Newfoundland Christmas Dinner

So I was lucky enough to marry a man from Newfoundland!   For anyone that’s not familiar people from Newfoundland are incredible – they are warm, caring funny people, who have their own (often very funny) slang for day to day words and terms that are just so great! 

Plus it’s absolutely beautiful there as soon as the plane touches down, you know why they are so proud of their province.

The first time I went back to Newfoundland with my hubby (the boyfriend at the time) my biggest concern was “the food”…  To me the idea of cooked meat, boiled vegetables and meals like pea soup had me shaken in my booties!

   <it’s possible I am the only person ever that has not seen a moose in Newfoundland – even after countless hours of driving all over the province… it’s become a bit of a family joke!>

I often joke with my mother in law now about how I’m a hippie…  but now proudly wear a badge of honour for becoming  an honorary “Newfie hippy” because not only did I love the food, I now crave it and try to replicate it often & have lost part of my heart to my East Coast home!

(minus the lobster – I’m not really a fan)

The first Christmas dinner is what did it for me.  I’ve had some good turkey dinner’s in my past – but this meal took the cake.

There was typical turkey and then everything else…

 <source – I hope they don’t mind me borrowing, I’ve never take a picture of the dinner – but this is always what it looks like>

Pretty much everything is boiled with salt beef which granted is not healthy on any level, but it tastes oh so good! 

I am no where near the calibre that my mother in law, or Dave’s nan was at cooking, so I’ll just share links to the recipes!  All of which are making an appearance at our Christmas dinner tomorrow!

Jiggs Dinner with Pea’s Pudding and Boiled Veggies! (just sub butter for your favourite dairy free alternative!)  Make sure to have pudding bags for the pea’s pudding!  (We use carrots, turnip potatoes & green cabbage)

Dressing (not my favourite, but loved by many – the next day it’s common to have the dressing over french fries with gravy) (not pictured in above photo)

Then there are “puddings” my mother in law has me hooked on onion and cranberry spice.  While I am no expert – I couldn’t find a recipe for it anywhere, so I’ll try to break it down!  (Ps. the final product doesn’t look very good, but I promise it’s tasty!)

Onion Pudding

• 1/2 loaf of plain bread (I usually use whole wheat) – must be stale – I usually leave it out for a day or two.
• 1 onion – chopped
• 1 tablespoons of butter (I use Earth Balance)
• pinch of sugar
• 1/4 cup (give or take) of flour
• Pudding bag with string

Soak bread in water & then squish all the liquid out of bread.  Try to get it as dry as possible – so it makes a dough.  Place in a bowl.

Sautee onion in butter – add to bread mixture – add in sugar and mix together.   Add flour as needed until you have a non sticky piece of dough.   Place dough in a pudding bag and tie.  Boil for 1 – 2 hours with salt beef (or very salty water).

 

Cranberry and Spice Pudding

• 1/2 loaf of plain bread (I usually use whole wheat) – must be stale – I usually leave it out for a day or two.
• 1 – 2 table spoons of dried cranberries
• 1 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nut meg.
• pinch of sugar
• 1/4 cup (give or take) of flour
• Pudding bag with string

Soak bread in water & then squish all the liquid out of bread.  Try to get it as dry as possible – so it makes a dough.  Place in a bowl.

Add in sugar, cranberries, spices and mix together.   Add flour as needed until you have a non sticky peice of dough.   Place dough in a pudding bag and tie.  Boil for 1 – 2 hours with salt beef (or very salty water).

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Then of course there is usually a jar of pickled beets, fresh homemade bread and butter!

 

For the next day it’s pretty typical to make a “hash” out of some of the left overs for breakfast or lunch!   Sometimes I think this is one of my favorite parts!!   This is pretty typical of what it looks like!

Just writing about this meal (while having all the ingredients in the next room especially) makes me drool.  Yes of course you must drink 16 gallons of water the next day to counter balance all the salt…  and your blood pressure will be a bit high for a day or two… it’s worth it – it’s Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas to each of you!! Thank you for making my blog and facebook page so enjoyable! Wishing you and your families a safe and happy Christmas   (full of lots of good dairy free treats!)

xo

Jessica