• Dec. 8, 2007
Tastes of the Season
I recently smiled to myself as I heard one of our high school girls giving God thanks for the gift of taste. She noted that He just as easily could have created us so that our food was ingested in some other fashion ~ but He graciously gave us the gift of taste; the ability to experience different flavors and textures. What a great God we serve!
I'm thankful for the ability to taste all throughout the year, but for many of us, Christmastime is a particularly sweet time to savor. Afterall, we're celebrating the birthday of the King! We pull out those recipes that have been in our families for generations. We bake and tell the stories of the past to the next generation. We sit beside the glowing Christmas tree with a steaming mug of hot cocoa in our hands, reminiscing...celebrating...dreaming...giving thanks.
I learned this week that there's such a thing as chocolate marshmallows! Who knew? I'd laughingly told a friend of mine that one of the items on our middle son's Chritmas list is a "personal container of hot cocoa." Isn't that sweet? Anyhow, she surprised him this week, not with just any ordinary hot cocoa mix, but with Schokinag European White Chocolate...and chocolate marshmallows to boot! All I can say is...pure decadence!
When my husband and I were dating, my future mother-in-law gave me a small recipe book for collecting Christmas recipes. I began recording favorites as a teenager, and now...after nearly 16 years of marriage, my Christmas collection has grown quite extensive.
One of the recipes in my quaint little cookbook goes back to my childhood. I remember when my mom used to make it for my dad and brother and me on Christmas Eve. Now I do the same for my family...
Cranberry Tea Punch
2 (32 oz) bottles cranberry juice
2 c. brewed tea
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 small lemon, thinly sliced
In a 4-qt. saucepan over high heat, heat cranberry juice and next 5 ingredients until sugar is dissolved and punch is hot, stirring occasionally. Float lemon slices on top and serve.
Comments
• Dec. 9, 2007
Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Mmmmm......look delish, Nikki!
Missy
• Dec. 9, 2007
Untitled Comment
Posted by momofgirls
What a wonderful gift! Both the chocolate and the recipe collection idea. I need to write that one down for my girls in a few years.
Have a lovely week!
• Dec. 10, 2007
Untitled Comment
Posted by blessinghill
Sounds really good! Thanks for sharing.
• Dec. 28, 2007
Untitled Comment
Posted by momofgirls
I have to tell you that I read this post a while back and it truly inspired me. I bought three holiday recipe books plus recipe cards. I am starting to write favorite recipes for all three of my girls. My mom will be over here later today and will add her banana pudding recipe to Rachel's book, which Rachel requested. (Mom will write it in her own handwriting, which I think will mean more several years from now than if she emails it and I write it myself)
Thank you for sharing such a sweet idea!
Jen
