By Eva Prabhakar & Rachel Dawson
We often associate Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner with a few classics: turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. However, the first Christmas menu (dating to 1660) - as outlined in The Accomplisht Cook book - written by chef Robert May, who worked for the nobility in Britain, mentions beef, goose, lark, pheasant, and swan. May writes of 39 dishes including oysters, oranges and jellies across two full courses as part of a chapter on "a bill of fare for Christmas Day and how to set the meat in order". We've come a long way since then and so has the festival of gifts. What hasn't changed is the spirit of Christmas. Along with the bird, the joy of sharing a meal has spread across the world. Turkeys originated in North America. Historians say that the Aztec emperor Moctezuma probably had turkey stew. The Spanish introduced the bird to Europe, where they migrated as far as Germany by the end of the 16th century.
Besides chefs, the turkey also turned into a muse for painters such as Dutch artist Pieter Claesz, who painted a feather-topped turkey pie in 1627. A painting of a turkey on the dining table with a spotlight on it appears on the cover of the New Yorker on December 1st, 1975, signifying its prominence. The literary phenomenon that is The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens has permanently seated the turkey as a centrepiece in our holiday memories. Published in 1843, culinary experts say that Scrooge's Christmas turkey as a gift for the Cratchit family set the tone for a meal that's festive for everybody. Early Thanksgiving feasts were graced with this bird that could feed a large crowd and not be hard on the pocket - truly bringing people together. The turkey is essential to a Christmas feast in spirit too - it's a representation of humble giving - just like in Scrooge's projection of a truly big heart. End the 'Year of Giving' on a generous note and ring in 2018 in the company of well-fed friends.
A vegan swap for you
For vegans and vegetarians across the world, Christ- mas is a day to bounce away from questions about diet from people you probably meet once a year. No more. With mock meats, there are so many options. How could you possibly pick a favourite?
Tofurky
The name has revolutionised the world of substitute foods forever. Miley Cyrus swears by this dish that comes in two options. You can either buy it as a centrepiece for dinner or purchase it with its stuffing intact.
Field Roast's Celebration Roast
Known as 'vegetarian sophistication', this savoury sausage-style stuffing is made of Field Roast grain meat, butternut squash, mushrooms and apples seasoned with a blend of rosemary, thyme, and sage.
Vegan whole turkey
It's made of textured soybean protein, vegetable extract and tofu skin. While non-vegetarians might question the taste factor of this substitute, the saving grace for them is that it looks like an actual turkey. As the product description reads, 'Healthy eating shouldn't mean sacrificing on the visual or taste appeal.'
Quorn meatless turkey
Bring in Christmas with a turkey that's 100% vegan. The main ingredients include rehydrated egg white and milk proteins.
Gardein savoury stuffed turk'y
This holiday favourite comes with two individual stu ed "turk'y" with two packs of gravy. This mock-meat is made up of soy protein isolate, wheat gluten and quinoa. Its tagline says, 'Don't be chicken.'
Meals to warm your heart
Bring home a turkey with all the trimmings from The Eloquent Elephant, TAJ Dubai and come back for the delightful toffee pudding the next day. But, first, walk over to Pantry Cafe´ to continue the Christmas fiesta with fun takes on traditional dishes such as the herbed wild rice, asparagus with miso butter, and purple potato mash. Enjoy your evening with music and a roasted turkey dinner at Na3Na3, Address Dubai Mall or take your pick from turkey stuffing combinations that include chestnuts and roasted potatoes from JA Ocean View Hotel, JBR to spend time at home. End your Christmas weekend with a special Christmas brunch at Gaucho Dubai, DIFC, and dig in to the slow roasted turkey with apricot and apple stuffing.
Well-baked telly favourite is here
What's better than turkey on a plate? Turkey on the screen. While Charles Dickens reminded us of the magic of Christmas and Scrooge made us 'prize the turkey', television scriptwriters and our favourite onscreen characters have turned the humble turkey into a celebration. No F.R.I.E.N.D.S. marathon is complete without the chaos around the turkey. Tune in to see how Rachel's traditional English trifle shapes up
- you know you can't take your eyes o the screen no matter how well you know the layers. As Joey conquers "his Everest", Monica dances with her head inside a turkey, and the Geller Bowl is hotly contested, you're as blessed with your friends for company. Experience a laugh riot with Mr. Bean as he sticks his head in a turkey to look for his watch or be amazed at the Gilmore Girls turkey marathon of a different kind - four dinners that include deep-fried turkey and a Korean version. Check out some of the wittiest humour on television as C.J. attempts to get President Bartlet to pardon a second turkey on The West Wing.
