A diary of life at a hobby-farm home
The first two batches of Yuletide cookies are baked and iced. Gingerbread and Sugar cookies makes the house smell so lovely. No snow so far this year, but it’s pretty chilly out.
On the fifth day of Yuetide is dedicated to the Alfar, the male ancestors home and hearth. We will remember and try to keep the bargains made to the spirits throughout the year and take a moment to honor our ancestors – – maybe even leave out a little offering for the most well-known of the elves tonight.
My husband’s late grandfather Ivar, traditionally made
lefse and krumkake for this holiday so today we will remember him by making krumkake. We would go over to Ivars home on Christmas Eve and enjoy a big supper and lots of stories. He was always really kind to me and such a gentle soul. On this Christmas night, the family will gather once more and we will fill the krumkake with fresh whipped cream and enjoy a warm fire and good company, just as Ivar would have liked.
All of my male ancestors have passed, but I hope that where they are finds them by a warm fire, enjoying a strong cup of coffee and a peppermint stick with friends and family that went before them….and I hope they can see all of us and take comfort the traditions they helped to create.
On the fourth day of vacation……. (I missed a few days when the water heater went out in the middle of the snow storm) the sugar cookies were baked and decorated. More trees for the tree, snowflakes and reindeer for the cookie tray.
There is a long tradition of Brigittine Monastery Gourmet Fudge in Oregon. At Our Lady of Consolation Priory, the monks quietly go about producing some of the most delicious, rich and creamy fudge in the world. We didn’t have time to make the drive to Amity this Yuletide, but in a wonderful spirit of giving, years ago, the monastery published a recipe (circa 1987) to recreate their fudge at home.
Ingredients
Instructions
*** Whoops – I left out the butter. I’ve melted 1/4 cup butter and stirred in half of the semi-hardened fudge, then added a 1/2 cup of coarsely chopped filberts. The other half of the semi-hardened fudge just got the melted butter added.
2017 Update
This year we made one batch, poured about 1/3 into a pan, and added pecans to the pan. We poured another 1/3 into a second pan and then added (as per Noah’s request) some crushed pretzels to the remainder. I think this will help with the “fudge until Spring Equinox” problem.
On the first day of vacation…….the gingerbread cookies were baked and decorated. Trees for the tree, snowflakes, gingerbread men, and stars for the cookie tray.
We had a lovely lunch this Christmas, moving the time up to 2:00 to get everyone back on the road to home before the temperature dropped.
The Julebord Menu
Desserts
Beverages
