Where is spirit of Christmas? Have you seen it?

CookingWithCarlo.com ^ | Dec 3 2003 | Carlo3b Dad, Chef, Author

[carlo3b]

Where is spirit of Christmas? Have you seen it?

I am really getting worried that it's lost and we won't be able to find it in time.

I am just heartbroken, somewhere over the last few years we seem to have misplaced the heart and soul of Christmas. The season appears to be right, the weather has a nip to it, and the decorations have been up for a very long time, and I am constantly being reminded that it's just around the corner, but somehow I have this terribly feeling that something is wrong.

It is more than just one thing that isn't quite right, there isn't any laughter. I can't recall what it was that used to make me smile and sing at this time of the year, but it for sure isn't there anymore. Can you help me find the warmth, and love that Christmas has always brought into our lives, have you seen any joy in peoples eyes?  Maybe it's just me, oh my, is it just me?

I seem to recall that this season was a time that brought everyone together, families and friends, and even strangers. Wait, I don't remember thinking at this time of the year that there were any strangers, only wonderful people that we hadn't had the opportunity to meet yet. People smiled at each other, held the door, men and boys offered every woman their seat, and everyone said GOD BLESS YOU, when you sneezed.

Heirloom decorations were unpacked, families went out together to choose a tree, and that inexhaustible calliope of mystical music filled the air. The smell of fresh pine was abundant in each and every house, and colored lights blinked as kids giggled and whispering and scribbled notes to Santa.

Old folks and children where the center of attention, and picking just the right gift was a very special achievement, well thought out and mulled over for days. Some presents took all year to make, and some took all year to save for. Only a very few were expensive, but all had a special meaning. Gift wrapping was an art, and unwrapping was deliberate and magical.

The center of the community was your neighborhood church, and talk of God, and baby Jesus was the main topic of Grace before dinner, and bedtime stories. Mangers, Santa's, holiday decorations, and lights were everywhere. Snow was a conversation piece, and when and if, was debated and recalled.

Food, ah yes, holiday food was researched, planned, plotted and prepared for days leading up to the big event. Everyone was involved, and everyone had a job. The location of the Christmas Eve party was usually determined by the age of the grandparents, and where they lived in proximity to the bulk of the family. However that was no sure thing.

Each family was represented in the choice of menu items. Every wonderful cook in each branch of the family offered to prepare their own special version of the chosen food. This made for a memorable feast indeed. The competition was playful and fun, but most importantly, filled with love... lots and lots of love and lovers.

This is the time of the year that we built mountains of warm love, enough to store up for cold dark days ahead. If we lose Christmas, who will tell the children about the baby Jesus, who will love you and remind you how lucky you are to have freedom, and  family, and bring memories to the old folks, and memories that you can recall when you are old. Don't let it happen.

Won't you help me find Christmas, I know it's somewhere.. Do you know where it can be, perhaps it's just hiding deep in the warmth of your heart.. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your love. Thank you for being you..

THANK GOD FOR AMERICA.. God Bless you all... MERRY CHRISTMAS..

[Senator Pardek]

You're cruel little girl!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Cruel? I'm not the one posting that graphic, LOL.

[diamond6]

ping

[Senator Pardek]

You wait until you're my age, woman!

[RandallFlagg]

MMMmmmmmmmmmmm. Bookmarking a FReeper recipe thread....

[Victoria Delsoul]

Ooooooook.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Bookmarking a FReeper recipe thread...

Yeah, Carlo is excellent, and a wonderful person, too.

[RedWhiteBlue]

I was never really crazy about cauliflower -- I could take it or leave it -- until I tried your recipe for the Poultry with Rosemary and Roasted Florets. Absolutely wonderful!

I volunteered to bring green beans to my family's Thanksgiving feast, and I used your recipe for the oven roasted green beans. I received SO many compliments. I knew that your recipe was a hit when I heard several people exclaiming "Who made the green beans? Wow, these are really good!"

Thanks so much for taking the time to share all of these wonderful recipes.

[christie]

Thanks for a little Christmas cheer! By the way, can you find a recipe for a traditional Dutch Ginger Cake (Gember Koek)? And none of that low-carb stuff either. It's Christmas, for goodness sake! Back to low-carb after the holidays.

[Squantos]

Got off my diet just a bit Carlo on Thanksgiving. Dinner at the Big Texan in Amarillo and then a piece of sweet potato cobbler while watching the football games. 365 to 295 since 9-9-03 so I rewarded myself a bit. Any chance ya have a receipe for the sweet potato cobbler ? I'm gonna chase down the local receipe but wanted to compare a "low carb" version . I made mine low carb by just having a small serving.

Ciao Coppo !

[jellybean]

Silent Night

Silent night Holy night
All is calm all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born;
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth;
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Merry Christmas, Sweetie!

