McFamily Christmas: Part 4, The Food (New Years too)

I’ve mentioned gingerbread men, shortbread, and the Christmas Eve food already— tamales, Spanish rice, chips with guacamole and salsa. This post will describe other foods that make a regular appearance at McFamily Christmases.

All my life my parents loved to make jams and jellies, as well as homemade candy. Daddy specialties were divinity and peanut brittle. Both were just melt in your mouth good. He and my Mom together would make peanut butter fudge and chocolate fudge. But their signature pieces were Buckeyes and hand dipped chocolate crèmes. Oh my! Shut my mouth! Just one taste is impossible.

This year sweet Abigail helped my Mom with her candy making, baking, and jam and jelly cooking. We each received in our stockings our favorite jam or jelly—wild plum, apricot, mesquite bean, strawberry, and on the list goes. It’s delicious on bread, peanut butter, toast, waffles or pancakes. Or just right out of the jar!

Nannie also brings pecan pie for Christmas Eve/Day. It is the yummiest. It never lasts long. Our most favorite dishes that she makes for every family gathering are these:

Macaroni and cheese (the creamiest you ever tasted), mashed potatoes (even when she says they are bad, they are really good), and Nannie bread. The bread is a recipe with lots of whole wheat flour and wheat bran, makes six loaves, and bakes up soft. Even the crust is soft. It is the ultimate comfort food. Tastes great with butter and some of that jam. Or just with butter. Or without butter. Nannie bread is lovely. We all have the recipe, but no one makes it like Nannie, except maybe Abigail. More about her in another post.

New Year's Eve our church has a prayer service from 10-12 and then breakfast, which is singlehandedly cooked and served by one amazing man. I know this will make your mouth water, but tonight he served both Quiche Lorraine and Sausage Quiche. There were pigs in blankets with raspberry sauce and sweet and sour mustard. Angel light biscuits with jams, sticky buns, and of course......drum rollllllll, please.....BLACKEYED PEA SALAD.