Monday, December 19, 2016

Christmas!





                   

               Merry Christmas! When I was a kid it seemed like the span from Christmas to Christmas was at least 10 years. Now that I am not a kid it truly does seem like Christmas 2015 was just last week.
              I have braved the roads and stores of Lubbock, and now have presents under the tree. To this country bumpkin the activity in Lubbock is horrible anytime of the year. During the Christmas season, it is especially horrible. I much prefer to do my shopping from the comfort of my own home. But alas some things require a trip to the city.
              Now let’s talk food! Everybody has their favorite Christmas food. It is tradition in our house to have Mexican food on Christmas eve. We lived in New Mexico for 20 years and fell in love with any and everything green chili. Except green chili wine. Saw it, bought it, it is awful. Wine should be made from grapes. Bacon should be made from pork. Not turkey. Some things should always be left in their natural state. Wine and bacon are two that should be left alone.
               Christmas Eve in our house will find us dining on tamales, green chili enchiladas and pozole`. Or Posole in English. Posole is a thick stew made with either pork or chicken and red chili and hominy. There are many ways to make it and they are all good. Christmas dinner is always beef. Steaks, prime rib or tenderloin. No turkey here. My husband is of the opinion that fowl is foul. We endure it on Thanksgiving and after that no turkey in this house till next Thanksgiving.
                Christmas baking is always fun. Gingerbread men always make their appearance as do cut out sugar cookies. Buttermilk pie better be on the menu at some point or two young men will be very sad. Cinnamon rolls appear on the breakfast table most years. Now there are these little wonderful darlings. These have just shown up the past couple of years and they are to die for! And I am going to share the recipe because all people everywhere need to experience these. It is only right.
                                       Sweet Blueberry Biscuits
2 cups of flour
1 tablespoon of baking powder
1 ½ tsp. of salt
3 tablespoon of sugar
1 stick of butter (very cold)
¾ cup of buttermilk, may need a little more or less
1 cup of frozen blueberries
½ stick of melted butter.
SAUCE
1 cup of powdered sugar
3 tablespoons of milk
½ teaspoon of vanilla
Mix together till smooth and set aside
Preheat oven to 500 (I have found that for some ovens this is way too high, 450 will be just fine)
These are best made in a cast iron skillet that has been warmed with a little butter melted in it.
Place your flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a bowl. Cut the cold butter up and place in the bowl Cut the butter into the dry flour mixture using two forks or a pastry cutter. The flour needs to look crumbly. Next add the buttermilk stirring it in gently. The dough needs to be soft and manageable, not wet and sticky. But don’t overwork! Flour your surface and turn out. Either roll with a rolling pin or pat out with hands till it is around ½ inch thick. Now sprinkle your blueberries on top. Fold the dough over and press it down. Lightly roll it or press it out with your hands once more. Cut out biscuits with a biscuit cutter or whatever you use jar lid etc. Place in an 8-inch skillet. Bake in the oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Take out and brush with the ½ stick of melted butter. Do not skip this step. Place back in the oven. Watch and when the tops of the biscuits are lightly browned and the blueberries start to burst remove from the oven. Let rest for 10 minutes then pour the vanilla sauce over the top and you are done! Now drink coffee by the fire and enjoy!
        Of all the traditions at Christmas the best ones are the simplest. It isn’t the shopping or the parties, or even food. It is being home with family. Hearing my husband read the Christmas story out of the Bible. Spending time remembering what Christmas is all about. The Birth of our Savior and Lord. Jesus Christ. Without Him there would be nothing to celebrate! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
God Bless and Happy Trails
MB

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