# Your 'must-do' dinners **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 2, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-must-do-dinners/929475 "2021-01-02T00:12:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-must-do-dinners/929475/1 "2021-01-02T00:12:53Z")
There are certain dinners that I must cook during the year. Here they are. - Thanksgiving: Roasted turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, and green bean casserole; - Christmas: Escargots in mushroom caps with creamy parmesan sauce, prime rib, baked potato, and creamed spinach with feta; - New Year’s Day: Ham hock & black-eyed peas, ham hock & collard greens, and cornbread; followed by BBQ ribs from the Christmas roast; - Mardi Gras: Shrimp/chicken/Andouille jambalaya and cornbread; - Easter: Ham and scratch-made potatoes au gratin. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-must-do-dinners/929475/2 "2021-01-02T01:31:56Z")
My New Years Day and Easter meals are pretty similar to yours, except my greens have bacon instead of ham hock, and the exact type of greens vary depending on what’s available at the farmer’s market. This year it’s a mix of kale and beet greens. And for my Easter meal, I always have peas along with my ham and potatoes. Some others I’ve started making special meals for: **Cinco de Mayo:** Enchiladas with carnitas and a homemade tomatillo sauce, served with crema fresca and cotija cheese. **Oktoberfest:** Roulade (German beef rolls stuffed with pickle, onion, bacon, and mustard), Red cabbage with apples (I forget the German name for that), mashed potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-must-do-dinners/929475/3 "2021-01-02T02:04:15Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Red cabbage with apples (I forget the German name for that) Rotkohl? ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-must-do-dinners/929475/4 "2021-01-02T02:12:18Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Rotkohl? Looking at a couple of recipes, that seems right. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ukulele_ike1/32/4613_2.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike1)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-must-do-dinners/929475/5 "2021-01-02T04:04:22Z")
We’re pretty loose about stuff. We put off the Hanukkah latkes until New year’s Eve, and had them with smoked Nova and sour cream. Although the Ukulele Lady insists on a heritage turkey for Thanksgiving, and a standing rib roast on Christmas. And my special Baked Hopping John for New Year’s Day. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-must-do-dinners/929475/6 "2021-01-02T09:31:51Z")
Not dinner exactly, but there has to be pumpkin pie at least once a month, from October to January. No other pumpkin dessert will be accepted. We do normally have fondue at least once per winter. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-must-do-dinners/929475/7 "2021-01-02T23:16:55Z")
4th of July: Burgers and hot dogs on the grill, my own family-favorite potato salad, corn on the cob, baked beans, strawberry shortcake ice cream sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-must-do-dinners/929475/8 "2021-01-03T00:07:50Z")
Birthdays – tacos 4th of July–tacos Someone leaving for/visiting during/coming back from an extended absence–tacos Funerals – pot luck furnished by a large extended family Weddings – whatever was scheduled with the caterer Most things are celebrated with tacos in my family