Every Saturday I'll try to come up with some "out there" question that just makes you stop and think about something not so important. Think of it as a mini vacation. If you have any ideas drop me a line and we'll throw it in here. Who knows, it might be fun.
OK - Here goes:
What is the one Treat that just says CHRISTMAS for you? That yummy delight that you usually only get during the holiday season?
For me it's my Grandmother's cranberry salad. Oh, we could make it any time, but we don't. We make the first batch at Thanksgiving and then again for Christmas. It's sweet and tart, full of flavor that just bursts in your mouth. There are nuts and berrys to add texture, jello to smooth it out and oranges to add that little surprise.
It's not easy to make, and we always make a production of it. Like all the candies and cookies we do, it's a family affair. One person cleans the cranberrys then is charged with chopping them up. Someone else is in charge of the pecans. The oldest child get's to do the jello, and then someone else peels and chops the oranges. The oldest woman gets to oversee the production and then mix everything together. It's actually very symbolic. We never planned it this way, it just happened.
Maybe that's why I love it so much, it's not just tastey, it represents the Family. It's tradition.
So what about you? What's your favorite holiday dish - and tell me why!!!!!
Posted by Tammi at December 4, 2004 09:35 AMEnglish toffee.
After my dad retired from the factory where he worked, every year he'd get this big, 3-layer box of candy. Mystery chocolates on top, Turtles in the middle, and English Toffee on the bottom.
It was pretty much the only time I saw the stuff when I was a kid, so I really looked forward to finally making it through the Turtles (which I never liked - I can't understand why people would mess up perfectly good caramel by putting nuts into it).
I also used to hide some of the pieces & save them for after the rest of the box was gone :-)
Posted by: Harvey at December 4, 2004 10:27 AMMy mom's seven layer bars. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
All of us looked forward to the holidays, because it meant there were extra treats (ingredients for cookies) in the pantry. Some of them seemed to disappear. Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, sometimes even a can of sweetened condensed milk.
Gah, now I've got a huge craving thing going on.
Posted by: That 1 Guy at December 4, 2004 11:53 AMAs a child, it was Chinese take-out on Christmas Eve after Midnight Mass. We didn't get Chinese more than a few times during the year, so it was a real treat. Oh, and we got to open one of our tree presents before bedtime, too. Midnight Mass is a great invention. We usually didn't wake up till nine in the morning.
Great question, Tammi! I enjoyed the memory. Hmmm...Christmas in England tastes like sweet and sour chicken. Who would have thought it?
Posted by: Sally at December 4, 2004 01:33 PMMine is simple. Candy canes. Since I was knee high to a grasshopper, I have made deadly pointed instruments of death out of candy canes by sucking on them until the ends are needle-sharp. I still do it, every year. Make the point, bite it off, start again.
Posted by: JimK at December 4, 2004 02:10 PMChocolate covered cherries.
Gooey and delicious.
Definately my Dad's stuffing...he puts apples in it (which I know some people think is gross), but it's awesome and wouldn't be the holidays without it!!!
Posted by: ALa71 at December 4, 2004 06:28 PMT1G, don't drink Orange sweetened condensed milk... Just sayin'...
Me? Cheese grits and ham. It's a Southern thang. My Mom makes the best damn cheese grits. I gotta post the recipe at the Carnival.
Wonderful question!!!
Posted by: Boudicca at December 4, 2004 10:34 PMAngel hair pasta with Calamari sauce. Only on Christmas Eve.
Posted by: Smokin at December 4, 2004 11:06 PMThe platter of my Mom's holiday cookies which never fails to be the size of a card table.
O.K. Now you have to fess up and give us the family recipe for cranberry salad. If it's something you have been charged to never reveal maybe we could work something out... Hmmm?
BTW you can tell me it will be just between you and me. Eveyone else will look the other way when you post it.
Posted by: Randy at December 5, 2004 01:09 AMEggnog! Why do they only sell it in December???
Posted by: Ogre at December 6, 2004 08:30 AM