tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post349923462240683363..comments2008-12-23T14:10:00.871-08:00Eden Rivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03313530070124643379noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-60001930735751131422008-12-23T14:10:00.000-08:002008-12-23T14:10:00.000-08:00Debby -- I think getting together with family &amp; friends is the most important tradition of all :-)<BR/><BR/>Val -- the fresh cinnamon rolls sound wonderful! And what beautiful memories, that you have hand-made ornaments, and stories to go along with the people who made them.Eden Rivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03313530070124643379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-19494442231851513272008-12-22T14:48:00.000-08:002008-12-22T14:48:00.000-08:00We always have fresh cinnamon rolls on Christmas day. I always make fudge every year. My tree is decorated with homemade ornaments from my sons,my late Mom and Gram, and my Aunt Betty and I did a lot too. Everyone always comes and enjoys the stories for each one that they see we have a story to tell about how it came to be.Valhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790851255043426974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-73376231651308928092008-12-22T02:43:00.000-08:002008-12-22T02:43:00.000-08:00Traditions are wonderful but we have very few but getting together. Your poor guy on the cover of your book would be very cold in Wisconsin.Debbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08516477616699255278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-50839627324775131232008-12-21T08:35:00.000-08:002008-12-21T08:35:00.000-08:00Hi Margaret,<BR/><BR/>Oh wow, the heat of Australia sure sounds good today! I dreamed about being in Australia the other night, and then my daughter dreamed about Australia last night. Must have something to do with the fact that it's below zero here today, with a killer wind chill. <BR/><BR/>I love the idea of the barbeque for Christmas tradition. Wouldn't work very well in my part of the country though, LOL.<BR/><BR/>Have a Merry Christmas!Eden Rivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03313530070124643379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-72096311590363335782008-12-20T19:43:00.000-08:002008-12-20T19:43:00.000-08:00Hi Eden,<BR/>Sounds wonderful, and all that snow, your photo looks just like a Christmas card. I live in Australia and it is hot, hot hot for Christmas. Many people have barbecues for Christmas, although the traditional English Christmas fare, roast turkey, chicken, pork, hot plum pudding with brandy sauce is still followed in many homes, especially my mother's generation.Margaret Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07123830410502520003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-70109704104736185502008-12-20T08:21:00.000-08:002008-12-20T08:21:00.000-08:00Oh yum!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe, Lara :-) This sounds just amazing. We've got a half gallon of cider in the fridge, so I'm going to have to try it out.Eden Rivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03313530070124643379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-10084287578033839242008-12-19T11:33:00.000-08:002008-12-19T11:33:00.000-08:00My spice blend, for anyone who wants it:<BR/><BR/>5 parts cinnamon bark (or small, broken sticks)<BR/>4 parts allspice berries<BR/>3 parts star anise (whole or pieces)<BR/>2 parts whole cloves<BR/>1 part dried lemon peel<BR/><BR/>I find that working in parts is easier--if I'm doing a batch instead of just a little for the house, I'll start with 1/4 or 1/2 cup of the lemon peel and work my way up.<BR/><BR/>Mix it up well; add to cider in a cheesecloth bag or similar (you can dump it in, but it's a pain to strain it out). 1/2 cup mulling spices to 1/2 gallon cider. Heat cider to a simmer, add the spices and simmer 15 minutes.<BR/><BR/>If you go longer than 20 minutes, the cider becomes bitter from the lemon oil, so watch the clock. Remove the bundle of spices, and serve up!<BR/><BR/>YUMMM....I made this one up, and I've never tasted a better recipe. LOL Plus, you can switch the ingredients around to suit yourself. Like lemon? Switch places with the cloves. Hate anise? Put it last. Just be sure to put the cinnamon first!<BR/><BR/>Think I'll post this on my blog, too...<BR/><BR/>LaraLara Dienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10228240987610386771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-66602780233868652912008-12-19T10:33:00.000-08:002008-12-19T10:33:00.000-08:00Edie,<BR/><BR/>That's great that you have family in the area for the holidays. My sister lives in town (though she'll be away this year), but otherwise, we dive into the holiday season solo. Our family is spread out from CA to MA and NH--coast to coast. <BR/><BR/>Have a peaceful and beautiful holiday season! <BR/><BR/>EdenEden Rivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03313530070124643379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-25007250025640459412008-12-19T10:30:00.000-08:002008-12-19T10:30:00.000-08:00Oh wow, Lara, that's so cool that you have the wooden cookie forms that you grew up with. What a wonderful piece of family history! <BR/><BR/>What a wonderful gift idea to give out the mulling mixes for cider. We take a very simple approach to mulling--half a gallon of cider, one large cinnamon stick, and two round orange slices to float on top. But I've had "real" mulled cider from people who get all the spices together, and there's nothing like it--yum!<BR/><BR/>Have a blessed Yule!<BR/><BR/>EdenEden Rivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03313530070124643379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-56423992138222953472008-12-18T20:12:00.000-08:002008-12-18T20:12:00.000-08:00Fabulous traditions! The last few years we've been going to my son's and dil's for breakfast and to exchange presents. Then later in the day we go to my sil's for a turkey dinner with all the fixings. She's a great cook! <BR/><BR/>Lara's spice mix for cider sounds yummy. I should google for a recipe.Ediehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17084144940233965447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4468468712675622912.post-14264314149660461552008-12-18T18:43:00.000-08:002008-12-18T18:43:00.000-08:00Eden, that's wonderful! If I'm ever dumb enough to move to Wisconsin, can I live with you?<BR/><BR/>Here in Florida, it's harder to get into the spirit--but not much. I sometimes smile at the ones who "can't get into Christmas when it's 80" because I'm following the light, not the weather--although certainly with my Celtic heritage, a good chunk of me is wondering where winter is (those of you who think we don't have it--wrong. We just get it a few days at a time, here and there. Keeps us on our toes!). This year, for some reason, I am really anxiously awaiting the sun return. <BR/><BR/>For a variety of reasons, most of my Yule traditions have fallen by the wayside, for now, at least. One, though, that has lasted every year until this one is baking cookies--from recipes we've been using since I was a kid. One of the cookies--Springerli--is so ingrained (down to the wooden forms they're printed with) that I couldn't bring myself to make them for a few years until my mother gave me the forms last year for yule. Even though I could buy (and probably will) more, I wanted the traditional ones that are older than my father.<BR/><BR/>My tradition--one I started--is to make a mulling spice mix for cider and put it into jelly jars as gifts for friends. I have the world's best recipe, so it's tasty AND easy to make!<BR/><BR/>Other family traditions...tree goes up the weekend before, comes down on 12th night. <BR/><BR/>I love your traditions--and your description of the evergreen / dogwood branches is just beautiful. You should be a writer. LOL<BR/><BR/>Have a blessed Yule!<BR/><BR/>LaraLara Dienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10228240987610386771noreply@blogger.com