Happy first Friday of December! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. This weeks Friday is holiday themed and I am so excited to do 25 days of Christmas on the blog! I hope everyone is starting to enjoy the holiday season! XX
1. Is there a dish you always associate with Christmas Eve or Christmas day? Do you know who has the recipe, and who originally cooked it for your family?
For me the one dish I always look forward to on Christmas day is scalloped potatoes its the one dish I will always look forward to my Memere making. Christmas Eve my mom makes meatballs and they are amazing. Both are wonderful cooks! I’ve learned from the best.
2. Are there any foods, from the holiday season or year-round that remind you of your heritage?
If you’ve been following me for awhile you know being Italian isn’t just being Italian its the food, culture, and way of life. Growing up especially when I was younger we would celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Homemade pasta is one that we only make during Christmas, Italian cookies, Cannolis, and panettone for breakfast are the ones that remind me of being Italian during the holiday season.
3. Who was the person in your family that taught you how to cook, and what was that first dish you cooked?
My Memere, and both my parents taught me how to cook. The first dish I ever cooked was homemade meatballs.
4. What traditions do you most fondly recall from your childhood?
Celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve, eating tons of food, getting dressed up and bringing pajamas to my Memere’s and GBs house. Playing Catchphrase with my cousins, aunts, uncles. We use to do yankee swap which was something we still talk about to this day. Organized Chaos in both the kitchen and family room. I have the best memories and I want to recreate them with my own family some day.
5. Are there certain traditions that have persisted for generations in your family?
Yes, I will always say to my mom and Memere let’s stick to traditions here is a few just to name:
- Scalloped potatoes for Christmas Eve
- Memere Hosting Christmas Eve
- Us hosting Christmas Day
- Pasta & meatballs need to be for Christmas Day
- Catchphrase both days
- Opening one gift on Christmas Eve
6. What is the best gift you have ever received
The best gift I have ever received was either my trip to Iceland which was told to me on Thanksgiving. Both the Gucci belt and my Tiffanys bracelet were gifts that I wasn’t expecting.
7. What time did you wake up on Christmas morning? Was it earlier than your parents? Did they make you wait before starting the festivities?
Growing up I would wake up at 7 am and I would have to wait to go down stairs until my parents were ready. Ugh that was the annoying thing lol. I would go downstairs before we did gifts my dad would make Christmas Breakfast: pancakes, bacon, hot coco, and it was a chill morning. My poppy lived with us so we would have to wait for him to get up. So yes my parents made me wait.
8. Do you recall the feeling of anticipation on Christmas Eve?
Yes always, I would get so excited with all of my cousins it was a blast.
9. Did you go to church on Christmas morning? Midnight mass? What memories do you have of those times?
Growing up Midnight mass was a treat because it meant you were old enough to go once I hit 12/13 I was able to go. Before then we would go at either 10/11 am mass. I love the church decorated for Christmas and seeing the nativity scene set up.
10. Would you consider yourself spiritual? How does that manifest itself in your daily life?
Yes, for me to be Catholic I need to be spiritual! I pray daily and daily, journal before bed, write in my notes during “quiet time”. Knowing that Christmas is Jesus’s Birthday and the story of the three wisemen and drummer boy, its more than just presents.
Gracefullygrace 