Christmas is almost here and there is nothing like having a Christmas dinner with your family. There is also nothing like having your testicle bitten off by a guy wearing a elf costume. Needless to say, unique experiences are not always good.

So this year might be the year to get away Christmas day to enjoy a meal with the people you really care about: people you aren’t related to.  But where you can you eat out on Christmas day?  Isn’t everywhere closed?

Where in Cleveland can you eat out on Christmas day?  Let me know in the comments.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gjcharlet/

Where to Eat Out on Christmas Day?

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• Contest: Book Giveaway for Your Weirdest Holiday Tradition
• "Ethnic Group" at La Tortilla Feliz

Rice, Risotto , Lentils, Black Beans, Platanos (Plantaines, Yuca, a variety of fish (Salmon, Talapia, Shark), Avocado, Onions, Tomatoes.

Pretty much everything my hubbie and I have for dinner, is what she eats.  Even if she doesn’t quite like it the first time, I always have her try it again.

For those of you who are reading, here’s my advise to you when it comes to young children and food.

• The first initial “yuck” look on a babies face is normally just the reaction of something new, which is why a second round is always a good idea!
• If you child ask’s “Do I like this?”, always say yes.  When you tell a child they don’t like something they will automatically engrave in their mind just that.
• Even if it’s something you don’t like, or wouldn’t normally eat, let your child try it.  You might find that their taste buds are much different than yours.

Does your 2 year old eat these foods?

• Organic Baby Food
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• Swanson Soups – Good for these Cold, Winter Days
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• When a Hero Comes Along….

The month of May is coming up soon… just a few days away.  It has always been my favorite month of the year.  Both my husband and I celebrate our Birthday’s in May.  I try to do something simple yet special for my hubbie every year… and this year will be no exception. Normally we get a small gift for each other and have brownie’s with ice cream. We are not big fans of just plain cake & icing,  so we do the “Birthday Brownie” instead of the cake.  Well what does this have to do with cheesecake you ask?  I thought I “switch it up” this year and try something different… My husband LOVES cheese cake… he could eat it every day.  So I’ve decided that I’d like to buy a cheese cake for his Birthday this year instead of making the brownies.

Now, I need your help with this.  The only cheesecakes we have had are either home made or store bought from Sam’s Club or Giant Eagle. Now my mother would tell me just to get a good recipe and bake it… well, I love to cook, but I’m as good of a baker.  Therefore, I’m going to forgo making it at home, and I’d like to find a nice place that sells the BEST Cheese cake ever!  Where can I buy the BEST Cheese Cake ever in Cleveland?

Looking for Cheese Cake

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• Cheese Crackers – Make Your Own and They’ll Taste Like Cheese
• Animal Crackers

I’d like for you to send us your comments with your family traditions.  What do guys do with eggs during the Easter holiday?  Perhaps something you do may sound like a good idea to other readers.  It’s always good to share recipes & ideas back and forth.  So, send your recipes and ideas so we can all get ideas for next year…

Eggs

None Found

Ingredients:
1/2 pound of ground turkey
1 small onion – diced very small
1 small red/yellow pepper – diced very small
1 can of black beans
1 can of white beans – canallini
1 can of Mexican Chili beans
chicken stock
Cumin
Salt
Black Pepper (red pepper can also be added)

Directions:
In a skillet, add the ground turkey, the diced onions and the diced peppers.  Mix until the turkey is cooked and the onions & peppers are tender.  Should take about 5-7 minutes.  Add your cumin, salt and pepper to taste.  Stir and mix the spices in. 

In a medium sized pot add the meat & veggies you just cooked, and all three cans of beans.  Add 2 –3 cans of chicken stock, depending on how you like your soup.  Stir so everything is mixed well.  Let the soup mixture come to a boil and let it boil for about 10 minutes.  Bring to low heat, and let the soup simmer on the stove for another 20 –25 minutes. 

