Hustle and Bustle

I love the holidays.  I love Christmas and the joy on people's faces when you find them the perfect gift.  The only downside to the holiday is trying to cram everyone and everything in.  There's buying gifts, wrapping gifts, putting up the tree, decorating the house, parties, Christmas cards, and so much more.

I had finished buying and wrapping all the gifts and sending the Christmas cards, so I felt like I was ahead of the game.  I have made 2 batches of brownie, 48 cupcakes, 3 dozen cookies and a blackberry cobbler... and that was just this week.  My husband calls me just a few minutes ago to say that the reminder email was just sent out for another office holiday potluck tomorrow, so go ahead and count that as 2 blackberry cobblers this week.

For me, the season is not about cookies and cobblers... it's about family and friendships and a celebration of God's promise with the birth of His Son.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind doing it, but I am ready to get to the faces of joy and wonder and the time spent with friends and family.

These faces:

And these faces:

Yep... Bring it on!  I am ready for some rotten, sugar-coma, full bellied children....

Holiday Memories

Not too long ago on my Facebook status, I wrote that I think it's amazing how a taste of a smell can catapult you back in time.  Our senses play a huge part in our memories.  Because of that, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite holiday recipes.  When ever I smell one of the dishes cooking or take my first bite, the years of fond holiday memories come flooding back.

When I was a freshman in college, my parents moved from our hometown of Greenville, SC to Florence, SC.  While they were there, they would frequent a great little restaurant called Benton's where they would serve a wonderful, melt in your mouth, Broccoli Cornbread.  Here's that recipe:

1/2 c. margarine, melted
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 10 oz. package of frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained
4 eggs, beaten
6 oz. cottage cheese
1 tsp. salt
1 8 1/2 oz. Jiffy Cornbread mix

Combine all ingredients, except cornbread mix.  Stir in muffin mix.  Pour batter into a buttered 13x9 inch baking dish.  Bake at 400 degrees for 25 - 30 mins.  Serves 8 - 12

 

My grandmother used to make a Peach Cobbler that would make your mouth water.  I just remember how amazing it would taste and how that scoop of Breyer's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream would melt on contact with it.

2 c. fruit
1 3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
1 c. self rising flour
1/2 c. milk

Cook fruit in 3/4 c. sugar until the sugar is cooked down into the fruit juices.  Malt 1/2 c. butter in a 11x13 baking dish.  Mix flour, 1 c. sugar and 1/2 c. milk together and pour over the butter.  Then pour your fruit mixture on top of that.  Do not stir!  Cook at 375 degrees until bubbly (approximately 40 -45 mins).



My grandmother also made a Macaroni and Cheese that was out of this world.  I always begged her for the recipe, but it was a closely guarded secret.  I thought she would never give up the recipe, but about a year before she passed away, she gave it to me.  I love this recipe and every bite makes me remember her love from the oven.

2 c. Elbow Macaroni
2 TBL. butter
2 TBL. flour
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. milk
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook the macaroni like normal.  While that is cooking, in a saucepan, combine the milk, butter and salt.  Bring to a slow boil and whisk in the flour.  Make sure the flour is combined completely.  When the macaroni is done, strain it and put it in a baking dish, pour milk mixture over the noodles.  Stir in the cheese, retaining a little to sprinkle over the top.  Bake for 20 -25 mins. until bubbly.



I hope you'll share these recipes with your family over the holidays.  And from my family, Happy Holidays!