My Favorite Recipes: Christmas Traditions

Although there are many Christmas traditions that are shared around the world, it is always intriguing to hear how people create magic in their own family and adopt traditions that hold deep meaning for their families. This week I have reflected on my own memories while growing up. As a child, I remember gathering together with my cousins (there were more than 30) at my grandparents' home on Christmas Eve. We were all dressed in our Sunday best. Grandma had been cooking divinity, caramels, peanut brittle and many other holiday treats for days. Grandpa always had a box of chocolates hidden away that he would sneak out and offer to all of the grandchildren when the parents weren't looking. The children, well, we were sure that we were the stars that lit up the sky every Christmas Eve. We performed next to the Christmas tree, singing songs, playing our instruments and reciting poems. Each year a program was printed and the festivities were magnificent. I am sure it was a performance that only family members would appreciate or find the strength to endure, but as children, it was magical.

This week I posed a question to many community members, asking them what their favorite family traditions are. Holly Monson said their family had a tradition of breaking a piñata each year and eating their favorite cookies that they lovingly called "awful, old, hard cookies."

Janni Burt shared their family tradition of wrapping up jammies that the Christmas Elves leave for the family each Christmas Eve. Jennafer McCutchen shared that they love to make sugar cookies, with the children helping to decorate. They then let each child choose one present to open, which is always entertaining to see.

For some, it has to be a day that they continue to work, but it doesn't go without celebration and tradition. Suzy McNeilly said, "On Christmas Day we feed cattle at our feedlot. So we feed, ride pens, breakfast at Shari's, a movie and then back to the feedlot. When we get home, I always have the crockpot ready with a hearty stew or soup."

Mary Wiley spoke of their Roaming Nativity tradition, which includes a manger and animals placed where they stay for the entire season. Following that, Mary, Joseph and their donkey start their travels far on the opposite side of the property and are moved each day by a family member after reading a fitting scripture. By the end, angels appear, along with shepherds and baby Jesus.

One family who wished to stay anonymous, shared the experience of having a child born prematurely which kept them in the hospital for an extended time during the holiday season. They were brought gifts and blankets by complete strangers as they gathered around their baby fighting for his life. It left such an impression on them that they hoped that they could somehow return the favor. Since this experience, they have made it a Christmas tradition to visit those in the hospital and return the favor.

As a family they have distributed more than 1,500 blankets, with help from friends and family.

The Bryson family found themselves gathered in the hospital last year while a loved one struggled to heal. We experienced first-hand the difference that this kind of compassion makes. We also felt blessed to live in a community that is abundant with caring people who take time to look beyond themselves and bring light and joy to others. No matter where you are this year, may the Christmas Spirit reach you or even better yet, may you fill others with the blessings of Christmas!

Recipes

Feast of Fishes

Submitted by Greg Fiorentino/

Father of Liz Nelson of Endicott

Exported from MasterCook

This is a feast of fishes and uses upwards of seven types of fish traditionally served after a fast on Christmas Eve. We have always used a mix from the grocery store, usually including salmon, scallops, shrimp, squid/calamari, baby octopus, muscles and a white fish such as halibut. My dad has prepared it most recently as a pasta sauce, but we had it as a stew when I was a little kid, served with a crusty garlic bread. A lot of people get icked out by the idea of eating octopus, but it's actually very mild and a little chewy. The lemon-olive oil sauce complements the seafood with a really wonderful flavor and is one of my all-time favorite dishes. It's something I look forward to every year.

Seafood in Lemon-Olive Oil Sauce

Submitted by Adelle Hurley-Bondurant of Farmington

Any seafood combination will work for this recipe. My favorite is the frozen seafood medley that Costco sells. But you can DIY with any combination of fin-fish and shellfish, fresh or frozen. The sauce will seem to have too strong a lemon flavor before the seafood is added, but it blends and mellows after adding. Any pasta will work, but something small and textured, such as shells, farfalle, or penne, is best

Apple-Snicker Salad

8-10 green Granny Smith apples, cut into bite-sized chunks

2 bags of mini Snickers bars, cut into bite-sized chunks

2-3 containers Cool Whip

Mix together ingredients and serve.

Denver Rolls

Submitted by Shirley Cornelius of Colfax.

1 pint sweet milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup mashed potatoes (I use instant)

1 cake yeast

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

Scald milk, butter, sugar and mashed potatoes, mix and let cool. Then add yeast, baking powder, baking soda and enough flour to make a soft sponge. Let rise for one hour. Then add salt with enough flour to make a soft dough, as for biscuits. Set in cool place (refrigerate) and when you want to bake, pinch off as much as you need. Roll thin and cut. Spread with butter, fold over and let rise 15 minutes. Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees F.