I beg your pardon, a quirky tradition
A quirky U.S. tradition is the pardoning of a turkey two days before Thanksgiving. Rhode Island poultry dealer, Horace Vose, would send live turkeys to the first family every Thanksgiving and Christmas for 40 years, and in 1914, America caught on. The turkeys come trained to deal with the attention - they interact with crowds, and are familiar with the camera and lights. Former President John F. Kennedy said, "I think I'll pardon this turkey and let it grow"; it's quite possibly the first official pardon. While it's uncertain how far back this tradition dates, it became an official annual event when former President George H. W. Bush pardoned the turkey in 1989. The tradition may also be traced to 1865, when it seems former President Abraham Lincoln's son got upset about the turkey brought in. Another widely repeated story is from 1947, when former President Harry Truman possibly spared a turkey. Adding to the quirkiness are the names given to the pair - Tater and Tot, Drumstick and Wishbone, et al. What do you think the next ones will be called?
What is the ultimate yum leftover recipe?
For many people, the highlight of Christmas and Thanksgiving isn't the lavish meal itself, it's gorging on the turkey leftovers. So, how many ways can one play with turkey leftovers to create truly delicious dishes? Restaurateur Rick Stein puts a stop to the dilemma - what do we do with cold turkey? He says an easy way to use leftovers is a turkey salad with Chinese cabbage, beansprouts and Vietnamese mint. For something more elaborate, start with the Sri Lankan bang-bang turkey, also known as the ultimate leftover recipe. This dish is made with shards of protein, lime juice, and the mouthwatering Chinese five-spice. If that doesn't fit the bill, count on turkey Tetrazzini deluxe to save the day. This is another great way to use turkey pieces with an ounce of Parmesan goodness. Combine bacon, turkey and Swiss cheese to create club-style turkey enchiladas. If you're looking for something classic, Turkey a la King is the dish to go with - serve over rice, biscuits or toast for a delicious a air. Skip the boring 'repeat' meal feeling with a 'next day turkey primavera' made with pasta and cream sauce.
Many ways to cook the delicious bird
With a cultural makeover, indulge in fusion meals around the year. Enjoy baked egg rolls filled with leftover turkey, cranberry sauce and a slice of Brie. Dip these in a sweet and tangy cranberry mustard sauce for an easy dinner.
You can opt for a sweet potato turkey burger, drizzled with maple syrup, poultry garnish and some chives.
To grab a quick bite, combine turkey, breadcrumbs, some garlic, green onions, egg and soy sauce for a piping bowl of Asian turkey meatballs. For Japanese cuisine lovers, swap your sushi-filling for some lean protein and enjoy a turkey sushi roll to bring in the jolly season in Japanese style.
For curry lovers, the Sri Lankan turkey curry made with a hint of cinnamon and coconut milk won't disappoint. In true Portuguese style, the leftover turkey vindaloo adds the much- needed spice to the dining table.
Side dishes that are worth trying
Let's go beyond the green bean casserole. Wow your guests with these unique complements to the turkey.
Quinoa Salad with a Cranberry Twist: Sprinkle pomegranate, cranberries, and oranges on a bed of kale and quinoa. Add honey and nuts to bring it together in a delicious and healthy bite.
Baked Asparagus Fries: Roll the baked asparagus in breadcrumbs for a new way to enjoy this conventional dish.
Persimmons on Crostini: Pair persimmon with your favourite cheese (Brie or Feta) on a toasted baguette. Sprinkle some rock salt or pep- per to bring out the flavours.
Butternut Squash Lasagna: Layer in only butternut squash between pasta. Top with sage or rosemary leaves. This is a simple preparation, yet will have your guests coming back for seconds.
Roasted Onion Pearls: Pair with herbed mushrooms and spiced chickpeas for a quick side dish.
A flamin' hot turkey
The trend of the season involves Flamin' Hot Cheetos and turkey. We're not sure who made this combination legit, but we're sure that Cheetos lovers are rejoicing this season around. It's simple to create the Flamin' Hot Cheetos turkey. All you need to do is drizzle the turkey with oil, crush a bag full of Cheetos and apply the crumbles on it. Then, place the preparation in the oven, and bake as usual for 30 minutes until done. You can try the same recipe with your favourite crisps. Rid yourself of the entire stress of preparing a festive meal - try the same technique with ranch-flavoured chips on onion rings.
"In the UK in 2009, 7,734,000 turkeys were consumed on Christmas Day!" — Mark Evens, Chef, Spinneys
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