Eating our way through the Holidays!

BY: RACHEL WUMKES
Photo: CharcuteMe

The Thanksgiving holiday often gets the most recognition for being all about the food.  Generally, people serve the traditional favorites like turkey and ham, or a variation of such, as the guests stuff their bellies full to the brim before indulging in the ever-popular Thanksgiving Day nap.

For Christmas, though, the focus seems to settle on the shopping and gifts. Making lists, shopping local, wrapping in ornate paper just to be torn apart on Christmas morning.

But what about the food?

Often pushed to the background, there’s that breaking point for every mom out there when they realize they’ve put all their focus on gifts and concerts and Christmas programs, totally forgetting about the fact our families need to eat during all the hustle and bustle as well.

For me, Christmas and New Years is the opportunity for something different.  While many people choose to serve the traditional meal with all the fixings this time of year, I simply can’t do it. I mean, we literally JUST finished up all the leftovers from Thanksgiving. I’m not sure I can go through that all again.

Instead, I gravitate toward the snacky foods – the dips and finger foods. Small bits and bobs where you can graze all day and never really get “full.”

There’s spinach dip and buffalo chicken dip. Corn dip. Pickle dip. Hot crab dip. Queso dip. Taco dip. Seven-layer dip. Pizza dip. Jalapeño popper dip. Sausage dip. Shrimp dip.

I’m feeling a very Forrest Gump vibe here….

Then, of course, there’s all the delicious foods that aren’t dips.  The meat and cheese trays, soups and stews, and the ever-popular charcuterie boards.

Food, food, and more food. Am I right?

Luckily, I’m told that calories over the holidays don’t count, especially when indulging on cookies, candies, fudge, and other various sweet treats.

WHEW!

My personal favorite is a bit controversial.  You see, I grew up in Northwest Iowa, where Christmas means we indulge in a delicacy called Ground Round. Basically, it’s raw, ground up round steak that you spread onto a Club cracker and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and raw onions.

Often met with scowls from those who can’t imagine eating raw meat, I’m frequently asked, “Doesn’t it make you sick?” And while yes, eating raw meat is frowned upon in general, I’ve been eating it for forty years without any problem.

Thankfully, we have a variety of Chamber Members who can help with your holiday food planning. Specialty stores like Louie’s Custom Meats and More, Simply Nourished, & CharcuteMe offer specialized selections to create a meal masterpiece.  There’s also Randy’s Neighborhood Market, Fareway, and Hy-Vee West in Mason City to round out your grocery list and put the finishing touches on a spectacular holiday feast.

Bon Appetit!