Do you have a favorite book or magazine that you use every year? This is mine. 1967 Farm Journal Christmas Book. Despite the fact that the cover and back page have pulled away from the book, it remains intact and readable. Take a look at what made me happy in 1967 and every year since.
This is my favorite recipe for anything cranberry, but nothing beats the basic relish recipe which I make each year. I made 8 pints this week; ready for Thanksgiving and beyond. Since it freezes, thaws, and refreezes well, a jar is almost always in my freezer. A scoop of this delicious ice cold relish is always next to the turkey on my plate....and it is so pretty and red. Make it, you will be amazed. (You will need a grinder, but I bet you could use a food processor--not yet invented in 1967.)
That Yule Log Cake! Need I say more. I served this at my Christmas get-together way back in about 1978. The room was warm even in December, but the cake was ice cold and refreshing.
I will admit I have never made the salad pictured here, but these type salads were the rage back in those days. Thought I'd just throw this in for this look back.
This vegetable Christmas tree--I've made it many times over the years. It is a pain to make, but it is quite cute. If I make it again, I can see ways it could be improved.
If you enlarge the photo, you will see the three dip recipes I made to have at the party when I served the cold cake.
DIY was even popular in the 1960s. Paper mache--remember? 1967 might have been the year my mom made a decorative item for my grandmother and herself. I will try to describe it. It was a pretty shaped larger vase, topped by a plate, another smaller vase, another smaller plate, and an even smaller vase--all covered by paper mache and painted. It stood tall and majestic on the floor next to our front door. It looked very expensive to me....back in the day. The effect was quite nice. Grapes and greenery adorned it. I am still amazed at what a wonderfully talented woman my mom was. I wonder whatever happened to it. Probably threw it out. Shame.
And the candy...........safe to say I have made several of the recipes on these pages. The Apricot Nugget was a pleasant change to all the chocolate.
I have bought many Christmas books much more elaborate than this thin little book, but none has brought me more smiles of satisfaction than this one. Perhaps it is because the recipes were simple, perhaps it is because the pages remind me of certain parties, perhaps it is because I remember the day it arrived in the mail and my mother and me poring over it, perhaps it is all of these things.
I love you.
