Hounds In The Kitchen » christmas

Holiday Books & Videos {Friday Five}

Rachel Tayse — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:17:02 +0000

The homestead is bustling like an elf shop these days with gift wrapping, cooking, hosting gatherings and attending others. We like to read holiday books and watch videos during the down time to get excited for the big day coming. Here are five we like this year:

1) Hanukkah at Valley Forge by Stephen Krensky is based on the true story of George Washington learning about the holiday from a Jewish soldier in the Revolutionary war. I like the retelling of the Hanukkah story in this book as well as the connection to a historical character Lil already knows. Beautifully painted illustrations by Greg Harlin complete the book.

2) Every year during Hanukkah we listen to Matisyaku’s Miracle. The youtube video linked is full of fun but funky imagery and the tune is remarkably catchy.

3) Did you know that The Killers produce a holiday song and video each year? 2011′s The Cowboy’ Christmas Ball is our favorite with a music video full of wild west characters.

4) Olive the Other Reindeer is a remake of the classic Rudolph tale by Vivian Walsh. The story of a dog finding her place in the world is illustrated by J. Otto Seibold’s computer-created cartoons. When I can stomach Drew Barrymore’s voice, we also enjoy the 45 minute video version.

5) The Muppet Family Christmas is a perennial favorite of our family. The 40 minute movie includes Muppet characters from Kermit to Fraggles to Sesame Street in a story about friendship. At various points in the show, they sing holiday carols and original Muppet songs.

What are your favorites?

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Holiday Books & Videos {Friday Five} is a post from Hounds In The Kitchen.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting us with a donation or visit the Hounds in the Kitchen shop for ebooks and favorite tools. Thanks!

Thanks for Handmade Gifts Received

Rachel Tayse — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 02:27:40 +0000

Our Xmas was truly lovely. The Goose Dinner went off without a hitch, Lillian was patient during the many family gatherings, and we loved the wintery weather. We received some fantastic handmade gifts during the festivities.

Click pictures to enlarge.
My sister sewed me a lower half apron with purple fabrics from my 30th birthday quilt, Lillian’s gift, a handmade purse, and gifts from years past.

She also was the crafty person behind Devie and Hawise’s gift – an eye patch for the one eyed dog and parrot shirt for the little one. Hawise is frozen in hatred in that picture.

My mom made Lil a beautiful dress and matching satchel. They fit so well and even include sparkly adornments as Lil requested in her wish list.

Sisters Megan and Heather made hand-stamped stationary, fancy chocolates, a snack pack of homemade ricotta, mozzarella, and crackers, and flavored vinegar.

Grandma sewed a top apron and my cousin Naomi made me a skirt from old men’s dress shirts.

Alex’s mom gave me a very cool earring holder made by a local artist from fine gauge copper wire wrapped evenly around large gauge wire. This seems simple enough that anyone with some patience could make it. The earrings on the display are made by my sister-in-law-to-be Kim.

Uncle Mike made Alex a home-cut and hand-sharpened titanium hand scraper/bottle opener with a hand-sanded wooden handle. As if that wasn’t enough, he cast some tiki shaped chocolate molds too.

One topic of conversation during the handmade gift exchanges is that the giving became more meaningful and fun. I am so thankful for family members that not only appreciate making presents by hand but are talented enough to produce some really creative things.

We feel perfectly present-ed this year. Did you receive any handmade goodies?

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Thanks for Handmade Gifts Received is a post from Hounds In The Kitchen.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting us with a donation or visit the Hounds in the Kitchen shop for ebooks and favorite tools. Thanks!

Happy Holidays from Santa Chicken

Rachel Tayse — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:18:15 +0000

Precious few family and friends will receive a Santa Chicken in the mail this week. As is our family tradition, Lil’s illustration was printed on a postcard. She later painstakingly water colored each chicken.

Lil offers you, dear readers, her chicken christmas joke.

“Why did the chicken cross the road?”

“To eat the Christmas worm.”

Ho ho!

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Happy Holidays from Santa Chicken is a post from Hounds In The Kitchen.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting us with a donation or visit the Hounds in the Kitchen shop for ebooks and favorite tools. Thanks!

HanuSolMas

Rachel Tayse — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 16:17:08 +0000

The Christmas Tree at Alana's Restaurant

What do we believe?

What do we celebrate?

Why?

