Friday, December 18, 2009

Holiday Traditions

In my house we celebrate Christmas, so as the day gets closer, I'm still having a hard time believing that it's freaking December already. I live in Florida so there's really no such thing as winter. It's more of a pseudo-winter until about January/February and even then, it's hit or miss. Growing up, I spent so many Christmas Days out on the lake water skiing or having a holiday barbeque at one of my relatives houses. Definitely my kind of celebration. As far as tradition, my family always goes to see a movie on Christmas afternoon. When I got married, the hubby became part of that tradition. We've been married almost six years but many of those years he spent overseas so we're still building our traditions. What holiday traditions does your family partake in? Big or small?


If you're in the baking mood, here's a chocolate chip recipe that is awesome!


The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies (Recipe courtesy of my sister)

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup butter
1/4 sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 box powdered instant vanilla pudding (Jell-O brand is what I use)
2 eggs
1 12oz. package of chocolate chips (I use Nestle)

In one bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and vanilla pudding (must be powdered kind).

In another bowl, mix softened butter, sugar(s), eggs, and vanilla extract together with an electric mixer. Slowly add the flour mix until completely mixed. Roll in the chocolate chips at the end. Bake in oven at 375°F between 8-10 minutes or until done. Let them cool before serving.

When storing them, wrap in wax paper to keep moist and soft. I don’t know what it is about these cookies that are so delicious, but my mouth waters just thinking about them. I think it has something to do with the vanilla pudding.


7 comments:

Terry Odell said...

Our Christmas tradition -- movie and Chinese food. If you don't celebrate Christmas, there's not a lot else to do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1uZ_W7atDE

Naima Simone said...

Hi, Savannah!
We go all out for Christmas in my family. My father comes down from NJ and sometimes my husband's family comes up from FL. With them, my mother, my sister's family and mine we have a wild, chaotic blast with food, music, talent shows and gifts. It's wonderful!! Our newest tradition has become the family talent show where everyone gets up and embarrasses--I mean--exhibits their talent! LOL!
Merry Christmas, Savannah, and I'll have to try the cookie recipe for Santa and his reindeer!

Wynter said...

I've only been celebrating Christmas since I married my husband, 20 years ago. But his family all moved away last year. Time to create our own traditions now. Better late than never! Enjoy your Christmas.

Savannah Stuart said...

Terry - that sounds like fun :)

Naima - that's awesome!! I'm not sure what I would get up and showcase though b/c I can't sing or dance well!

Wynter - yes, definitely better late than never :)

Jina Bacarr said...

Thankz for the yummy cookie recipe--so tempting!!

Over the years, I've traveled on the holiday and spent Christmas in various places, but it's the spirit that resonates no matter where you go. "Good will and peace toward men."

I love that sentiment.

Kaylea Cross said...

A movie on Christmas? Wow. That sounds so...restful. You know that movie Four Christmases? That's what we go through every year (except that my hubby's parents are still together). We host my mom's side on Christmas Eve, then have a lightning fast Christmas morning at about 7 AM with our little guys before heading to my dad's place to do a gift opening with my step siblings, their kids and my sister. Then it's off to my hubby's parents' place for another gift opening with his very large family (16 of us), and then depending who's year it is for dinner, we either go to my mom and her twin sister's place or my hubby's parents'. And that's without going to Midnight Mass witih hubby's family like we used to before we had kids.

You can tell by now why Christmas is so stressful for me :) I haven't had Christmas dinner with my dad in over 18 years, and every other Christmas Day I don't see my mom at all (unless she and her twin are hosting dinner). Every year it's a marathon where we usually show up late to every place because we're so rushed to fit it all in and it's darn hard to rip the kids away from their new toys. The last four years I've sworn I won't leave my house the next time, but we get so much grief and pressure from all the relatives that inevitably I have no choice but to do it all over again. Yikes, I'm getting all stressed out just thinking about it!!! How about you enjoy the movie for me, lol. Have a Merry Christmas!

Savannah Stuart said...

I love that sentiment too, Jina :)

Wow, Kaylea, you certainly are busy!! This year I'm actually spending it w/ the inlaws and that side of the family is huge so I'm sure we'll be running around. My hubby promised me that we'd still go see a movie since we can't be w/ my family but I have a feeling it'll be closer to the evening than afternoon. And I will enjoy it for you! I hope you get a chance to slow down some this year :)