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Category Archives: Holidays
‘A Christmas Memory’…Day 4
Day 4
…holes poked generously into each cooled loaf
eight cakes ‘dampened with whiskey’ wait on the kitchen table
to be carefully wrapped (but not before a sample is shared!), first in waxed paper, then foil; then to be stored for months and months to allow the flavors to mellow, ripen.
‘in four days our work is done’ … but the memories will last forever!
Thank you, Cousin John!
and Bridget, Joe and Ellen, and now Zach for allowing me to share in the memories and the love!
Filed under Family history, Food, Holidays
‘A Christmas Memory’…Day 3 continued
Day 3
parchment paper cut to size
pans buttered
paper in place
dough added
ready for baking at 275 degrees for hours and hours
‘melting nose-tingling odors saturate the kitchen, suffuse the house’
then cooled until….
Day 4
Filed under Family history, Food, Holidays
‘A Christmas Memory’…Day 3
Day 3
‘Eggbeaters whirl, spoons spin round bowls of butter and sugar, vanilla sweetens the air, ginger spices it;’
‘…and oh so much flour, butter, so many eggs, spices, flavorings…’
batter is mixed with fruit
pecans and walnuts are added
ready to be ladled into waiting pans……..
Day 3….to be continued
Filed under Family history, Food, Holidays
‘A Christmas Memory’…Day 2
Day 2
John: ‘when the cake is sliced, I want it to look like a stained glass window’.
‘Cherries and citron…and canned Hawaiian pineapple, rinds and raisins….’
fruit of all colors combined in a large bowl
whiskey added… (no need to visit Mr. Haha Jones, the whiskey is in the pantry)
and the Amaretto
and the Triple Sec Orange
all stirred together,
left to marinate overnight, until…
Day 3
Filed under Family history, Food, Holidays
‘A Christmas Memory’ in May
‘Oh my, it’s fruitcake weather!’
Not a comment I expected to hear on a steamy May morning in Austin! Not simply a comment, but a quote from ‘A Christmas Memory’, Truman Capote’s memoir of his early childhood in Alabama…the reading of this short story on Christmas Eve, a tradition for Cousin John and his family. Again sharing a family tradition (see Christmas Pizzelle in May), John read the story to me….
then, of course, it was time to make fruitcake!!!!….as in Capote’s story, a four day event.
Day 1
With the basic recipe in his head, John peruses old family cookbooks for current inspiration…
even the pictures are inspiring.
A carefully considered, comprehensive shopping list is drafted. Although we did not collect ‘windfall pecans in the buggy’ from a neighbor’s orchard, I felt a kinship with Buddy’s cousin as I rifled through the pile of out-of-season items at the supermarket, looking for green candied cherries.
Once home, ingredients are assembled…..
ready for Day 2!
Filed under Family history, Food, Holidays
Christmas Pizzelle in May
At times, circumstance dictates the rhythm of life. Passing on a family tradition is appropriate whenever the opportunity presents itself…..’strike while the iron is hot’….the pizzelle iron that is!
Original family recipe – Cousin Joe calls this the Depression Pizzelle – note the ‘fat content’: butter, margarine and shortening used to make a total of 12 ounces of fat…when butter was expensive and perhaps in short supply.
Cousin John’s amended recipe using all butter:
Served with a glass of Amaretto on a May afternoon in Austin……….lovely and delicious!!!
Filed under Family history, Food, Holidays, Travel
Postcard from the Lane
California Christmas quirky
Filed under Garden, Holidays, Inspiration, Postcards
Christmas granola
When it comes to granola, I am a bit of a purist….homemade, crunchy, mildly sweet, with simple rather than complex flavors. While visiting a friend’s daughter’s home in Cincinnati some time ago, I sprinkled her granola over some Greek yogurt for breakfast: love at first bite!!!
Having made it several times since, I decided to give this batch a Christmas spirit, while still keeping its flavors distinct, if a bit exotic.
To three cups uncooked oats
add a big handful of raw almonds, chopped; along with a handful of another nut, such as walnuts or pecans, also chopped
add one third cup olive oil,
crushed cardamom seed to taste,
almond extract to taste,
and brown sugar.
Mix well; place on baking sheet in 325 degree oven until all ingredients are browned and nuts are toasted, turning often.
store in mason jars with tight fitting lids
in the pantry.
enjoy!!!
Susan Wennerstrom | W designs 