Have you noticed that there’s a hustle and bustle in the grocery stores, that baking supplies seem to be in short supply and that the smell of seasonal goodies is starting to fill the air? Is your sensory memory on high alert? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you are probably in full-fledged Christmas mode. So, what’s on your menu, contemporary or traditional?
Speaking of traditional, the Christmas turkey is THE golden-brown symbol of the season while ham is the juicy, smoky and sweet sidekick. Of course, every family has an opinion on stuffing, whether it’s outside or inside the bird and if it’s called stuffing or dressing. Doesn’t that depend on where it’s located, but everyone agrees it’s the soul of the meal? And don’t forget mashed potatoes, the perfect bed for hot gravy.
The sides that accompany the meal can be overwhelming, especially when the host tries to please each person’s preference. Did you know that seventy years ago, Campbell’s test kitchen developed the nostalgic green bean casserole, featuring cream of mushroom soup and fried onions?
But really, what’s more Christmas than egg nog chock full of milk, cream, sugar, egg yolk and whipped egg, especially when spiked with brandy, rum, whiskey or bourbon?
How many of you have actually ever tried the one item that is often the brunt of the Christmas jokes … fruitcake? It has its origins in ancient Rome as a dense, energy-packed food designed for endurance. It’s soaked in booze, packed with fruit and looks like a little jewel box on the table. I don’t care if it is an energy packed jewel box, I personally don’t know anyone that “likes” it!
Now let’s be honest, when you think of Christmas, the warm scent of cookies baking in the oven is almost as iconic as a decorated tree or festive carols. Although, gingerbread might be the original traditional seasonal cookie that you can eat and engineer, have you ever wondered how Christmas cookies became such a beloved tradition in the U.S.? The answer lies with immigrants who brought not only their skills but also their recipes when they flocked to the “new world”.
Let’s face it, cookies are a beloved treat the world over, with many cultures claiming their own special recipe, especially for the Christmas season. For thousands of years, winter solstice festivals involved coming together to feast, and as this tradition merged with Christmas celebrations in the Middle Ages, festive cookies truly took off in Europe. Today, there are numerous takes on the festive cookie, gingerbread, home-baked stained-glass cookies or leaving out something sugar-dusted for Santa. Festive cookies have become an essential part of celebrating Christmas in many countries around the world.
A recent impromptu survey completed by many of your Summit County Farm Bureau board members found that most cite an ethnic cookie (depending upon their ethnic heritage) as their favorite Christmas cookie. However, the good ole American chocolate chip cookie was the all-time winner for their favorite anytime cookie. What does this tell us … we truly are a melting pot, blending our traditional tastes with our current?!
Judy Orr James, author of Akron Family Recipes encourages all, “If you are the keeper of your family’s precious recipes, please be sure to write them down and share them with your children and grandchildren.” Don’t let your traditional Christmas foods fade away and become obsolete.
With New Year’s just around the corner, check out this article from our archives that talks about the “tradition” of eating pork and sauerkraut for good luck:
