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December's Monthly Dish - text
Creating Christmas Traditions
…….with Food
Nothing beats getting fresh baked cookies for Christmas.
Every year we do an exchange of edible gifts between
friends and neighbors. As a family, we get together and
decorate gingerbread houses, make gingerbread boys that
don’t get away, bake and decorate sugar cookies, bake
chocolate chip cookies, ice box cookies, make fudge,
pralines and all sorts of candy. It’s a fun time for our
family, my daughter especially loves spending time with me
decorating the cookies and the little gift baskets we
deliver. One cute memory was when she was around 5 years
old—I told her we would deliver the handmade gifts around
the neighborhood and she could help me. After leaving the
second house, she excitedly asked me. “Can we take Mr.
Rogers his gift now?” What a “beautiful day in the
neighborhood “that day for her.
You don’t have to already have traditions established
either, when I was growing up cooking for the holidays
involved cooking pies, dressing and the turkey, with my
mother, for our huge family get together on Christmas day.
My husbands family is different and get together later in
the evening, so I’ve started our own little Christmas
traditions. The week before Christmas we get together
(our little family) and make gingerbread and create fun
little gingerbread houses. It sure is fun to see how much
each of my children advance each year in their creative
ability. When they were all under 8 we would give them
graham crackers to create their houses with. The crackers
were easier to handle and you could make sections easily.
Of course mom always ends up with a tummy ache from eating
the candy before the houses are done. We also have
another night for making our Christmas cookies we give out
as presents. Perhaps my favorite tradition is that we
always pick a family to buy a Christmas dinner for. We put
a Gift Card or gifts, Turkey, rolls, pumpkin pie, cookies,
etc and secretly place the box of treats at the door of a
family we might know in need. Our little secret Santa
activity, has made my kids really appreciate the act of
giving and they enjoy it so much. There were years when
we didn’t have much and we found little gifts and gift
cards to the local mall attached. I told them we always
need to do something nice to pass on that kindness.
Anyone bearing a gift of home baked cookies will make the
reciever smile with delight. No one can resist cookies
and they can make anyone feel loved and cherished.
Below is our easy gingerbread recipe and some holiday
suggestions. May your holidays be filled with joy and
love, may you find family in neighbors near and friends
far. God Bless each of you and your families, at this
special time of year.
Merry Christmas from Country Gourmet
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Easy Gingerbread Boys & Girls
You will need :
1 Mama’s Spice Cake Mix
1/4 cup Molasses
1/3—1/2 cup water
Mix all well until a dough is formed (more water if needed
to make pliable). Roll out on floured surface and cut with
cookie cutters. With spatula remove and place on lightly
greased baking sheet. Place in a 350 degree oven and bake
for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool and decorate.
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Use our mixes to make quick and easy food gifts:
Pralines with our Southern Pecan Dessert Mix, Mama’s All
Around Cookie Mix to make a multitude of different cookies,
our Classic Hot Cocoa or Warm Wassail Mix tucked in a mug,
our cookie, muffin or cake mixes in a basket with a cake
pan & spatula, Scrumptious Soda Bread tucked inside a loaf
pan with a can of sprite and one of our jams. How about a
dinner mix in a new casserole dish.
More Christmas ideas to entertain with:
Beef Roast with our French Onion Blend
Lasagna with our Italian Blend
Twice Baked Potatoes with our Country Bacon Blend
Party Cheese balls with our Sesame Garlic or Creamy Cajun
Blends
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