This are important questions, and ones that contribute to winter holiday stress for many. Some find strife when family members disagree on the reasons for the season. Others lament a general lack of meaning, or the transfer of moral significance to commercial gain.

Our Winter Holiday History

For the first few years of our marriage, Alex and I celebrated whatever we wanted to, picking and choosing mostly based on which holidays had the most yummy food and drink traditions. As committed atheists, we were disconcerted with religious meaning but we threw some great parties.

At the time I taught at the Orthodox Jewish school and bought a beautiful hand made menorah. Better observe Hanukkah to make use of the menorah, right?

In 2005, Lil came along. It struck us that a string of meaningless dinners and decorations might confuse the child. More importantly, we could mold her young self with moral lessons dictated through holiday stories.

Given our rejection of diety, miracles, and the like, just what might those moral lessons be?

Hanukkah

The Hanukkah story of the Macabees is our chance to share the value that everyone can believe what they want and stand up for that right. We also share the story as an example that a dedicated group of individuals can indeed make change or even defeat a king.

We celebrate Hanukkah by lighting candles at sundown as is the Jewish tradition. We give Lil one piece of gelt per evening and play dreidel. At least once during the eight nights, we cook up latkes and dough nuts in a fry feast.

Winter Solstice

Lil helped us discover a Solstice tradition earlier this year. She picked up the book Sun Bread from the library shelves. It doesn’t mention Winter Solstice but does tell a sweet story of an animal city welcoming the sunshine back in midwinter with a rich yellow sun-shaped bread.

In a few days we will share the sun bread recipe. We’re making it again on the shortest day of the year. On Solstice we share all the things we look forward to enjoying on sunny days. The sun is, after all, the currency that allows us to grow our garden and feed our family.

Christmas

Honestly, Christmas is the most difficult celebration within which to find non-religious morality for me. I can almost make myself believe that while Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, I honor the unique birth and life path of all my friends and relatives. Alex is satisfied to just carry on family traditions on December 25th without applying any lessons or reasons why.

Christmas is the holiday with the most secular traditions in our extended families. We exchange gifts, we bake cookies, and host a semi-formal Xmas Eve English goose dinner. We joyfully sing carols and watch classic Christmas movies.

The Holiday Mash

So far, Lil has shown extreme flexibility in understanding our traditions. This should not be surprising, considering the plethora of stories that swarm through a kid’s mind. It’s part of preschooler development to define what is fact and fiction. They do this best in a community of family and fun, just what we intend to cultivate around the holiday.

How do your holiday celebrations relate to your beliefs? How to do share these with your family?

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HanuSolMas is a post from Hounds In The Kitchen.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting us with a donation or visit the Hounds in the Kitchen shop for ebooks and favorite tools. Thanks!

Having a Cool Yule

Rachel Tayse — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 03:16:43 +0000

The goose was cooked and enjoyed. Devie watched all proceedings to make sure no bit was wasted. Look for a post later this week related to the Rose Bowl about how to cook duck and goose.

After snuggles and stories, Lil went to bed.

Lil’s big present this year is an indoor swing. We installed it (well, Alex installed and I tested) between the dining room and living room. Yes, I do hope I get a robe for Christmas that doesn’t make me look like a five year old.

From my family to yours, Happy Holidays. May your gifts be plenty and treats be delicious!

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Having a Cool Yule is a post from Hounds In The Kitchen.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting us with a donation or visit the Hounds in the Kitchen shop for ebooks and favorite tools. Thanks!

The Flavor of Christmas

Rachel Tayse — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:41:53 +0000

Tastes and smells are a necessary component to memory. Foods bring us back to a place and time, defining everyday and holiday experiences.

At Christmas time, the formal Christmas Eve dinner is that memory maker for me. The last two years we have hosted a meal for friends and family at our house, as we will again this year. The menu varies slightly each year but typically follows an old English style. Dishes are always made from scratch. This year our menu is:

Stuffed whole goose (raised at 2silos farm)
Roasted sweet and white potatoes
Steamed green beans
Mushroom pie
Green salad
Cranberry sauce
Mini yorkshire puddings
Cranberry champagne cocktails

My sister, the pastry school attendee, will be bringing the dessert. She just finished a chocolate class.

What tastes do you associate with Christmas? What are you making this year?

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The Flavor of Christmas is a post from Hounds In The Kitchen.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting us with a donation or visit the Hounds in the Kitchen shop for ebooks and favorite tools. Thanks!