Newsletter

October 2010 Newsletter

Thanksgiving Traditions by Julie Zimbardi

When the leaves begin to turn, and the air becomes crisp, I think ahead about preparing for the holidays and also think back on all of the things that make the holidays so special.

Thanksgiving in our home is rich in family traditions. Everyone helps with the cooking. We cook many of the same things year after year and never tire of them mostly because of the warm fuzzy feeling we get when we reflect back through the years.

When my daughter was in preschool, she brought home a "Thanksgiving Potato Turkey", which adorned the table that year. We liked him so much, that we recreated him the next year...and we have continued the tradition every year since. It has always been her project, even as an adult, and now our grandson helps with the pipe cleaners and the feathers!

Our other favorite tradition is reading Cranberry Thanksgiving, by Wende and Harry Devlin. Again, an early childhood favorite that prompted us to make the Cranberry Bread from the recipe in the back of that storybook. Here we are, looking ahead to Thanksgiving 2010 and waiting for the cranberries to be stocked in the produce department at our Publix so that we can all help with the cranberry bread.

Out of the abundance of Christ's love for us, we have been able to share that love with our children and now our grandchild as well. Sharing the Gospel as well as our holiday family traditions have helped us to build a legacy of love that will live on through future generations!

Potato Turkeys

• 1 medium Idaho potato, washed
• 1 red pipe cleaner
• 1 brown pipe cleaner
• Several colored feathers (can be purchased at Michaels)
• A large nail or skewer

1. Use the nail to poke a hole into the potato for the head and the feathers.
2. Cut the brown pipe cleaner in half. Bend one end and twist to close making a circle to form the head.
3. Cut approx. a 1 1/2" piece of the red pipe cleaner. Twist it through the head into a circle so that it hangs at the bottom of the circle to form the gobbler.
4. Place the entire head, neck and gobbler piece into the hole near the front of the potato.
5. Add the feathers around the back of the potato. Use as many as you desire.
6. We make one turkey per person and everyone goes home with their turkey!

Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread

• 2 C. sifted all purpose flour
• 1 C. sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 C. butter or margarine
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp. grated orange rind
• 3/4 C. orange juice
• 3 C. (1 bag) fresh cranberries, chopped

1. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly.
3. Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice al at once; stir just until mixture is evenly moist.
4. Fold in cranberries.
5. Spoon into a grease 9x5x3 loaf pan.
6. Bake at 350 for 1:10, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Cool on a wire rack. Remove, Enjoy!