I grew up thinking our Christmas potatoes were mashed potatoes and turnips. It wasn't until I was older that I realized the turnips were actually rutabagas. I've not tried frying them, but you can bet I'll make enough to try it this year! Sounds yummy! It seems many people remembered the ham and cabbage. Did anyone ever have lima beans and ham? The lima beans were actually huge white beans. I haven't had this dish in 30 years. Linda ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] ; [email protected] Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 3:29 PM Subject: Re: [NJ-Memories] Food! In a message dated 11/8/2004 12:22:54 PM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: You mentioned Taylor ham. Is that the infamous Taylor pork roll? Yum! ----------------------- Now you are on my subject. Everybody on the list knows pork roll and egg on a hard roll which you cannot find in Florida. :( You also mentioned recipes. It's hard to tell what's unique to the area and what food is just handed down through families. Some of the food from my childhood may have even come from England with my great grandparents. I've always loved what our family called "Christmas potatoes", which was half mashed potatoes and half mashed rutabagas. ===================================== My friend always made hers that way also. I just have mashed potatoes and turnips but make enough for leftovers. Then I mix lightly and make cakes and fry in butter until brown. My favorite leftover from Christmas dinner. I had a heck of a time finding rutabagas here in the south when I first got here, but I've noticed that changing some in the past few years. =========================== They have always had them in Florida but what we called turnips in Jersey are rutabagas here and vice versa. Strange. I also have fond memories of ham and cabbage, which was ham, cabbage and potatoes, basically combined and stewed together. ========================= My good old Irish grandparents influence on me. Love it. Dot