Holiday Traditions

My favorite thing about the holidays (besides spending time with family) is the traditions. There is something about the continuation of traditions that I find so comforting. Of course, a lot of those traditions involve food. One of my favorite memories of my Grandma McArthur is of her sitting in her big rocking recliner breaking bread into little pieces to make a pan of dressing for everyone in the family. She had this HUGE stainless steel bowl that she would use to break the bread into that sat on her lap and she would watch episodes of "Murder, She Wrote" when no one was there to talk to her. The recipe is one of those family recipes that Grandma would just make and was never written down. Grandma passed away several years ago and I had to beg and beg to get my mom to sit down and write the recipe out for me. I am so glad that I was a such a nag. So, for all my cousins who want this recipe (and those others who just want a good recipe)

Dressing by Fae McArthur

1 1/2-2 Stalks of Celery (chopped)
1/2 medium onion (chopped)
3 loaves of bread (broken into small pieces)
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 large can Cream of Chicken Soup (condensed, not mixed)
1/2 lb. bulk sausage
1/2 lb. ground beef

-Brown the meat, add all liquids together, stir together all other ingredients until well mixed.
-Bake at 350 for 45 minutes (until crust is browned)
-makes 2 13x9 pans

One of my other favorite fall foods is pine nuts. I haven't been able to find them in Salt Lake but I happened to be in St.George last weekend and brought some home to share with Colby. In the fall my mother would always make "Old Witches Magic Pumpkin Cake". She would only make this around Halloween and Thanksgiving so I have found myself doing the same. Here is that recipe:

Old Witches Magic Pumpkin Cake

-Beat together 3 eggs, 1 lb. canned pumpkin (I always use the whole can), 3/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup water.
-Add 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, 2 1/4 cup sugar, 3/4 tsp nutmeg, 3/4 tsp cinnamon and 1 cup raisins.
-Bake in a greased and floured bunt pan at 350 for 60-75 minutes. Frost after cake cools.

Frosting

4 oz. softened cream cheese
3 tbs. softened margarine
1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Finally, my favorite cookies that mom would make are Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. I don't remember mom making many other kinds of cookies, usually these were what she made. When I make these cookies only about half of the cookies actually get cooked because this is the best cookie dough I have ever had. :)

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

3/4 cup shortening (butter flavored is better)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
3 cups oats (uncooked)
1 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 pkg. chocolate chips (can use raisins but why when you can have chocolate?!)
-Cream shortening, egg, sugar, vanilla and water; add dry ingredients; add chocolate chips.
-Bake on 350 for 12-15 minutes.