Do you do much extra cooking for the holidays?

@Happy2BeMe (99399)
Canada
December 7, 2016 12:39pm CST
I remember my mom spending weeks cooking special treats for the holidays. She always cooked and baked but there were certain things that were only made over the holidays. There was always a large variety of cookies, squares and pies for when people would stop by for a visit. On top on that was the big turkey dinner with all of the fixings. I do the turkey dinner but I never usually bake too much for the holidays. If I want treats I just go out and buy them. Of course I don't get a lot of company over the holidays either. I don't find people visit others like they use to. There were always people dropping in at my parent's place throughout the holidays and we would visit others. Do you do much visiting or entertaining over the holidays?
16 people like this
20 responses
@Kandae11 (53679)
7 Dec 16
A lot of cooking goes on, but not too much entertaining.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40523)
• United States
8 Dec 16
Same here. Lots of cooking, but not many visitors.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
@1creekgirl IT is always nice to have those extra treats over the holidays
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
Oh that is good then. So you eat well over the holidays.
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Dec 16
This year I want to start baking lot's of cookies and cupcakes with my children for Christmas. We don't have any visitors or anything but we can enjoy them ourselves. =)
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
It is nice to do it with the kids. Kids always enjoy baking. I think that is a wonderful idea.
1 person likes this
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Dec 16
@Happy2BeMe Thanks! They do love baking with me and I think it will be fun. =)
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
@LovingMyBabies Yes it will be! :)
@rebelann (111178)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Dec 16
I remember mom cooking all the time and right around the beginning of October she'd begin baking cakes, pies, cookies and of course the main course meats almost daily. She got a cookbook from Readers Digest back in 1965 which she used to give her ideas for new recipes. Boy, she even used it to teach her how to make that Christmas cake or bread call a Stollen. I should have that kind of talent but I'm my fathers daughter and love electronics.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111178)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Dec 16
Yeah, some did but there were those who had absolutely no interest in cooking, they were the ones who helped create womens lib @Happy2BeMe
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
Hat is what mom's did back then. They would come up with some great recipes.
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
@rebelann very true
1 person likes this
@paigea (35693)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
Not a lot of visiting over the holidays and I miss it.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35693)
• Canada
9 Dec 16
@Happy2BeMe My parents were such great hosts and they were so much more social than we are now.
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
9 Dec 16
@paigea I think for the most part people were. They enjoyed the get together and the hosting.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
Yes I do too. That use to be nice and good times!
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (116002)
• United States
7 Dec 16
I will make one batch of cookies over the holiday weekend. That's it
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (116002)
• United States
7 Dec 16
@Happy2BeMe The recipe is for Pecan Balls but I make them with walnuts. They are almost like a shortbread but then rolled in powdered sugar. I don't like super-sweet things so these fit the bill because the cookie itself is to buttery and nutty.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
@NJChicaa they sound really good.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
What kind of cookies do you make?
1 person likes this
8 Dec 16
Sometimes this makes me very irritating.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
Why does it irritate you?
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
9 Dec 16
@ScholasticJasper Everything takes time. I hope you achieve your goals and dreams.
1 person likes this
8 Dec 16
@Happy2BeMe Irritating because i want to explore myself. I am very creative and have many hobbies apart from cooking but don't get much time. I also want to complete my studies. Actually i want to do chartered financial Analyst but not able to manage time for it.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
8 Dec 16
I used to cook spaghetti and carbonara as well as other dishes for Christmas . But now that i have aged , i only prepare a kilo of chicken macaroni salad on the 24th . This will be a lot so it will be placed in 3 several plastic containers and be placed on the ref because everyone will keep eating this each day after meals , until they are fully consumed . For the rest of the foods we just order them . At least , i am not much tired when it's Christmas eve .
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
10 Dec 16
@Happy2BeMe The salad is always prxepared ahead because it has to be well chilled before it is eaten , so it will be so delicous .
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
That is a good idea to have it prepared ahead and everybody can eat it without all the fuss of preparing things over the holidays.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37726)
• Philippines
8 Dec 16
My brother love to do a lot of cooking during Holidays. He always have new recipe to try. We always have some visitors.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
Sounds like he is an awesome cook!
• Preston, England
7 Dec 16
I'm doing my visiting the weekend before xmas - the holiday itself is likely to be just me at present
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
7 Dec 16
@Happy2BeMe yes, seeing friends in Manchester on the Saturday and calling in on my mum before returning to Preston the next day
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
That is nice. At least you are getting some visiting in.
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
@arthurchappell that will be nice.
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@Tampa_girl7 (48958)
• United States
7 Dec 16
Nothing as much as my parents did
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
Yes our parent always seemed to make a much bigger fuss over the holidays. There was always lots of baking going on.
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
7 Dec 16
I am usually not home, so none! lol
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
that is a good reason then! :)
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40523)
• United States
8 Dec 16
It's sad that most of us don't visit like we did years ago. I still bake certain things only during the holidays like chocolate mint squares, sugared peanuts, fried pecans and sometimes fudge. I cook a big dinner on Christmas Eve while the kids are here, then we have leftovers for lunch on Christmas day before everyone goes back home.
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
That sounds like a great family Christmas. That is what Christmas is all about.
1 person likes this
• United States
7 Dec 16
I do all the cooking & baking for Christmas since the whole family comes to my house. I try to keep some traditions but don't bake as many cookies as I used to when my children were younger (I would have tins of all different kinds). Since there's so many of us doing a sit down dinner is impossible so I have to do a buffet which always works out fine. All my guests bring something to add to the table which makes less work for me.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
That is a great idea. I know after my Dad passed away that is the way we did Christmas dinner at mom's. It was less stressful for her and she had more time to sit down and enjoy the company.
@JudyEv (325793)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Dec 16
Not really and we don't do any special cooking. My Mum had special dishes that were only made at Christmas. I remember cream horns were one. These were horn shapes made from a sponge cake mixture and filled with red and green jelly and whipped cream. Delicious!
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
Oh they sound good!! I would love those!!
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@Madshadi (8849)
• Brussels, Belgium
7 Dec 16
Those traditions are fading away. I also remember my mother and grandmother doing it. Now we don't anymore
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
8 Dec 16
Yes it seems to be rare these days. I use to love the smell of mom's house with all the different treats cooking.
@Hate2Iron (15730)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
Not a lot any more for me either. Just no one to eat all the goodies! I miss those days!
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
I do miss those days too. My two older sisters still do Christmas baking but not like they use to either.
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
My Mom did a lot of cooking and baking for the holidays, but here, not much, just the necessary.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
Seems to be the way it is for most people these days.
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
7 Dec 16
nope this is the first year will have no visitor.We do not entertain.Those days for us are over.Done that.I like it quiet.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
Quiet holidays are nice too
@RasmaSandra (73444)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Dec 16
Nope over the holidays it is only me, my hubby and our cat Sid so I make some goodies but very little.
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@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
7 Dec 16
Some goodies are good though.
1 person likes this
8 Dec 16
My husband is a huge food lover and father in law do not like food of any other home or place. So we always cook & bake at home keeping his health in view. We have more than 20 festivals in a year so be it any festival, birthday party, Anniversary party or kitty party of my mother in law all cooking is done at home. Wont believe but we spend more than 8 hrs in the kitchen in a day.