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Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle all the way. No matter where you are, either in our snowy Pittsburgh (If we get lucky. Yes, I love snow, especially on Christmas) or New York, or Chicago, or even sunny Florida and California, in all cities and towns far wide in America, we hear the most delightful bells and everyone is enticed in the anticipation of the holidays.
Christmas is the most joyous holiday; families decorate the trees, make cookies, wrap presents and the little ones can barely wait to wake their parents up, bright and early, to check if Santa has visited their home, ate the cookies and drank the milk. And if he did, the kids cannot stay calm to unwrap the gifts and see what Santa brought for them. Ahhh, the smiles, nothing beats that.
By the way, St. Nicholas did exist. He was the Bishop of Myra and lived in the third century. He was known for his generosity, doing good deeds and serving as a helper to kids and sailors. Perhaps it’s because of these reasons, that the kids love Christmas so much. In America, the Santa that we are familiar with, an old man with a long grey beard, wearing a red robe, riding deer and carrying presents in large sacks became popular in the 1800s. In 1823 the beloved “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” which in my family we religiously read every Christmas eve, was the first line of the poem created by Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore, “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas.”
But enough of history, history should be left to the historians. Let’s celebrate and be merry. Let’s celebrate what hasn’t happened since 2005, when Christmas and the first night of Hanukkah both fall on December 25. Jewish people around the world will light their first candle of eight nights. It’s magical and coincidental and should be an especially festive December, and we can pray for all of our prayers to be answered.
So, gather your family, your loved ones, no matter what faith you are, and cheer and celebrate. Cheer for prosperity, peace, love and health. Cheer to everything good you have in life. Be thankful for what you have. And to make this holiday even more tasty, try some of my easy recipes every family member will appreciate.
Brie Bites
Servings- 7
Ingredients:
1 Box of Phylo cups
½ Small wheel of Brie
7 Tbs Raspberry or Strawberry preserve
Caramelize nut of your choice
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350F.
Place cups on the backing sheet.
Fill cups with cheese and preserve, bake for 10 minutes.
Place a nut into each cup.
Croissant Rolls with Chocolate Chips
Servings- 8
Ingredients:
1 Package of Croissant Rolls
1 C of Chocolate Morsels
1 Egg
Sugar powder for dusting
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350F. Place croissants on the backing sheet.
Unfold each Croissant triangle, place chocolate chips on the wider corner and fold in.
Brush each croissant with egg wash.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Once plated, dust each croissant with sugar powder.
La Dolce Vita!! Happy Holidays!!
Until next month!
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