Gwyn Mellinger writes about food for the Lawrence Journal-World. She takes your holiday questions.

Moderator

Hi folks! I’m Joel Mathis, managing editor for convergence, and Gwyn is here to talk about holiday food traditions! Welcome!

Gwyn Mellinger

Good afternoon!

Moderator

Gywn, my family used to have a lasagna tradition every Christmas. What are some other holiday food traditions you know of?

Gwyn Mellinger

Individual families tend to have one dish or a couple of recipes that they make every holiday. Some have a holiday theme. Others, like your lasagna tradition, seem to have nothing to do with the holidays.

I recall several years ago visiting with Maggie Carttar here in Lawrence. Her family made pounds and pounds of stollen every year and gave it away as gifts.

Shelby

What the hell is mincemeat?

Gwyn Mellinger

Mincemeat — not to be confused with minced meat — is a chutney-like concoction that usually is made with raisins, currants, maybe apples, nuts and a bit of brandy. Once upon a time it was made with suet. Yuck.

Moderator

It seems like a lot of Christmas food traditions are the same as Thanksgiving — a lot of families have turkey and stuffing. What’s something more Christmassy we can serve this year?

Gwyn Mellinger

I’ve talked to a lot of people over the years who prepare a goose or Cornish game hens. About 10 years ago we had a county engineer here in Douglas County by the name of Frank Hempen, who shot a goose every year for the family Christmas dinner.

ChristyLittle

Do you have any tips for keeping food warm until you can get the whole family seated for dinner? My aunt has an ongoing case of the cold cooked carrots.

Moderator

Here’s a question from my belly: Is it possible — or even desirable — to dial back the holiday food eating a little bit so that the weight gain is minimal?

Gwyn Mellinger

The three Cs. Not good. Has she (or a helpful relative) thought of keeping them in the top of a double boiler on the stove? You don’t want them to keep cooking overe direct heat but to stay warm.

Moderator

Oops. Posted that last one too soon. I’ll try again: Here’s a question from my belly: Is it possible — or even desirable — to dial back the holiday food eating a little bit so that the weight gain is minimal?

Gwyn Mellinger

Dialing back the holiday food eating… This is a question that is close to my heart. As it happens, I tried starting a diet about three weeks ago. It bombed. My heartfelt advice is to forget about your weight until after the holidays. That’s why they have January specials at athletic clubs.

Moderator

Is there really such a thing as figgy pudding?

Gwyn Mellinger

Yes. Not many desserts have their own song, but this one does. It’s usually made with a strong does of brandy. I recall hearing a local woman tell me a few yuears ago about her family’s tradition, which entailed singing the figgy pudding song after Christmas dinner, and probably pouring a bit more brandy to go with the pudding.

Moderator

For that matter, does anybody make wassail anymore? I haven’t had it in years.

Gwyn Mellinger

Yes. I have a good recipe that was given to me by Chris Hammill, who lives in Baldwin. It can be made alch and non-alch. The spices are the key. We’ll get that recipe posted here.

Moderator

Finally – and this is our last question – any ideas which cookies Santa likes best?

Gwyn Mellinger

Probably my mother’s ginger cookies. They are my personal holiday tradition. I loved eating them before they could cool on the kitchen counter. The smell of them baking in the oven is one of the things I will always associate with the holidays.

Moderator

Thanks for joining us! And don’t forget, folks, that Santa will join us tomorrow!