Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
Let’s celebrate all the wonders of December!
December is a wonderful month, whether in a big family or just enjoying the change of season with friends. December is dedicated to gift-giving, sharing, acts of service, and moments of recognition. It’s packed full of holidays, observances and special events.
If you are searching for ways to bring the holidays a little closer this year, here’s a list of some of our favorite observances and the special foods that go with them!
National Cocoa Day
Tuesday the 13th is National Cocoa Day. It’s a great day to make a fresh pot of the good stuff at home, or change up from your usual coffee drink for something a little sweeter. EatThis.com has a terrific cocoa recipe to get you off on the right foot for the holidays, especially if a chill is setting in!
Hanukkah
Hanukkah begins on Sunday the 18th, and ends Monday, December the 26th.
It’s a holiday that marks the perseverance of a people against oppression and the miracle of the lights staying on even in turbulent times. This recipe for Challah bread is a Jewish tradition and a delicious way to warm yourself and join in on the fun!
Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice falls on Wednesday, the 21st. It’s both the shortest day and the longest night of the year. What better way to mark the occasion than a stew of earthy vegetables with this butternut squash soup recipe! (Incidentally, if you have leftover pumpkin this year, the pumpkin can be substituted deliciously for the squash!)
Christmas
Of course, it’s Christmas on Sunday the 25th. While there are many, many traditional dishes and treats to offer you we have to recommend this recipe for Gingerbread men, as they are delicious and fun to decorate!
Kwanzaa
On Monday the 26th, communities enjoy Kwanzaa, the African-American cultural holiday. Kwan celebrate inventive breakthroughs, including some of the dishes that are traditional and renewed as the years go by. One such recipe is Hoppin’ John!
Boxing Day
Ask five people from different countries what Boxing Day (Monday the 26th) is about and you’ll get different answers. We know it began as a day for the wealthy to honor those who waited on them. Nowadays, people know it for many different functions: sporting events, leftover feasts, and charity causes. For whatever else it is, we know it as a holiday that recycles the best of what’s left over-- which is why we recommend Paul Hollywood’s Hand-Raised Boxing Day pie. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, Justin’s Kitchen has a video showing the making of a Boxing Day Leftover pie!
Thanks for reading… we hope some of these recipes might bring a little extra fun to your holiday this year! If you need maintenance on your vehicle, please schedule an appointment with Aurora AutoPros as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing you soon. Also, we invite you to follow us on Facebook and our social media channels; and see what engaging, entertaining, educational, and fun things we share with our community.