Vienna Family Christmas Dinner!
Last Tuesday we had a little christmas dinner party with our most favourite friends in Vienna. It was so wonderful!! We did one last year and it was so great and the food was delicious and we had so much fun and we decided to do it every year. Ohh but we almost forgot about it. No one started planing the party and we all kind of kept waiting for someone to say something. Weird! It's like with New Years this year. Are you in Vienna? I will be if you are! So maybe we'll all be here but also maybe not! someone has to say something or we're all doomed!! Well mostly me..since I'm from Moosburg!
Anyway we started planing on Saturday and wanted to do it on Sunday but it was all happening to fast so we moved it to Tuesday which was perfect!
Hansi was in charge of the bird and I made the side dishes with help from Matthias! Everyone brought sweets and Glüh Wein!! Ohhh and Vanessa made the most delicious Chocolate coconut cake!!
Also everyone had to bring a little present to put under our christmas tree and than everyone got to pull a number out of a hat and got a present. Just like the real thing!!
Baby girl Janni started off the night by reading a christmas story it was such a great idea! The first story he read was a bit sad with a little girl dying or something but it was still really great!!
This is Oscar!!
Look how we're all concentrating on the christmas story!!
Don't you just love this Christmas tree head piece?? I DO!! I'm so in love with it!!
This was the delicious turkey, Hansi made!! The stuffing had marzipan, apples and nuts in it..I was soo soo great!
( Matthias left it in the oven and Janni wanted to eat it yesterday and it was mouldy..hihi..and he did eat a piece before he noticed it..it was great to watch! )
As side dishes we had spanish green beans, duchess potatoes, whiskey-glazed carrots, Blaukraut and dumplings (Kartoffelknödel). The latter two were store bought!
Here you can see the spanish green beans. Really easy to make and pretty damn delicious!
Ingredients for the spanish green beans:
- 1 whole Onion (medium)
- 4 cans (14.5 Oz. Cans) Whole Green Beans (or 1 To 2 Poounds Fresh)
- 2 cans (14.5 Oz.) Whole Tomatoes
- Cayenne Pepper To Taste
Preparation Instructions
Dice 1 medium onion. Cook, stirring now and then, until the onions become glassy.
Drain the green beans and add them right into the pan with the onions. Next, throw in the two cans of whole tomatoes with their juice. Stir around gently and then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for about 45 minutes.
When they are finished cooking add cayenne pepper to taste up to about ¼ of a teaspoon for a hotter dish. Stir gently and serve!
Ingredients for the duchess potatoes
- 2,5 kg Potatoes, Peeled And Boiled Until Fork Tender
- 8 whole Egg Yolks
- 1/3 Butter, Softened
- 2 teaspoons Salt, More Or Less To Taste
- Plenty Of Black Pepper
- 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg (more To Taste)
- 1-1/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 whole Egg
Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lay boiled potatoes on a baking sheet and place into the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until slightly dried on the surface.
Remove the potatoes from the oven and process potatoes through a ricer or food mill. Allow to cool in a bowl for about 5 minutes. Add egg yolks, butter, a couple of generous pinches of salt, a generous pinch of pepper, a pinch of nutmeg and 3/4 cup cream. Stir with a rubber spatula to combine. Taste and make sure the potatoes have been adequately salted.
Transfer to a large pastry bag and pipe through a large star tip in a circular/upward spiral motion.
Make an egg wash by mixing 1 egg with 1/2 cup heavy cream. Lightly brush the piped potatoes with egg wash. (This is a little easier if you chill the piped potatoes for half an hour or so.)
Bake at 375 until golden brown around the edges. Serve on a pretty platter!
Make the potatoes ahead of time and store in the fridge, then bake them at the last minute! I didn't this so we kind of had some time management problems but in the end...everything turned out great and everyone loved them!!
and... the Whiskey-Glazed Carrots!!
Ingredients
- 1/3 Butter, Divided
- 2 pounds (to 3 Pounds) Carrots, Peeled And Cut Into Thick Circles
- 1/2 cup Jack Daniels Or Other Whiskey
- 3/4 cups (to 1 Cup) Brown Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon (to 1 Teaspoon) Salt
- Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste
Preparation Instructions
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large pan over high heat. Add carrots in two batches, cooking for 60-90 seconds each batch. Remove from skillet.
Pour in whiskey and allow to evaporate 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium, and add remaining butter. When butter melts, sprinkle brown sugar over the top. Stir together, then add carrots to skillet. Cover, and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
Remove lid and add salt and pepper. Continue cooking until carrots are done and glaze is thick, about 5 more minutes.
Pour onto a platter and serve immediately. Sprinkle with chopped chives if desired.
Stick a serving spoon in the mix, and it’s time to serve ‘em up. And oh, what a wonderful time it is. I gobbled these up ‘til I embarrassed myself.
After the delicious dinner the group split up. Part of them sat in the kitchen (Annick & Lena) and talked about exams!! (bad girls!!) and the rest of us sat in the living room and stared at the cutest little oscar wearing a hoodie!! What can I say..WE ARE PARTY PEOPLE!! wooohoo!!
But seriously look at him!! So adorable!!
Ohh and this is what the party turned into later on!! Wii and Gameboy DS!!
But they seem happy! That's all that matters, right?
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