It's time to tree hunt!

Every year my Dad's side of our family gets together on the first Saturday of December. Our purpose? Tree hunting, a cookie exchange, and my Bampa's amazing chili.


We meet at the tree farm, collect a candy cane from Bampa, and then head to the fields, where each family searches to find their perfect tree. I love seeing each family's pick, everybody has their own prefrence. Our family has always gone with a douglas fir. Now that Ryan and I are a family of our own we tend to lean toward a Grand Fir. It is a tree native to the northwest. It looks a lot like a douglas fir but it's needles are a darker shade of green with silvery undersides.



When everyone has their trees loaded and secure we head to Mamma and Bampa's. There waiting on the stove for us is my Bampa's chili that has been cooking for 3 days. I only get to have it once a year, so I eat until I'm full.

7 women bake two types of sweets for the cookie exchange. So when everything is said and done each family goes home with 14 dozen cookies and some of Bampa's fudge.

I can't wait to decorate our tree. I'll post pictures of the finished product.

This is how my family kicks off the Christmas season. Feel free to share stories of your own with me. My two recipes for this year's exchange are posted above.

~Jazi

Thanksgiving Traditions.

Every year before Thankgiving I go to my Mamma's house to help her bake pies. And I'm not talking just a couple, we bake about 30 pies total. Maybe more.

When I was younger it was something I would count down the days til. When I was a teen I would go there wondering how much of my day would be wasted covered in flour. As an adult it has come full circle, I can't wait to get baking.

This year, my Mamma informed me, would be the last. It takes so much effort and many don't appreciate the hours spent or the love put into it. I'm so sad to have to let go of a tradition that has been happening my whole life.

I have to remind myself that everything changes. And it doesn't have to be a bad thing. We'll just have to replace the old tradition with a new one. So in honor of our last pie baking year I would like to share a pie recipe.

Pumpkin Pie




Ingredients:

1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese room temp.
2 cups canned pumpkin (mashed)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
1 egg plus 2 yokes beaten
1/2 stick melted butter (1/4 cup)
1 cup half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

and a premade dough. I prefer to make my own but that recipe is a family secret.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

Place one piece of premade pie dough into a 9 in. pie pan.
Put plate into the freezer for one hour to firm up.
Bake the crust for 10-15 mintutes. (until it just starts to color)

For the filling, in a large bowl beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer.
Add the pumpkin and beat until well mixed.
Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined.
Add the vanilla and cinnamon until combined.

Add the filling to your warm pie crust and bake for 50 minutes.
Or until the center is firm.
Cool on a wire rack.

Topped with whipped cream or ice cream this is a great pie.


Have a great Thanksgiving!
~Jazi