Christmas was a time celebrated in all our local churches: candle light ceremonies, church services, carol sings in town or at the nursing home, and family get togethers. Food was excellent and prepared from "scratch". Many kinds of cookies and pies were baked ahead of time. A fresh turkey was stuffed, and put into the oven early enough so it could be served after church. Grandma Koehler got up before dawn to start the turkey, and other goodies.

The Pennsylvania Dutch are famous for their "sweets and sours" and we always had several kinds of pickles, as well as chow-chow on the table. We also had at least two kinds of fresh cranberry sauce instead of the canned kind so often served today. Grandma made potato filling or oyster stuffing in a separate casserole as well as the bread stuffing in the turkey. Two kinds of potatoes were on the table: mashed potatoes and candied sweet potatoes. Along with the turkey was a baked ham, "just in case". Then there were vegetables: home canned corn, and lima beans were favorites. And to cover it all was homemade turkey gravy. Bread was passed on a plate, grandma rarely had time to do rolls. She did have several "sweets" to spread on the bread: various jams or fruit butters.

If you didn't feel stuffed from the main meal, there was always dessert. For Christmas there would be mincemeat pie, instead of the pumpkin pie that is part of Thanksgiving Dinner. There would also be lots of Christmas cookies (sand tarts, soft sugar cookies, and pineapple nut cookies were favorites every year). Grandma often made a rich chocolate cake with peanut butter icing in order to provide the variety she wanted. If you were too full for pie, cake, or cookies; Grandma often had cracker pudding to eat. And, if you were still at the table she would offer you several varieties of locally made ice cream. Grandma always assumed you were still hungry if you were still at the table after the meal.

Our Christmas meal today is much simplier, and easier for me to do. I still make the food from "scratch," but there is much less variety. We make it less busy so we have more time to enjoy friends and family more!

Additional family recipes:
Great Fruitcake: Vintage Fruit Cake
More Cookie Recipes: Molasses Oatmeal Cookies
Crescent Cookies/Michigan Rocks
Toffee Bars
Basic Cookie Recipe and variations

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To Jann's Cookbook

© 2004 JKH