Traditions

Now that we have a child I’ve really wanted to start a lot of traditions so that as long as our children can remember, we’ll always have done certain things. I truly believe that it brings the family together like nothing else can. I think it even brings a sense of security that the kids always know certain things are going to happen every year on this holiday etc... It makes the day so much more fun to look forward to. I would love to hear all the traditions you may have in your family as something to blog about or at least leave me a ton of comments so I can get more ideas!! Here are some ones I’ve either thought of, seen somewhere, or carried from one of our family traditions. And let's face it, most of them revolve around food! New Years Eve: -Fortune Cupcakes. Bake them as normal and cut a slit on the top to put in the paper fortunes. You could make your own and print them off the computer (preferred way...you can make them very personal and funny) or buy some at your local craft store. Once they are frosted you’ll never be able to tell they were ever cut. April Fools Day: -Make food that resembles something but is really something else (like the cupcake meatloaf a few posts back) Halloween: -The Family Night Phantom is another fun tradition where your family takes a treat to unsuspecting homes with a poem. "The Phantom Ghost has come to town to leave you some goodies, I see you have found. If you do not wish a curse to fall, Continue this greeting, the Phantom call. Post this Phantom where it can be seen, and leave it there until Halloween. Then make two treats and two phantoms like this, Deliver them to 2 neighbors who may have been missed. Deliver at dark, when there is no light, Ring the doorbell, run and stay out of sight! Have fun and remember, don't be seen....share in the spirit of Halloween!" Sundays: -We make waffles every Sunday. This week we made cinnamon and vanilla waffles, the week before it was blueberry. I can’t even begin to tell you how many waffle recipes I’ve tried, but so far this one is my favorite for the basic recipe: Basic Waffle Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2005 4 3/4 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 1 cup 4 3/4 ounces whole-wheat flour, approximately 1 cup 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons sugar 3 whole eggs, beaten 2 ounces unsalted butter, melted (1/4 cup) 16 ounces buttermilk, room temperature (2 cups) Buttermilk Substitute: Add 1 Tbl. of Apple Cider vinegar for each cup of milk and let sit for 5 min. Vegetable spray, for waffle iron Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions. In a medium bowl whisk together the flours, soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar. In another bowl beat together eggs and melted butter, and then add the buttermilk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until combined. Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Ladle the recommended amount of waffle batter onto the iron according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Close iron top and cook until the waffle is golden on both sides and is easily removed from iron. Serve immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree F oven until ready to serve. Longest Day of the Year: -It's always in the middle of June. The idea is to enjoy the most sunshine on the longest day of the year. Take that day off of work/school etc... and let each family member choose an outdoor activity (Picnic, hiking, swimming, miniature golf etc..) Birthdays: -I thought it was so great that I got to have whatever I wanted on my Birthday for Breakfast and Dinner. -Celebrate 1/2 Birthdays! Buy a small gift and have cake and ice cream. These are just a few ideas. Let me know what you do as a family!