best Christmas/New Year Party Menu, especially from my collection. From Home-made Wines & traditional Fruit Cake, Appetizers to the Desserts - treat everyone's palate to the happiest with these special recipes.
Wishing you all a
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