I have not posted for a while and my blogging friends are beginning to check up on me. Just wanted everyone to know I have been busy. I am baking cookies, making cakes, wrapping gifts and trying to get ready for the holidays.
Yesterday, I made cookies all day. I have made gingersnap cookies for at least twenty-five years.
My mother-in-law used to make shortbread cookies every year and now that she is gone, I make those, too.
Another tradition with our family is jam cake and I make one for Bob and me and one to take to the farm for Christmas Day. If I have enough time during the holidays I will make a cake for a family member for Christmas.
I have a real good recipe for pumpkin bread and I make that for gifts for family members, too.
On Christmas Eve, Bob drops me off at Twinbay Farm around noon and the girls and I go have lunch at this quaint little restaurant called Fava's. Then, we go by the grocery if we need any last minute items. Back at the farm, we get everything organized and Anne usually makes sausage balls for snacks and we relax and plan our meal.
On Christmas morning, we get up before daylight and have coffee. Then, we go to the barn and watch the sun come up on Twinbay Farm while we feed the horses and take pictures. Next, it is back to the house and start cooking dinner.
Our menu consists of ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, macaroni and cheese, barley casserole, cheese grits casserole, cranberry salad, rolls, tea, coffee, jam cake and pumpkin pie and any other last minute additions.
The barley casserole and cheese grits are another tradition. We have made these two dishes for years and we all like them.
This year, we are only buying gifts for Thomas Wyatt as he is the only child in our family at the present time. Rob, Sarah, TW, Bob and Hilori, a friend of the girls, will join us Christmas Day for our holiday celebration. I can't wait to see TW get his presents and visit with Anne and Leigh on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The recipes for the cookies, jam cake, barley casserole, cranberry salad, cheese grits, and pumpkin bread are all on my recipe blog: Recipes From A Southern Country Cook
Does your family have favorite recipes or traditions at Christmas?
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31 comments:
It all sounds so wonderful! I'll bet you're a really good cook too.
Those goodies look fantastic. The cake especially. I love gingersnaps but have never actually tried baking them myself.
Here is a cookie that I make lots of during the holidays: http://chaki-whatscooking.blogspot.com/2008/12/hollys-sugar-cookies.html
And also this candy: http://chaki-whatscooking.blogspot.com/2008/12/pecan-penuche-brown-sugar-fudge.html
Hope your Holiday is very merry, indeed!
Sounds like a Christmas full of tradition. Families are important. Yes, your Christmas will be a lot more fun now that you have Thomas Wyatt.
Hi Judy loved the blog, you have been busy, things are hectic here, I am going to my daughter's on Christmas Day so am looking forward to that.
Hoping to set up a second blog next year , a sort of a daily journal.
Take care and have a GREAT Christmas.
Yvonne.
Gosh you have been busy. The recipes look great. Thomas Wyatt is going to be a good age for enjoying Christmas - how exciting. Have a great Christmas!!
yummmm
Hello Mom,
I just love our tradition and I am so excited about you coming to the farm, we will have a wondeful Christmas this year. You are the best cook in the WHOLE world, so our Christmas food is always amazing!
love you!
Anne
Hey Mom!!
I can't wait to spend Christmas with you. I love it when you come to the farm. You are the best cook in the entire world!! This holiday season is going to be great!
Love you!
Leigh
Gingersnaps my favorite, if I get these I get them all, my family does not like them. We do like pumpkin bread, that Christmas menu sounds good, it should fill up the biggest eater, have fun.
Judy - your meal sounds almost exactly what I make. Usually cook a turkey breast also and I have a fudge cake recipe I have made for years. Jamie would rather have that then candy.
I am having everyone for breakfast on Sunday and then Christmas day will go to be with my 2 little ones.
It has changed this year and will probably stay like this from now on. Blessings to you and yours.
Traditions are heartwarming. Your cookies look just like the ones my Mom used to make. Love them.
Our traditions change as the family changes. We now go the the kids house in the Dallas area. The kids favorite besides Christmas morning is getting to open 1 present Christmas eve. That is a tradition we started when our kids were young and they have carried it on.
Merry Christmas to all.
Hi Judy, This is my first visit to your blog. I certainly enjoyed it. I found you through Clara. Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful Christmas with family. Your cookies sound delicious--along with everything else. My father-in-law loves Jam Cake. I had never heard of it--but he loves it.