Now here’s a question for you… for those who read this post, I’d like to put this question to a vote.  Do you and your family prefer ground beef or ground turkey?  And why do you like the one more than the other?  Here at home we’ve decided to eat ground turkey now.  I find that it doesn’t lay as heavy in my stomach.. especially since we eat a late dinner most nights.

Stacy’s Turkey and Three Bean Chili

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Let me know in the comments.

I’d like to compile a list of 100 Cleveland food must haves, here are a couple I’m going to add, in no particular order:

• Christmas Ale – Great Lakes Brewing Company
• Fresh Chèvre – Lake Erie Creamery
• Slovenian Sausage – Raddell’s Sausage
• Stadium Mustard – David Food Company
• Wake & Bacon – Melt Bar and Grilled
• Lola Fries – Lola
• Chocolate Mountain Strawberry Pie – Gray House Pies

Photo: spatulated

Cleveland Food Must Haves – Ask the Readers

• West Shore Magazine Now Out
• Gray House Pies – Cleveland’s Best Pie
• Melt Bar and Grilled – Lakewood, Ohio
• Food Product Review: Bacon Salt
• Chocolate Covered Bacon

“ Where can I go to eat the best seafood in the Cleveland area.  I’m looking for a restaurant that has a menu full of fish, scallops, shrimp, octopus, calamari, mussels, etc.  Please please help me find somewhere special to take my honey.”

Best Place in Town for Seafood?

• Mallorca- Excellent Spanish and Portuguese Cuisine
• Restaurantica – One In A Million
• Young’s Sushi in Downtown Willoughby
• Eatingcleveland.com Named Cleveland’s Best Blog
• Aroundme.com – Website Review

Animal crackers are crackers in the shapes of animals, some brands of which are sweetened. These are usually animals one would see at the zoo or circus, including lions, tigers, bears, and elephants. There is debate about whether or not animal crackers are actually crackers or cookies. They are like crackers due to the way they are made, with layered dough, however the use of sweetened dough gives them the cookie taste and consistency.

So after pulling out cracker by cracker I found the following different shapes. Yes I was just a little bit bored one Saturday afternoon.   Now the next task was figuring out which animal is which.  I figured out that one of them was a camel, one was an elephant, I’m thinking one is either a horse or a donkey. I think there might be a bear and a rhinoceros… But that leaves quite a few un-named animals. Definitely hoping you guys can help me with this grand dilemma. 

Animal Crackers

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• Cranberry Crisps Cookies : Eatingcleveland.con Recipes

I don’t have my smoker anymore so I’m really fiending for some good barbecue, but we live in Cleveland where often “good barbeque” and “McRib” are mentioned in the same sentence.  That doesn’t say much for our barbeque selection. 

So I turn to you, good people of Cleveland.  Where’s the best place to get some of the Mr.Brown and Ms. White in Cleveland?

Photo: Barron

The Best Barbeque in Cleveland – Ask the Readers

• bd’s Mongolian Barbeque – Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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• Hot Sauce Williams Barbecue – Cleveland, Ohio

1. Chicken Noodle Soup

2. Garlic

3. Green Tea

4. Strawberries

5. Lean Meats

6. Honey

7. Hot Peppers

I was wondering if anyone has an old family secret to help fight or prevent colds and the flu.  Is there a specific food or a recipe you could share with us?  Living in Ohio, the weather changes all the time.  During this winter season, it’s always good to start eating things that will help us prevent sickness, as well as find things that will help cure us if we are sick.  Since I am currently battling a small cold, I would love to hear from you to see if perhaps one of your recommendations helps my cold go away.

Foods that help fight Colds and Flu

• 50 Fabulous Food Lists
• Cleveland International Film Festival Foodie Fundrasier
• Restaurant Review Website – Foodio54.com
• Cream of Wheat Noodles – Special Lenten Recipe
• ConAgra Foods, You Stink!