Family Traditions

The start of the holiday season has me thinking a lot about our family traditions. 

Traditions are so incredibly important to me because growing up we didn’t have many. So the few I did have, I still hold dear.  Of course my husband has his traditions too, and we have also started some new ones as a family that we look forward to every year. 

Traditions make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.  They also make me feel safe and predictable - I love that!  My 3½-year-old daughter Abby already looks forward to many of the Christmas traditions we have started with her.  I thought she was going to lose it when she saw the Egg Nog sold out at Target.  She loves the stuff, and looks forward to drinking it after our at-home Advent services.  It is heart warming to see the joy on her face in remembering the past and knowing that we will do it again this year. Sharing the true meaning of the holiday season with our little ones each Sunday leading up to Christmas has been a true blessing and something the whole family cherishes.

Here is a list of some of our other Holiday Season traditions:
--Setting up our Christmas tree and decorating the day after Thanksgiving.  This was the first year that Abby could actually help in this process.  Little sister Katy (14 months) was somewhat confused. 
--Setting up the ‘play’ nativity (Little People) and our decorative nativity set. 
--Advent Calendar.  I purchased a felt wall hanging Advent Calendar that is very kid friendly.  Every night after dinner the girls put up one felt piece . . . with the last piece being baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.
--Our Christmas Party.  We have a big family party the first Saturday of December every year.  Being surrounded by our best friends and family is a wonderful way to get the holiday season started! 
--Opening one gift the night of Christmas Eve.  Always PJ’s. Always adorable and cozy.
--Christmas Eve Service- Going as a family to candlelight services on Christmas Eve.
--Food-We eat Chinese food on Christmas Eve, biscuits with chocolate gravy Christmas morning, (recipe from my best friend in elementary school.  We reconnected on Facebook and I begged for the recipe.  It’s truly amazing.See below for the Recipe.) and an old fashioned pot roast for Christmas dinner.
--Christmas Cookie Exchange.  This one is more for me—I organize an exchange with my girlfriends.  It’s super fun and I love to . . .well totally indulge in Christmas treats. 
--Christmas Baking.  YUMMY!  I remember baking with my mom and I treasure those memories.  I hope my daughters’ will feel the same.  My favorites are fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, Russian Tea cookies (also known as snowballs), and of course sugar cookie cut outs.  My husband Dan has the BEST recipe and we look forward to making them every Christmas.  It is because of these cookies that Abby knows the word ‘process’.  My, oh my, it’s a process!  But so delicious and totally worth the effort!  These cookies scream Christmas to Dan. It’s his mom’s recipe.  (Recipe Below)

I hope whatever traditions you have with your family, that you have a wonderful Holiday Season! 

Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy

Biscuits:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, plus more for pan
- 1 cups buttermilk
- 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
- Chocolate gravy, recipe follows

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in the shortening with a fork until it looks like cornmeal. Add the buttermilk, a little at a time, stirring constantly until well mixed.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly 2 or 3 times. Roll out the dough with a floured rolling pin to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut dough into circles with a 2-inch cutter.

Place the biscuits in a greased iron skillet. Gently press down the top of the biscuits. Brush the biscuits with half the melted butter and bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown. Brush the hot biscuits with the remaining butter. Split the biscuits in half and ladle Chocolate Gravy over the hot biscuits.

Chocolate Gravy:
- 1/3 stick butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cocoa
- 2 cups whole milk

Heat butter in a cast iron skillet over low heat. Mix in sugar, flour and cocoa. Slowly pour 1 cup of milk into the skillet and whisk well to remove lumps. Whisk in remaining milk, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick, being careful not to scorch. Serve hot over biscuits. 


Grandma's Christmas Cookies
-1 C. butter
-1 1/3 C. sugar
-2 eggs
-2 tsp vanilla
-4 C. flour
-2 tsp baking powder
-salt

In one bowl, sift to combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla to the butter/sugar mixture; mix well. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture until a soft ball forms. Wrap and chill the ball for one hour. Cut the ball in half and roll out on floured surface. Cut dough with cookie cutters. Bake 10 minutes at 350 F degrees on greased cookie sheet.



Grandma's Christmas Cookie Frosting
-1 lb powdered sugar
-1/4 tsp salt
-1/4 C. milk
-1 tsp vanilla
-1/3 C. soft margarine/butter

Beat all ingredients until smooth. Add more milk if too stiff.  Add food coloring of choice.

-Posted by Staci Gehlbach (a.k.a. Mommy to Abby and Katy)