With Christmas fast approaching, I am searching for something different to make that will maybe become a tradition in our house or maybe just be a fun conversation piece. Couple my love of cookbooks with this obsession to always have something new to cook, and I’m digging Santa’s North Pole Cookbook: Classic Christmas Recipes from Saint Nicholas Himself by Jeff Guinn.
The book is a small paperback that doesn’t just include recipes for unique Christmas dishes from around the world from the North Pole to Sweden to Ghana. I will fully admit that I would never make every recipe in this book, such as the Capitone Fritto from Italy (Festive Fried Eel) or Kutya from Poland (wheat porridge). I’m ok with that though because I never make any recipe in any cookbook I own. There are over 70 holiday recipes in this cookbook, plenty for anyone to find some they just can’t wait to try.
Part of the fun of cookbooks for me is looking at what options are out there and how various chefs have put together flavor combinations so that I can later use those inspirations in my own cooking. I’m intrigued with the use of poppy seeds with walnuts and honey in the Kutya, for example, and may use that in another dish down the line.
This cookbook doesn’t have any photos of the dishes, which is something I greatly love in cookbooks, but it has some of my favorite other characteristics. Many of the dishes specify what they go well with, so you know to make the Kissel (cranberry puree) with the roast goose or turkey or Christmas Fufu (mashed yams) pairs nicely with Doro Wat (also in the book) or any other poultry dish. The recipes also include how long they take to prep and cook, along with how many they serve – definitely handy bits of info to know.
But I think my favorite part of this book is actually the stories behind each recipe. Before the ingredients and directions begin, each recipe has information on its origin, as well as much of the traditions of the country where it originated. I find that information fascinating, as I always love to know the story behind each recipe. There are also “Lars Says” tips for just about every recipe from Lars, the official North Pole chef. He has hints about how to make recipes turn out and other tidbits of information interspersed to make the cookbook even more interesting and useful.
As for me, you’ll know it’s my house come Christmas morning when you can smell the Varm Rökt Lax Med Smör (hot smoked salmon with savory butter). We just might have to put our holiday plum pie cookies for Santa the night before, too – just to see if they’re as good as the ones he gets in the North Pole.
We have a copy of Santa’s North Pole Cookbook to give to one of you (U.S. only). Just follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter below, starting by telling us what your favorite Christmas dish is. The winner will be announced in our column on January 7.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of this book for review. I was not otherwise compensated, and all opinions remain my own.
Written by 5MinutesforBooks contributor Michelle who is currently debating which recipe to try first. See what else she’s cooked up with her Tasty Tuesday’s on her blog Honest & Truly! or follow along on Twitter where she is also @HonestAndTruly.
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{ 142 comments… read them below or add one }
Wild rice stuffing is one of my faves.
Squash with cranberries.
Yams are one of my favorites
my favorite holiday dish is honey ham =}
A norweigen Christmas tradition – Romagrout!
My mama’s Ham is my favorite.
love pecan pie
I make walnut chocolate toffee crunch!
My favorite holiday dish is cheesecake.
Wild rice with mushroom and grated Parmesan on top
Green bean casserole is so good during the holidays.
I love bread pudding! Thanks!
I like making Deviled eggs for every holiday.
anything my mom cooks!!!
Marianne S. recently posted..Wax Roses Giveaway Ends 1/5
Anything anyone other than myself cooks! Last night we had Chinese…
Mozi Esmes Mom recently posted..Mission Sunday: Advent
the ham ranks among the top
Of course any kind of sweet is great, but I really love my homemade stuffing!!
Stuffed duck is something we only have at Christmas!
turkey is my fav
My Grandmas Polish Cheese Blintzes…yum!
I make a dark chocolate peppermint ice cream cake that is really good.
I love vegan lasagna for the holidays.
Christmas ham and pumpkin pie
A side dish that is part of my Norwegian heritage…Surkaal (a sweet & sour cabbage). It is ridiculously good with a Christmas roast!!! (my hubby does not agree. lol)
Turkey & all it’s other tasty companions.
Seafood and sushi..
Twiced baked potatoes and sweet potato casserole
paige aka mrs. bacon recently posted..craftdiscoveries:
(via Smart! School {House}: Rustic Raffia…
Cherry cheesecake is a favorite dessert.
Ham & scalloped potatoes are so good.
I made a corn casserole this year that we all love!
Jennifer Thomas recently posted..Homeschooling–one month in (part 3)
Love cinnamon rolls!
My wife makes a mean Christmas meatloaf
JohnZ recently posted..LeapPad 2 Explorer Blogger Opp
I love my moms stuffing.
I like all of it, but going to say the green bean casserole.
mashed potatoes with gravy
nannypanpan@gmail.com
I enjoy green bean casserole!
