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Now I'm hungry, not just for food;-)
Funny how seasons can bring us the best memories.Living now in California year round mild temperatures for most seasons, except summer which is, of course hot!
Back east where I was born and spent my youth and early part of marriage, we had the full seasonal climate.
This meant possible snow for Thanksgiving, and if not, freezing temps were usually the norm. I loved dressing in new designer sweaters for holidays. On Thanksgiving and we'd wear the fall colors ,in different shades of brown, gold orange. I miss it along with the treats shared with family and friends around the fireplace.
I miss the huge dinners our family had. Turkey with all the trimmings, but for my Italian father we always had to have a pasta dish, which we all loved,
of course. My mom would bake and cook special treats for days before Thanksgiving which made it seem like a long holiday for us. With me, two brothers and two sisters. we were a family of seven, but here was always at least 20 or more people in our home for dinner. It was a joyful time leading into our favorite holiday of Christmas. We never had the holiday blues or depressions a lot of families seem to have, we always had very happy times
I'm speaking of the old fashioned Christmas with old old customs, of church, adoration at the creche (our manger scene with Jesus ) carols sung and everyone together trimming the tree. wrapping of gifts to put under the tree. The story of the night before Christmas told to us before going off to bed. Of course the designer sweaters in red, green,silver, and gold. The most incredible mother baked goodies in the world;-). Well you know, almost heaven;-)
Just a word about my moms baking, her cakes, cookies pies, were all masterpieces. I'm not being predjudiced everyone thought so. She had a love for baking. Her meals were also exceptional. For Christmas we all would sit around the table icing Christmas cookies that had been cut out of Christmas figures. We had several colors of icing, and different toppings that looked like beads and sprinkles. It was a time of pure joy for the whole family.We all tried to outdo each other with our cookie designs.
This is when the winter season starts for me, and though I don't care to live where the snow hardly melts all winter, I sure do miss the snowball season,
and those very happy holidays of thanksgiving and Christmas. They were the best and my memories of them are always happy loving and so very thankful to have had them. They were gifts from a splendid mother and father who made them that way for us.
~~**~~
A sample of our Thanksgiving Day menu
Italian salad or cheese stuffed celery/olives
Pasta (usually linguini with Marinara sauce)
Turkey Dinner
Roast turkey/w sausage and walnut stuffing
Turkey gravy...Cranberry sauce(homemade)
Baked and candied sweet potatoes
Mashed potatoes (some with Turnips)
Corn pudding...Green beans...Asparagus
Mom's fresh baked rolls and bread
Fruit salad (fresh fuits) and assorted cheeses
Cider or wine.. with dessert coffee tea hot chocolate
My father would serve other drinks of whatever one
wanted
Pumpkin ,Apple, and Coconut Custard pies with ice cream whipped cream or both
Italian cheesecake
Assorted home baked cookies
Mom baked the pies day before Thanksgiving but always made an extra for us to have that day.
etw-2005...Bon Appetit
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Reader Reviews for
"Recalling Holiday's of my Youth"
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| Reviewed by MaryGrace Patterson |
6/30/2007 |
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| I really enjoyed this nostalgic write. It reminded me of the Vermont Christmases I spent as a child, only we went to Aunt Mays and Uncle Joes. I have carried on the tradition of those child hood days. We always have a Family Thanksgiving , Christmas, birthdays Fourth of July , Easter, ect for those who can come. Its the togetherness of family and the pleasure it brings in being a part of it.. I do miss the snow at Christmas, but would not want to live in it ever again.. Your mom sounds like she was a wonderful person and cook. Great write! Thanks for sharing......M |
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| Reviewed by Janet Bellinger |
4/19/2006 |
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I gained five pounds just reading about it. Sounds delicious, both the food and the memories.
Janet |
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| Reviewed by Sandra Mushi |
12/29/2005 |
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| Aaaaaaaaaawww, now I'm hungry! |
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| Reviewed by Sherry Heim |
11/20/2005 |
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Designer sweaters!! weren't you the lucky one! Though my family was far from poor, I don't thing I had any clothing with a designer lable as a kid once I got out of Carter's underwear. I think I bought my first designer anything when I was working. To this day, I am not one to buy those types of things, I go for comfort and can't justify the higher price for levis or sweats. Sighs...I guess I am just never going to be a hight maintenance girl! Beautiful story and very nice to be given a window to look into your life as you grew up. I would have wanted the pasta too, since I am not much for all that heavy Thanksgiving food. Italian cheesecake or coconut cream pie would have been more my style too, though I have to admit, I do love pumpkin pie also.
Take care,
Sherry |
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| Reviewed by Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado |
11/4/2005 |
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wonderful write, eileen; enjoyed!~
(((HUGS))) and much love, your tx. friend, karen lynn. :D |
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| Reviewed by m j hollingshead |
11/3/2005 |
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| enjoyed the read |
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| Reviewed by Carole Mathys |
11/2/2005 |
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Excellent write Eileen, your youth sounds alot like mine, except the Italian part...mine would be Irish, however I still cook that way for my family when they all come home for the holidays, and I still live in the snow country....thanks for the memories...
peace and love, Carole |
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| Reviewed by Janet Parker |
11/2/2005 |
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| This is lovely, Eileen. I am so happy for you that you have these memories. I used to crawl inside book after book that told about Christmas and families like yours. I was an only child living on a mountain in a large, cold modern home. My parents thought the fireplace was for looks and didnt want to get it dirty. I got most everything I asked for for Christmas, but the day made me feel empty. Dinner was traditional with no extras. My grandmother would come, eat and leave because she had better things to do. One year I opened one of my mother's presents by mistake. She pitched a fit and cried. I like to get away for Christmas. That's probably why Daddy started taking us on cruises at Christmastime. He got depressed too. You are so blessed. But I've been blessed too in other ways. Terrific write, Eileen. The kind I would have buried my head in as a child. |
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| Reviewed by Jerry Bolton (Reader) |
11/2/2005 |
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| Yup, I sure recall some of what you are talking about, Eileen. It was different then, wasn't it? Where has the spirit gone? |
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