food

You can't have holidays without traditions around food. Family recipes passed down, that make each holiday feel a bit the same; new traditions that are starting to stick and feel just right; and special dishes that remind us of those that aren't with us anymore.

We had Grandmaman's gumdrop cake accompany many holiday celebrations from solstice through boxing day. Christmas Eve has started a tradition of snacks, appetizers and mushroom/sherry/thyme soup, followed by a bonfire and then back inside for coffee and sweets. And all those extra snacks are perfect for pulling out for guests over the following days.

The traditional turkey dinner served by my Mom was a smaller affair with just six adults and the 2 kids. She tried a new butternut squash with fennel, in place of the turnips with bechamel sauce. Those turnips are a classic, so she had a big challenge ahead of her in changing things up. It was a success, the butternut squash was so good, we'll be hoping for it again...good thing there is Thanksgiving, so the turnips still have a place too!

And you can't forget Christmas oranges to tide you over until breakfast which isn't until after all present opening and playing.