"Though I Have Grown Old, The Bell Still Rings For Me.
As It Does For All Those Who Truly Believe."
I've made no secret of the fact that I love the holidays.
*Love*
Growing up, my family moved around all the time, to new countries and states, to new towns and new schools. Things changed, and they changed often. One thing that remained constant was my parent's attempt at making the holiday's special. We had our hand-embroidered stockings that my Mother had sewn, our ornaments we had collected all over Europe, and our silly traditions. Monkey Bread for breakfast on Christmas morning (recipe at the bottom!!), my brother and I exchanging gifts every Christmas Eve before Dad read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and always leaving Santa cookies & a beer. Yup. A beer. Supposedly, that's what he liked. At least that's what Dad said.
So now, as a young adult, I find myself looking forward to the holiday season. For the chance to savor family and good friends, to pull out the good bottle of wine, and make a pie that you normally wouldn't find the time to bake. To stop and think about someone or something other than yourself. My favorite part of holiday gifts isn't what I'm going to receive, but rather the great joy I take in painstakingly trying to pick the perfect gift for my family and friends. I'll agonize over a book, a pair of cashmere dress socks, a new gadget, or a toy for as long as it takes to determine that yes, PAG will indeed love this package of Crane stationary, or that this kitchen gadget is exactly what Mama Duke is hoping for.
I've made it clear how much I love the Red Cup at Starbucks...and I love that so many of you noticed and have emailed or left comments about how you saw them and thought of me. To me, the Red Cup embodies holiday cheer, an extra smile, a good deed.
I love Red Cups, and the holidays, and all things Christmas & Turkey Day & Hanukkah because I like to think it reminds people to think outside of the box and themselves. And I like to think the world is a better place when we all help each other out a little. The rest of winter is dreary and cold and icy, but for a few short weeks, the cold and the snow and the ice is just helps those holiday lights twinkle a little more in the wind. For a few weeks the stores have extra clerks to try and help you find the perfect gift, and everywhere you turn you have the opportunity to drop an extra dollar, to donate a gift, to help out a family in need. And for once, you might actually take a minute to do that.
I know we are all short on money.... lets face it, the economy stinks. Grocery bills are up, your electric bill is just plain scary, and you probably are not getting the big raise you were dreaming of in July. No matter what your situation is though, you can do something. Even if you just stop to hold the door open for the Mom with a stroller and shopping bags, or to drop your coffee change in the Salvation Army red bucket, I encourage you to do so. It doesn't have to be monetary, but I ask that all of you readers take a minute to keep the holiday's magical & the spirit alive. (Even you Grace. And The Artful Blogger. Grinch.) That, and remember, life is short. Use the good china.
Duke Family "Christmas Morning" Monkey Bread
4 8oz cans refrigerated biscuits
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup of white sugar
1 stick of butter
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup of brown sugar
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Separate teh biscuts and cut each one into quarters with a pair of clean kitchen scissors. Mix white sugar & cinnamon. Grease 1 Bundt pan or 2 8" cake pans. Toss biscuits into sugar mixture, coating eavenly. In sauce pan melt butter and add brown sugar and any left-over cinnamon sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring to keep from burning. place half of the biscuts in the the Bundt pan and sprinkle with chopped nuts, add remaining biscuts, and top with remaining nuts. Pour brown sugar mixture over the top and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until biscuits have browned but not burned.
Delicious, ooey-gooey breakfast, for all 365 days of the year!
