A Danish Christmas Eve Dinner

The Christmas feast, in Denmark, is celebrated at midnight Christmas Eve. Everyone looks forward to dessert when a special rice pudding is served in which a single almond is hidden. Whoever finds the almond will have good luck for the coming year.   The jolly bringer of gifts is known as Julemanden and arrives in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, a sack over his back. He is assisted with his Yuletide chores by elves called Juul Nisse, who are said to live in attics. Children leave out saucers of milk or rice pudding for them and are delighted to find the food gone on Christmas morning.

 

Menu

Creamed herring
Smoked salmon
assorted cheeses

Ham - (from Honey Baked Hams)
Glazed Mushrooms
Potatoes with caviar
Cabbage Bundles
Tomato salad

Rice Pudding

 

 

Shopping list

 

 

Cabbage Bundles filled with Creamed onions, Bacon and Sage

1 head green cabbage
1 head red cabbage
4 qts Water
2 tbsp salt

1 lb thick slice bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4 strips
1 3/4 lb onions, thinly slices
3/4 whipping cream
2 2/3 tbsp fresh sage
1 tsp fennel seed