CYNDI MACMILLAN's Blog

My family is creating new traditions each year. Oxymoron?

First Food Tradition:

Hubby worked for Sooters Photography for over 16 years. The owner and his family were from India. Every Christmas they would put on a huge Christmas party (though many in the plant celebrated Diwali.)

The spread would include the typical Canadian holiday fare: turkey and stuffing, a ham, potatoes and gravy, Christmas cakes. But it also had a large assortment of middle eastern delights! Samosas! Curries! Butter chicken and basmati rice... oh, yummmmmmmmm!

Well, its been years since Sooters closed. Yet I still crave what became a Christmas tradition. So every year I make sure to add spice to my holy-days.

This year my husband and I had our first date since our girl’s birth. We went to a shop which sells British meat pies. The place was recently bought by someone from India and she makes... oh Heaven!.... Butter Chicken Meat Pies. I have no idea what the fat/calorie intake is on one of these puppies, but needless to say, it would probably make a cheesecake look slimming! I almost had a when Sally Met Harry restaurant moment... if ya know what I mean (wink wink)

Second Food tradition:

When I was working, one of my co-workers told me she had pizza for Christmas dinner. I was shocked! I’d never heard of the such.

Well, it had taken her nine years to have her son. She said, “I’m not spending Christmas in the kitchen. I want to spend it with him, playing games, watching a movie, laughing, talking... we’re happy!”

Then, after 16 years of infertility, I had MY girl.

Now, I GET what she said.

So, low and behold, the Christmas Lasagna came to be!

On Christmas Eve (today) I cook non-stop. There is a ham in one slowcooker and a mashed potato casserole in another slowcooker. The lasagna takes me over two hours to make. Two pounds of meat! Copious amounts of cheese.

Tomorrow we have muffins for breakfast. Ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch (late) and our Christmas lasagna with a salad, dinner rolls and a cake. I cheat and use paper plates. I spend less than ½ an hour with meal prep on Christmas day. Another ½ an hour cleaning. That’s it. The rest is spent with my family.


A New Family Tradition

I play WITH my daughter. We go for a walk and bring Christmas to the animals (strung cereal, homemade bird feeders, nuts for squirrels)

We listen to music, read books, play games and talk...

What are YOUR holy-day tradition?

Are they new to your family or long held, passed down from generations to generation?

Also, I am planning to judge my contest on Dec 27th! Sorry for the delay... all those who wrote with my requests in mind, are guaranteed a placement :) I'm so delighted by what I'm reading, but like many, I am focusing on family right now.

Love sent to all my soup friends... may your celebrations be as simple or as extravagant as you wish, filled with either peaceful contemplation and spiritual moments or joyful noise, laughter and merriment!

XOX

Cyndi