Christmas is the feast commemorating the birth of Christ. It is fixed in the liturgical year as December 25th and is preceded by four week of fasting called Advent.Swedish Green Split Peas with Bacon
- ½ lb. bacon, chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and sliced
- 1 lb. green split peas, washed and soaked in 6 cups of water for 6 hours or overnight
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 4 tbsp. butter
Brown the bacon in a frying pan. Remove the bacon and set aside. Discard all but 2 tbsp. of the fat in a pan. Heat the reserved fat in the frying pan and add the onion. Sauté the onion until tender.
Drain the peas and place in a 4 to 6 quart pot along with the reserved bacon and sautéed onions. Add enough fresh water to just cover the peas. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, about 1½ hours, or until the water is absorbed and the peas are thick. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and add more water if necessary. Stir in salt and pepper to taste and the butter.