Come and visit me when you get a minute.
Betsy
Oh now you've done it, Judy. I am sucker for gingersnaps. They turned out absolutely beautiful!
I posted a little bit about my Christmas tradition on my blog a couple days ago. One tradition is my mom's birthday cake (she's a Christmas baby). :D
You couldn't send me a doggy bag could you?
Yuuuum...is right!
Oh, Judy, you've gone and made me hungry! :-) All your baking and cooking sound wonderful, and I love your Christmas traditions. I know that Christmas with Thomas Wyatt is going to be lots of fun. I am just starting to get my Christmas baking done---I also make pumpkin bread--but with my children here, the things I bake seem to disappear mighty fast. :-)
Hi Judy, I know the feeling. I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off!!!LOL I told someone that I was so far behind, I think I'm in front. I love your traditions and the food sounds scrumptious! i am going to take one of your jam cakes to my sisters on Christmas Eve. This will be the first Christmas Eve I have EVER spent awya from my house. Lisa and her family will be gone and I'm going to join the rest of my family at one of my sisters. Merry Christmas to you Judy. Have fun with TJ.
Judy, Yuummmy!!! It sure does look like you've been busy but will be well worth it for everyone! OOOhhhh and AAAhhhh!
As far as family traditions, I always get up on Christmas morning and make a sausage, egg and cheese casserole (now it's 3 of them) more kids and bigger stomachs :) and orange juice. We usually bake fudge and other "goodies" a few days before Christmas. We'll be doing that this weekend. It's just the women/girls in the family that do this. I think that family traditions are so important too!
I haven't posted in days either, you are right, there is just so much going on.
Hugs and Merry Christmas!
Judy, I meant to say TW....Sorry!
Judy,
It all looks and sounds just yummy!
I have been real busy too- just making all my usual things!
I like your Christmas music here! I have a collection on my blog too!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Junie
I think the holiday traditions are great! There are things we do that the grown kids would never let us get away with skipping. They look forward to sugar cookies, chocolate chip, and snickerdoodles. I couldn't get away without baking at least those.
Church on Christmas Eve followed by a visit with extended family at my Dad's is another tradition we keep. Have a Merry Christmas with your family!
OOOOhhh! Judy you rascal, that cake looks delicious, if only you could just pass it through to me here ! I hope you and yours have a Happy and Fantastic Christmas ! Cheers, Love to All Kate xxx.
It all looks so delicious!
Now all I need is a big glass of CHOCOLATE milk...mmmm yummy yummy!
Dear Judy,
Your food looks and sounds fab. I don't cook on Christmas or thanksgiving. No one to cook for. WE usually go either to our daughter, cArol's or to Mark and Allie's for Christmas dinner Carol lives in TExas and we can't travel this year. They can't come here...so...we will just have to wait for that another year.
Keep the blog coming. Thanks.
Oh, Judy...you are going to have so much fun with that little boy. Has he been to see Santa? I know that I don't have to tell you this, but I will anyway, be sure to post a picture of him after Christmas.
Judy I have added you to my friends blog list :) xo
Hi Judy, yes you have been busy... and it looks like you have a plan... I have been stuck in the house for a couple of day, because of bad weather....ice, snow....my street is a sheet of ice....layered with snow..... our lights just went out, and came back on in about 15 min....it's real windy....anyway, back to your baking....it's looking real good... I wish I was more of a baker...but I must say I enjoy eating the bake goods.... well you have a fun Christmas with Thomas... I'm looking forward to watching Sammy open his gifts too. We are celebrating on the 27th with all my kids....for Lori lives out of town.....but Christmas Eve and day my daughter Linda will be blessed with me....LOL judy
I figured you were busy, busy, busy.
I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!
I know you will enjoy this season to the fullest.
Little Thomas Wyatt will be the center of attention, and he will be thrilled. I hope you share some photos with us.
Your plans sound terrific and delicious, and time with your daughters is precious and makes for great memories.
Thanks for sharing all those recipes.
We will be in CA for Christmas, so I may use some of your recipes while I'm at my parents' house.
I know what you mean. I have been busy this week and not on here much at all. Your cookies look yummy and I LOVE jam cake! Your family traditions sound lovely at the farm and a fun place to be!
I hope you and your family have the best Christmas ever!!
Giving you love today!
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