Wishing you all the blessings God has to offer.

Christmas is in your heart and reflected in the face of a child!
  ~ jellybean

[carlo3b]

SWEET POTATO COBBLER

• 2 cups water
• Dash salt
• 1/3 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons cold water
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup (1/2 to 1 stick) butter or margarine


1)  Combine 2 cups water, salt, nutmeg, sugar and potatoes, in large pan. Bring to a boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer about 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 9- or 10-inch pan.
2) In a bowl, combine flour, oil and 3 tablespoons water and mix together with hands.
3) Roll out very thinly on floured surface.
4) Cut dough in strips or pinch with your hands and arrange over sweet potatoes.
5) Cut butter or margarine into pats and place over cobbler.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 35 minutes until crust is golden brown.

[Squantos]

OK....now I'm impressed ! THANKS Carlo !

[ppaul]

[dansangel]

OMG - Baccala!!!

Christmas Eve at my grandmother's house so many years ago.....

My Mom still makes baccala and .45MAN and I will be home in FL for Christmas. Although it's too much for my Mom to make the "Seven Fishes," (and way too much for so few of us to eat), I will *never* forget that tradition, all of my aunts, uncles, great-aunts and great-uncles, cousins, etc. and my wonderful departed grandma - Bless her heart and soul.

Thank you for suc a great memory (((((((Carlo)))))) and welcome back from your trip!

[GOPJ]

Keep me on your ping list. Thanks

[carlo3b]

You'll always be on my list..:)

LowCarb Wilted Spinach Salad

• 1 pound fresh spinach, washed, dried and chilled
• 8 slices bacon, crumbled
• 1 Tbls Splenda brown sugar
• 1/3 cup sliced green onions
• salt, to taste
• 3 Tbls cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp dry mustard

In a heavy skillet, fry diced bacon until crisp. Reduce heat; add sugar, onions, salt, vinegar, and dry mustard; bring to a boil. Pour the hot mixture over spinach. Toss lightly and serve.

LowCarb, copyrighted by Morelli Enterprises Inc.

[carlo3b]

Here is another you may remember..A special Merry Christmas to you and that other guy.. :){{{{2 HUGGS}}}}

Amaretti
(Almond Cookies)
These little cookies make an excellent accompaniment to ice cream, and are great all by themselves.  I like to dip mine in my morning coffee, or a nice hot espresso for a special after dinner treat.  These travel well for shipping to our special family and friends protecting our back-side!!

• 3/4 cup (180 ml) blanched almonds, finely ground in a food processor
• 3/4 cup (180 ml) sugar
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 tsp. (2 ml) almond extract

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix to form a thick, sticky dough.  Drop about 1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) per cookie on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake in a preheated 350 F (180C) oven for about 15 minutes, until lightly browned around the edges.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before lifting with a knife or spatula.  Makes about 3 dozen.
 
 

[doug from upland]

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

[carlo3b]

Let this hold you until I find the recipe you wanted, I think I called it something with at least 2 vowels in it.. LOLOL

Sour Apple Raisins and Rum Custard Cake

Screw the diet, this is worth the 2 mile walk.. HA!

Crust

• 1 1/2 cups flour, unbleached, unsifted
• 5       Tbls. sugar
• 1       Tbls. lemon, rind of, grated
• 2/3    cup butter  or margarine
• 1       Lg. egg yolks
• 1       Tbls. milk

Filling

• 1/2    cup soft bread crumbs
• 2       Tbls. butter  or margarine, melted
• 4       cups apples, tart, sliced
• 1       Tbls. lemon juice
• 1/4    cup sugar
• 1/4    cup raisins -- Soak raisins in 1/4 cup rum for 1/2 hour before using.
• 1/4    cup rum
• 3       Lg. eggs, beaten
• 1/3    cup sugar
• 1 3/4 cups milk

1.  CRUST: To make crust, mix flour, sugar, and lemon rind.
2.  Cut in butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3.  Add egg yolk and 1 T of milk; mix gently to form a dough.
4.  Pat into bottom of a 10 inch Springform pan that has sides only greased.
5.  Press dough up sides of pan for 1 inch.
6.  FILLING: Toss together bread crumbs and melted butter.
7.  Spread evenly over pastry crust.
8.  Toss apple slices, lemon juice, and 1/4 c of sugar.
9.  Spread apples over crumbs.
10.  Drain raisins, reserving rum, and sprinkle raisins over apples.
11.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree F. oven for 15 minutes.
12.  Beat eggs and sugar until thick and lemon colored.
13.  Stir in milk and reserved rum.
14.  Pour custard over apples and bake for 45 to 60 minutes at 350 degrees F. until custard is set.
15.  Cool completely before serving.
16.  Do NOT remove springform pan until cool.

Prep time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Yields: 8 servings