Umm, corned beef & cabbage. These are two foods that I eat no other day of the year, but for some reason around March 1st I start getting unreasonably excited about them both, together, simmering with carrots and potatoes in beef broth. Oh man.
My very good cooking friend, Kristen, (who regular cooks meals and invites us over to share them with her family) makes this delightful meal every year in her slow cooker and we all sit around saying very erudite things along the lines of “Mmm, so good” and “Ooh. Corned beef. Cabbage.” This meal takes no special skills, doesn’t have to be baby-sat as it cooks, doesn’t require expensive or hard-to-find ingredients, and is also relatively healthy meal. Yet, this is a once a year meal – to be complimented by heavy bread and a hearty beer.
Why is it that we sometimes save perfectly acceptable foods for certain times of year? My husband’s family is of Dutch decent and they make the most wonderful dessert called Banket. It’s basically super thin butter-based crust wrapped around an almond paste & sugar filling. Oh, it’s decadent. It is also only eaten at Christmas time. That’s it. After the Turkey & trimmings is little more than a good nap past, the family begins to drift into the kitchen with questions, “So…when are you making Banket? How many sticks are you going to make?” By New Years Day, Banket is no longer discussed by any self-respecting West Michigan Dutchy.
Is there anything you only eat once a year or once a season?
Piles and piles of Christmas cookies. So much BUTTER. Mmmmmmm
Fruitcake of course. Only at Thanksgiving to Christmas.