Cooking for festivals and holidays where you live

Hello Ms :)) Thank you for sharing these delightful dishes. Most of them are new to me, but I always enjoy hearing of the traditions and culture in other countries! I hope you enjoy your celebrations as they come along...it's that time of year in many countries :)) Karen

That would be wonderful! In my retirement years, I'd love to travel to some foreign lands, as I've been many places in the US, but only one outside it. :)

Yes, we really prepare and save money for our festivities. Hope you can come and join us in one of our celebrations.

AH HA, I HAVE FOUND ANOTHER SPOILED BRAT, LOL. Chocolate majesty is nearly sinful, lol. u make a crust of flour, butter & pecans & bake that, the filling is like a chocolate pie, the nexy layer is cream cheese & sugar, next layer is cool whip & toasted pecans. if u want the recipe i'll pm it to u. chess squares are really good to. they are like chess pie but u make them w/a cake mix. If u like chess pie u would love these.

Um, did you call me a spoiled brat?? LOL, well a bit. And by all means, send that recipe! I can taste it already, Jo!! Hugs, Karen

Hi Jo (waving and smiling here :) LOL, some of us would croak if Mom didn't make her traditional and most delicious treats and meals, as well!! Oh my, your dinners sound so good! A couple of questions: what is Chocolate Majesty, and what are Chess Squares? I love chocolate anything lol! I know the feeling of wanting to be able to do things as long as we can! It brings great pleasure to be able to treat our families and know how much they enjoy it. You have a beautiful night! Karen

Hello my friend PeacefulWmn9 Ji, So nice of you for up-dating me on ' 'Halloween:'. You have taken right from the root of this festival. I tried to compare our those 15 days reserbvedfor our family passed away spouls. WE provide food with certin rituals connected with departed souls.In case my father has passed away on 2nd day after full-moon night, our hindu dates vay accordingly, so we will conduct rituals, where all family members including extende families must join and offer food with rituals. For all departed ladies , it is ninth day after full moon. Out of whole year these days are marked for this purpose. Every son has right to perform that ritual, if not we consider as bad oman and anything may happen to family. Many many thanks. May God bless You and have great time.

Here, we call them holidays, but since this is a global community, I also included the word festivals, as that is how many refer to their own times of celebration :) Karen

I guess I just look at festivals as taking place over more of a period of time. As you said, we use the word holiday and there is the holiday season. I live in a place where there are festivals taking place practically every week! These events have a lot more happening than trick or treating or dinner or something to mark a specific day. Language is funny that way; the days can be festive and festivities take place but they are not what I would consider full blown festivals. Yet in Spain Easter is kind of a festival when you think about it.

We tend to "label" these times differently, depending on where we live, yes? Whatever we call them, they are tradition, they are fun, and it's good to celebrate with others :)

Bless your heart. Many of us who live alone, depending on our age, do go to the big family gatherings rather than hosting one ourselves. My apartment isn't big, but my kids and grandkids all fit nicely for a buffet style Christmas celebration. Other than that, like you, I go to other's houses to celebrate with them. xoxo Karen

Yum, please do. I'll post it in a message to you, and thank you for sharing yours with me. I've collected recipes from so many people ever since I was 12, and now I can add a couple from an online friend :)) Karen

Hi ... me again. I can send you a personal message unless we're friends, so I sent a friend request, but I'll post the recipe here :)) Cherry Cream Dessert Ingredients 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup chopped pecans or English walnuts 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened FILLING: 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed 2 (21 ounce) cans cherry pie filling Directions In a bowl, combine flour, chopped nuts and brown sugar. With a fork, stir in butter until crumbly. Lightly pat into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely. For filling, in a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Carefully spread over crust. Top with pie filling. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours Hope you enjoy it :) Karen

Hi Sudipta :)) I love to cook, and I had a wonderful teacher in my mom! I have been learning on here of some of your wonderful festivals in India, especially Diwali. I love learning those things about the other wonderful people in our vast world. Ooo, I love rice dishes, and even have my own special rice dessert....glorified rice mixed with pineapple bit and whipped cream. And I love rice pudding! So rice is one of my personal staples here in the US, too. Thank you for sharing :)) Karen

Hello Jah...eating seems so much a part of celebrations, yes? Good food is good food, whether home cooked or purchased and reheated. I think it's the gathering together of friends and family that is the most meaningful part, anyway. Have a nice day and thank you for responding. Karen

You're right Anne...there are many occasions to celebrate that aren't holidays in the traditional sense, such as birthdays. In my family we also celebrate engagements, birth of new babies, school graduations, retirements...so many milestones and happy things for everyone! Catering is most often done for wedding receptions :) Karen

Hi Jugs. Aww, your Christmas celebration sounds like fun, and yes, even if you don't cook in a given year there's always dozens of other ways to help. My extended family is so large now, that whoever hosts it makes the main dish and everyone else brings a dish to pass. There would be too much work and too little stove and fridge space for just one person to do it all any more. Have a great week. Karen

Hi Dorann :)) Ah, your family gatherings sound a lot like ours! We are a large group by now, and wherever we gather, everyone brings a dish or two to contribute to the feast. It would be hard (not to mention expensive) for only one or two people to feed nearly a hundred! You enjoy those holidays, my friend. You dishes sound yummy! Karen

Hello Icash. I also love holidays and festivals for so many reasons :)) Happy times, special and spiritual times, and family, friends, and of course, the lovely food! I have had Chinese dumplings in restaurants here in the US, but I imagine yours are much more delicious. What ingredients are in a moon cake? It would be interesting to know that. Mmm, I love rice pudding. Enjoy your special celebrations and festivals! Karen

Hello Triple...ahhh, a fellow lover of cooking! :) I also love many of those same sites, and pass the recipes on to family and friends. I've been collecting recipes since I was 12 years old! Some were my grandmothers, even. Experimenting is great and yields delicious results, most of the time. Like you, I find it necessary when not all ingredients are available in the grocery store where I shop. It is nice to have those special foods we cook strictly for holidays, special and apart from our everyday cooking. Have fun during this season :)) Karen