A holiday survival guide.
There in no time in the year where food plays a more central role in our lives that during the holiday season. During these moments where we as individuals, families, parents and children face a sense of heightened emotions brought on by this unique combination of joys and sorrows, food provides us with a refuge. It becomes a respite from the overload of shopping, unwanted social obligations and an overwhelming sense of being alone while in the company of so many others.
The holidays. A time when people travel great distances to be with others and homes that are empty all year suddenly become full for the first time. We spend time activities with people we care for and sometimes others who we don’t or are just beginning to know. This is where the communal bond of eating together in celebration comes through with flying colors providing us with a real life alternative to sitting on the couch watching television or passing the time drinking or is it drinking to pass the time.
So here is a plan to help. Choose a holiday moment or meal. Do it soon because that moment is coming soon no matter which one you celebrate. Once you have identified the meal; work backwards a few days and put a plan together. First, choose someone you wish to honor. It can be someone who is gone or still here with us, it doesn’t matter. If they are gone get a picture of them to have at the table during the celebration. Then pick a food that they love or loved. Once you have found that person and the food assemble several recipes and choose one. Buy the ingredients. Have them ready so that when your guests arrive you can share the privilege of making this dish together. If they need to come a bit earlier then usual see if they can. If they can’t, then work with the ones that do and share later at the table.
During the meal as the dish comes to the table talk about why it was selected and who loves or loved it. If the person is gone, talk about them and their lives. You will honor them and help to create the sense of community that we seek at the holiday seasons and often do not find.
To make the concept concrete, here is my personal holiday wish food: Kuglehopf or Gugelhupf (a German yeast based cake) in honor of my long gone grandmother who turned out to be my Great Aunt but that is another story. Francesca, pictured to the right and whom my daughter is named after, was a powerful 5 foot tall woman who cared for me in her 70’s when my mother had difficulty in childbirth. Born in Austria and forced out during WWII, she was a mean baker who never hesitated to share the traces of good in her baking bowls with her young curious grandson. These are the earliest memories I have of the tastes that excite me to this day. After she passed I found her recipe for Gugelhupf, my favorite cake, but it was written in German and I never paid attention to it. I don’t know where it is now, and regret the loss. But there are plenty of recipes out there and we will find one to make. That is part of the fun.
Making it is no easy task and may well not be suited to the holiday season as it is long and difficult dish with many complex steps that will try the patience of those who make it and those who must clean up afterwards. But that challenge is balanced by a real reward. As we stand together in the kitchen and wait for the dough to rise, I see the spirit of her baking that lives on in my daughter and I am reminded of her and the power that she possessed. In those moments my holiday becomes full and the sadness I often feel when I think about those who have left and those we love. My table is now filled with joy as we honor them at our holiday meal. I hope you can find the same. Happy holidays.
If you are interested here are some links to kuglehopf or gugelhupf recipes:
http://www.netcooks.com/recipes/Cakes/Kugelhopf.(Austrian.Cake).html http://www.recipezaar.com/Kugelhopf-105469 http://www.recipeatlas.com/austrianrecipes/gugelhupfrecipe.html http://www.grouprecipes.com/83883/poppy-seed-gugelhupf.html
One thing for sure, she made hers with dark chocolate or cocoa powder.
Food Is Forward 
Recent Comments