Hello All,
I often get asked how we celebrate the holidays. We decided that we would keep traditions from both cultures with a heavy emphasis on the actual meaning of Christmas. This was Lydie’s first year in the live nativity at church. She made such a beautiful angel. We will be eating traditional Czech Christmas eve dinner of fried fish, potato salad, and dessert of ice cream. This is one tradition I love; Vasek does all the cooking.
We leave out Santa’s favorite cookies, lime melt-aways and something for the reindeer. This year we’re leaving oats out on the lawn so the reindeer have something to snack on while Santa drops off our gifts.
We wake up to our three gifts from Santa and eat pumpkin pancakes for bunch. We stay in our pajamas as long as possible. If I have my way, we will keep them on until the following morning.
I try to host a brunch sometime during the break for all my girlfriends. I make a casserole and they bring whatever they want. Kids are always welcome and we just let chaos surround us so we can catch up with what’s been going on.
We celebrate New Year’s Eve at home. I usually try to make some fancy dinner but this year I think I’m going to bake a chicken or two and have quite meal while watching a movie. My mom gave us two individual serving bottles of champagne. We’ll toast in the year probably at 10 o’clock and get some sleep.
New Year’s Day we eat lentil soup from the crock-pot. It is so easy and warm. We eat when we get hungry and keep the fire going all day. Again, I like to stay in my pj’s if possible.
I hope you will consider trying some of our traditions throughout the year. They are just as good in February on that first snow day.
Week of Christmas –
This is one of my, I mean, Santa’s favorite cookies. They make a beautiful light cookie and the confectioner sugar on the outside make them look dusted with snow. Enjoy!
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/lime-meltaways
Christmas Eve –
Fried Fish
This is the traditional dinner for Christmas Eve. In Czech, it’s made with carp but here in the states, we use tilapia or catfish. It is really delicious with the potato salad.
http://www.slovakcooking.com/2009/recipes/fried_fish/
Czech Potato Salad
We usually use a can or two of peas and carrots instead of the cooked peas and we add ham that has been diced. No fancy ham, just plain old lunch meat ham.
http://www.celebrations.com/content/Czech-Potato-Salad
Christmas Morning –
I always make these with canned pumpkin. It’s so easy and the kids don’t even know they are good for them.
Prepare pancake mix according to directions. Add one can of pumpkin, a teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg. Cook according to directions. In a small pan, roast walnuts over low heat until you can smell them but not burning. Add a bottle of real maple syrup. Heat until warmed through. Top pancakes with syrup or whipped cream and sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top.
Brunch Casserole –
This casserole is fantastic. It is so simple and serves an army.
1 package of bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled
9 slices of whole-wheat bread, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons butter
1 (12 oz.) bag of frozen broccoli
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
12 eggs
2 cups milk
1 tsp. mustard
Salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rub a 9 x 13 casserole dish with butter. Put bread on the bottom of dish. Cover with crumbled bacon, cheese, and broccoli. In a large bowl, beat eggs, milk, mustard, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture over bread. Refrigerate overnight or bake immediately. Bake until eggs are solid, about 1 hour.
New Year’s Eve Dinner –
This is one quick and easy dinner. You can even serve it to guests.
1 box stuffing, made to directions
4 large carrots, cut into large pieces
1 whole chicken, washed and patted dry
Poultry seasoning
Paprika
Salt and pepper
Stuff chicken with stuffing. Sprinkle poultry seasoning, salt and pepper on chicken. Place carrots in the crock pot, place chicken on top of carrots. Cook on low 8-10 hours.
New Year’s Day Lentils –
This is so easy and a perfect start to a prosperous new year.
http://crockpotrecipes101.com/crockpotsouprecipelentil.htm
With Christmas wishes and a lucky new year,
Brooke
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