Yesterday I needed to make some little “thank you” gifts and since almost everyone likes popcorn AND chocolate, I opted for the chocolate drizzled popcorn that has become so popular. When you put chocolate and popcorn together and achieve that perfect blend of sweet with a little salty…mmm, I’m good! In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I went with a green and gold theme. I bagged the finished popcorn in serving size treat bags, found a cute little St. Paddy’s Day wish that I copied and made into a little card and voila! Some cute, yummy looking “thank you” treats! It tasted pretty good too!
One more Christmas tradition that I enjoy is making fudge. Since I am not an accomplished baker or candy maker, I appreciate easy recipes that are versatile and delicious! For years I have been using the same recipe which can be found on the back label of marshmallow creme, whether name brand or store brand. I like this recipe because it does not require a lot of ingredients, or time, and it tastes pretty darn good. It may not win a fudge of the year competition, but chances are it will all get eaten. The thing that I love about this recipe is its versatility. It is so easy to change this recipe from chocolate fudge to white chocolate fudge with nuts, or green mint fudge. My new favorite is sea salt caramel fudge‼ If they make a flavored chocolate chip, you can turn it into fudge.
I love Christmas traditions! We live in a fast-paced society where things are constantly changing and evolving, including traditions. I remember when I first got married, the Christmas traditions that I knew and loved as a child, changed. While we still enjoyed some traditions with family, my husband and I established our own traditions as we built our life together and had children of our own. Now as our sons leave home, marry and start their families, traditions will again change, be modified, evolve. It’s just a part of life!
It has been a tradition of my mother for the last 30 plus years to have Christmas Eve dinner in her home. Dinner has been modified from the fancy turkey with all the trimmings to a simpler menu of soups, homemade rolls and cheese logs. Personally, I enjoy this altered menu. To me, soup is a comfort food, Christmas and comfort are synonymous, and not much tastes better on a cold winter night than soup. One of the favored soups served on Christmas Eve is potato soup. My mother’s recipe is easy, requiring few ingredients and certainly fills the belly and warms the heart. I would like to share with you the recipe for our traditional Christmas Eve potato soup.
One Christmas I was asked to bring rolls to a church dinner. I had made bread before so I figured rolls would be no big deal and waited until the last minute to make them. Oh, My, Gosh! To say “what a disappointment” would be an understatement. My yeast was old, it was a cold day and my dough wouldn’t rise! I finally baked them anyway and I can attest to the fact that they were the saddest rolls at the dinner. So, I decided to learn how to make rolls. After bread making classes, watching videos and advice from Chef Brad on Cooking with Grains, I have learned a few things.
First, it’s important to have good, active yeast. This is what is responsible for making your dough rise and gives it it’s light, airiness. In order to activate your yeast you need a sugar and warm water. For my rolls I combine 1/4 cup of white granulated sugar with 2 level tablespoons of yeast and 2 cups of warm water. If the water is too hot, it will kill the yeast, so be careful. Let this stand until it becomes all foamy. Then you know your yeast is good.
I – like a lot of folks – love the holidays! Holidays bring out the best in people, it seems like they are kinder, and more giving. The holidays bring families together, even if it’s just to eat. But the best part is the food! Why do we wait for holidays to bring out all the good stuff?
