| When I was a little girl I loved to be in the kitchen | | | | Our Christmas turkey is a big one, 22 pounds. We |
| with my Mom Mom, especially when she was cooking | | | | always cook it with a traditional sage flavored |
| Christmas dinner. I have lots of fond memories of | | | | stuffing inside it. I would be concerned about a dry |
| Mom Mom in her hand embroidered apron standing | | | | turkey if I didn't stuff it. The family's favorite stuffing |
| over a stove top filled with pots and pans full of | | | | is actually cooked on the side. It's one I learned to |
| wonderful smells. The table was always set with the | | | | make from my mother-in-law, a Sage Sausage and |
| best china and a hand embroidered table cloth. I | | | | Apple Stuffing. It's flavorful and hearty and made |
| remember licking the beaters of the mixer after the | | | | even more good because we use homemade turkey |
| mashed potatoes were done. I remember my Pop | | | | broth to make it. |
| Pop carving the turkey at the table. Every time I see | | | | We have many new dishes we've added to our |
| the Norman Rockwell painting Freedom from Want, | | | | Christmas dinner menu. One is Pearl Onions AuGratin, |
| which shows a woman placing a large turkey on the | | | | another is Brussels Sprouts and Bacon. The brussels |
| table in front of her family, I think of our family | | | | sprouts are shredded in the food processor, along |
| Christmas dinner. | | | | with an onion. Bacon is browned and the brussels |
| When I got married and started my own family I | | | | sprouts are cooked in a bit of the bacon fat. The |
| wanted to make sure that my daughters would have | | | | bacon is then crumbled on top. Every one of my |
| the same types of memories to carry with them and | | | | family loves this recipe, even the youngest, my five |
| to share with their own children someday. I started | | | | year old grandson. |
| having them in the kitchen very early on. I want | | | | My grandson is also learning to cook. In order to |
| them to be able to cook, and to enjoy it. Today my | | | | keep his interest in the kitchen his mother allows him |
| daughter's are in their 20's and they both have | | | | to cook his favorite things. This is my Mom Mom's |
| children, and we all get together to cook our family | | | | fudge. It's always on our Christmas dessert table, |
| Christmas dinner. | | | | along with a Red Velvet Cake, also Mom Mom's |
| Our favorite mean isn't necessarily the turkey, | | | | recipe. |
| although we really enjoy it. Every Christmas we have | | | | For our family the fun of our Christmas dinner is |
| what we call our holiday ham. It's a wonderful glazed | | | | cooking old favorites and adding new recipes. It's |
| ham studded with cloves and enhanced with | | | | especially fun that everyone enjoys being in the |
| pineapples and cherries covered in a rich thick glaze | | | | kitchen and we truly enjoy cooking together. My |
| of ginger, brown sugar, garlic, mustard and orange. | | | | oldest daughter is pregnant with her first child, who is |
| My Mother is the first in the family to have had a | | | | due to be born in the Spring. We all can't wait to |
| ham for Christmas dinner. | | | | have another set of hands in the kitchen. |