Holiday Traditions, Memories, and Recipes 2021

Share your favorite holiday tradition, memory, and/or recipe, with pictures please!

Each year Chelsie Swenson and her oldest daughter make lefsa together from a recipe passed down from Chelsie’s great grandma.

Rich Petro and his family share two annual Christmas traditions. They cut their own Christmas tree every year AND on Christmas Eve they roast marshmallows in the fireplace. Sugared up kids waiting for Santa may not be the smartest idea, but it sure is fun!

 

Here is one for preparing turkey. It does not guarantee the turkey will be cooked perfectly, but it increases the odds of it tasting good! -Rich

Ingredients

  • 1 Gallon Water
  • 1 cup coarse salt
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 orange: finely grated rind and juice
  • 1 Tbsp whole clove
  • 1 Tbsp black peppercorns
  • 1 Tbsp allspice
  • 1 12-15 pound turkey, giblet removed
  • Ice to cover

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients except turkey and ice in a large stockpot and bring to a boil to
    dissolve the salt and sugar
  2. Remove from heat and let stand 30 minutes
  3. Chill brining solution
  4. Place turkey and brining liquid in a stockpot or lidded container.
  5. Cover with ice.
  6. Store overnight or up to 12 hours

 

 

Being so far from family, and usually friends are busy celebrating with their families, the Eads family started their own Christmas Eve tradition of going to look at Christmas lights and then going out to eat dinner at Outback Steakhouse.

No Rotary lights for us this year 😥 but there is supposed to be a display in Traverse City.

Christmas Eve dessert at Outback 2020