As the holiday season approaches, relatives assemble to visit, toast the season and enjoy each other’s company. Nothing sets the scene for this holiday season like some nice holiday foods. Preparing winter treats is a tradition shared with family or friends and differs from one family to another. Here are some festive traditions and foods that can help brighten the home as well as provide a tasty treat.
Setting the Table: The holidays only roll around once per year, so it is important to make things feel extra memorable. The perfect holiday meal begins with setting the scene. A Christmas table can be decorated with a red or other decoratively patterned tablecloth, holiday dinnerware and a centerpiece arrangement. The arrangement can be made from things such as pine cones, red berries and candlelight.
Traditional Holiday Feast: For the main meal on Christmas Day, anything goes, as long as it is something special. A traditional American holiday feast generally has a large piece of meat at its center. Roast turkey, beef roast, pork roast or a large piece of salmon would all work very nicely. Side dishes generally would include mashed potatoes or potatoes au gratin, gravy, green beans, dinner rolls and an assortment of seasonal desserts.
Seasonal Desserts: During the weeks leading up to the holidays, neighbors and friends often exchange homemade sweet treats including cookies made in festive shapes, gingerbread men and peppermint bark. In addition to these, it is nice to have a special dessert at some point in the season that not only tastes good, but also entertains the guests. It is great to choose a dessert that makes things feel extra festive. Crème brûlée, a baked Christmas custard dish, is a great option because each guest can torch their own crunchy sugar topping. Another fun option is cherries jubilee, a cherry dish that can be set on fire for an exciting and vibrant spectacle.
Warm Drinks: Festive warm drinks are a mainstay of winter celebrations. To set the scene for a winter party, be sure to include spiced apple cider, simmering on the stove with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. The aroma alone is enough to get into the Christmas spirit.
Hot Chocolate: Hot Chocolate is a favorite of children across the world. Warming up with a cup of hot cocoa after playing in the snow becomes a treasured childhood memory. There are lots of easy instant hot chocolate packets but for those willing to go the extra mile, it can be made from scratch. Marshmallows floating on top can be a good finishing touch.
Eggnog: Eggnog is a staple at many holiday parties. This eggy custard drink takes a lot of patience to cook properly, but it is worth the effort. Many additions can be added such as nutmeg sprinkled on top, and spirits of spiced rum or bourbon added for people above the age of 21. Many families pass down a secret recipe for the perfect egg nog and make it every year as an important tradition.
Holiday treats are not only a food source, but also a traditional and entertaining activity. Decorating Christmas cookies with a playlist of favorite Christmas tunes playing in the background is an annual tradition for lots of families. Assembling the perfect gingerbread house is another creative and fun project. Children of all ages can enjoy making peppermint bark, melting chocolate morsels and smashing candy canes to sprinkle on top.