Anything with sweet potato, squash or cranberries!
Pumpkin cheesecake or sweet potato pie
Noreen recently posted..Whirlpool Experiments
My favorite is pumpkin pie
It’s not a dish, really, but rather an appetizer that we only have during the Christmas holidays — sausage balls! LOVE them.
I love tipsy sweet potatoes best, and I used to work with Jeff Guinn! I’d love to have one of his books!
How fun.
Any type of stuffing and pumpkin pie.
Fudge! You just can’t beat fudge during the holidays!
I like all the different types of cookies during the holiday season.
choco chip pecan pie
Potato Candy! The holidays are the only time of year my family makes it and it is soooo good! More of a dessert than a dish, but still delicious!
sweet potato casserole with pecan topping
Shelly Leatham recently posted..Oral-B Professional Precision 5000 Review
prime rib with baked potato and mint swirled brownies for desert.
sausage cheese balls
I also vote for Potato Candy. I love that stuff but it can be a bit of a pain to make
Honey glazed ham
I make a Christmas Salad where all the ingredients are red, green and white.
Buttermilk pie. Thanks for the giveaway.
Turkey and Dressing!
I love the complete turkey dinner with the stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc
I love yams
I love my brocolli dish.
I absolutely love pumpkin pie!
Green Bean Casserole
Ham baked with pineapple slices and whole cloves.
I like a turkey dinner.
the buffet of christmas cookies after dinner
glazed ham
freebiegoddess03@aol.com
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Turkey and dressing!
sugar cookies are my favorite!!
Sausage bread with spicy Italian sausage and mozzarella cheese rolled into a bread dough….it’s yummy right out of the oven.
Christmas M&M cookies!
There is a cookie that came from my grandmother who came from Croatia, it is Kipfel. It has a soft cream cheese dough and a cooked walnut filling. It is a putsy cookie to make but well worth the effort.
can’t beat honey glazed ham
Garlic mashed potatoes
Honey/Hawaiian ham!!
My aunts famous Marconi salad
I love green bean casserole! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway and happy New Year!
Roast duck is my favorite holiday dish.
My favorite are potato pancakes the morning after the holiday meal
green bean cassrole
sweet potatoes with marshmallows
stuffing from the turkey.
Green Bean Casserole
Stuffing on Thanksgiving and sometimes for Christmas too. =)
Sausage stuffing is my fave!
i like pumpkin pie
I love fudge at the holidays.
NEW YORK CHEESECAKE
I love candied sweet potatoes.
Homemade Peppermint Bark
I like my green bean casserole or any cornbread stuffing
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I like Christmas decorated cupcakes
I love sweet potatoes with marshmallows and brown sugar!
My mom’s pork dressing
My favorite holiday dish is spanakopita
I love cornbread stuffing
swedish meatballs
rypm25@aol.com
pecan pie
vmkids3 at msn dot com
I love potato salad!
pumpkin pie and candied sweet potato’s
my mom’s stuffing!
My is a Orange Slice Cake I make each year for my family – it takes 3 days but it is yummy. I want to thank you for this awesome sweep and hope to win
Thanks !!!
My son loves ham…
tamales on xmas eve
My mom’s smoked sausage stuffing
i enjoy a good apple pie
Turkey and stuffing
green bean casserole.
Mom’s Spritz Cookies!
Turkey and dressing!
My favorite holiday food is ham.
Peppermint cheesecake that my mother in law makes…mmmm! lol
I love pumpkin cake roll.
pumpkin cheesecake i only make it once a year
candied sweet potatoes!
The stuffing my in-laws makes is my favorite
Green Bean Casserole…yummy
I love Turkey. I can’t go a Christmas without it.
Mine is Stuffing!
My favorite is Polish kielbasa
Pecan Pie is my favorite holiday dessert.
I love Christmas ham!
peppermint cake is the best for Christmas.
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i love green bean casserole
I love mashed potatoes and gravy.
Cranberry orange bread is my favorite holiday dish.
I look forward to making candy at Christmas. I love to make caramels, peanut brittle and anything candy.
We love having stuffed potatoes thru the holidays
green bean cassorole
I love pumpkin pie
mashed potato’s
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
sugar cookies go hand in hand with thhoe lidays and i love them
Turkey is my fav
Not a dish, but dark chocolate!
I love Green Bean Casserole!
sweet potatoes with brown sugar
stuffing for sure
Pecan pie is my fave
I like to make ham glazed with lots of brown sugar, honey, and mustard.
Bacon Cheddar Potato Casserole. Yumm!
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green bean casserole
Green Bean Casserole
I like the turkey and stuffing.
I love pumpkin Pie
I love making Candied Yams.
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January 5, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Stuffing or apple pie.