If you’ve stopped by from Karen’s 12 Days of Christmas Giveway, Welcome!!
Today I’m sharing about my family’s favorite holiday foods.
Throughout the years, our family Christmas menu has consisted of a variety of foods. One reason may be because we love to eat! But the main reason is because there are special memories that surround certain foods.
My Granny, who is celebrating her first Christmas with her Lord and Savior this year, always made dumplings on Christmas Eve. We had traditional foods too such as Turkey and Ham, but dumplings were Granny’s best dish and no meal was complete without them. So, even though it was Christmas, dumplings soon made their way onto the menu.
Before Granny went home to be the Lord, she spent several years in assisted living. Christmas Eve with family was moved from her house to my parent’s house. At first, we feasted on an assortment of festive foods such as seafood, dips, and casseroles—once again leaving the traditional foods for Christmas day dinner.
It didn’t take long before heritage changed the menu. My father is Italian. I grew up with homemade sauce and meatballs, lasagna, pizza and other Italian dishes all made from scratch. In fact, if my dad knew I had a jar of spaghetti sauce in my pantry, he’d cut me out of the will. There’s three things Italian people remain true to—God, family, and Italian food. You may have read before that my passion for Italian food is only surpassed by my love for Jesus. It’s in the genes.
Needless to say, Christmas Eve dinner is served Italian style. This year it’s going to be lasagna.
It’s custom to have Christmas day dinner at my house with all the traditional foods. I love this honor—a blessing that became mine because both my sister and brother lived out of town.
Both family and friends are invited so the house is usually full. One dish that the guests anticipate is my sweet potato casserole.
As I shared on Karen’s blog today in her 12 Days of Christmas Give Away, I got this recipe from an old high school boyfriend’s grandmother. I’ve been making this dish since I was eighteen—first in my mother’s kitchen and now in mine. It’s to die for! I’d love to share it with you!
What you’ll Need:4-5 cooked sweet potatoes
1 c sugar
1 t vanilla
½ c milk
2 eggs beaten
½ stick of butter
Mash cooked potatoes and mix together with mixer the rest of the ingredients. Pour into casserole dish.
Topping
1 c brown sugar
1/3 flour
1/3 butter
1/3 milk
1 c nuts (optional)
Heat butter and milk over medium heat. Add flour (more milk if needed) Then blend in brown sugar with mixer. Beat until smooth. Pour mixture over sweet potatoes. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. ENJOY!!
I’d love for you to share your favorite holiday recipes with me too! It would be great fun to serve your dish to my family this year! Who knows? It might just become our next favorite holiday cuisine.
Happy Eating!
Micca
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