A little something different this week while anticipating the holiday season…
Even though the holidays can be nostalgic, memorable, and fun, they can also be a stressful time as well. I’ve learned a few tricks over the years and now as a Gramma to 10 beautiful grandchildren varying in age from 21 to newborn, each year brings new creative ideas that will continue to honour tradition while keeping things a little less worrisome.
For years I’ve done some simple things that my grown kids seem to remember most. I love the smells of Christmas, so I create a pot full of scent easily in a very quick way with things I have. I fill a pot with water, chop up an apple, an orange, add a few cloves if I have them, some nutmeg and cinnamon sticks, a few drops of vanilla and a squeeze of lemon. While baking, wrapping, and doing holiday cleaning I turn the back burner on low and let all of those lovely things simmer for a few hours. The house fills will holiday scent and the pot can sit without heat while still giving off those lovely smells.
I’ve also given myself permission to switch from wrapping at times to gift bags or even wrapping with plain brown postal wrap and decorating the outside with stickers, photos or old Christmas cards in a collage, a pine cone or quick homemade bow.
A tradition I started with the first grandkids that has carried down is a Gramma and Grandkids date evening. We go out for a fun dinner together and they receive a set budget to shop for their parents. In the early years when they were littler, we shopped at the dollar store for a gift bag full of “mommy would love this” or “daddy would love that” stuff and such. We’ve progressed in recent years to a special item that Mom and Dad might enjoy. Last year it was a comfy new pillow each and a heated throw for their bed. We had so much fun tossing around ideas, after our dinner and discussing a variety of options before they agreed on their choice.
I try to introduce new fun and sometimes old-fashioned things when spending time with the g-kids. One favourite is everyone gets a lemon and rolls it on the table to soften up the juices inside, then we insert a straight candy cane. This one actually comes from a old fashioned treat idea that I had to try as a young Momma way back. When you suck and suck on the candy cane straw eventually the tart lemon juice comes through and it’s quite delicious and fun to try.
I hope you feel inspired to try something new, simple, old fashioned or fun to add to your traditions.
Christmas morning is a great time for our delicious sopapillas (Mexican fry bread) that are quick to make, deep fry and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. I like to serve them with soft honey butter and a cup of hot chocolate or cinnamon tea with a few fluffy marshmallows on top and stirred with a cinnamon stick or candy cane.
You’ll need:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons shortening
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 2 quarts oil for frying
Mix ingredients until smooth and cover to stand for 20 minutes. Heat oil in a heavy deep pot or in your deep fryer. Roll the dough out on a floured surface and cut in triangles or squares. You’ll need a long-handled wire strainer or sometimes called a spider to fish out the puffed up sopapillas with and transfer to a paper towel. Sprinkle immediately with cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar.
These are only a few tricks and ideas to share. I’ve got plenty more where these came from! Happy experimenting and memory making to you and yours! Gramma Het
