This post is a part of the Fantabulous Christmas Favorites blog chain put together by a great group of bloggers. The theme this week is Favorite Christmas Traditions. Be sure to check out all the great ideas shared at the end of this post!
After reading my recent post Cook Up a Kitchen Memories Christmas Gift is it any surprise that our big Christmas tradition is food related? As a child I remember heading to Iowa for Christmas with my grandparents. My grandmother set up a huge buffet meal with all kinds of delicious foods, but her chili was the centerpiece. It was spicy and delicious, even if it didn’t have spaghetti in it (a Wisconsin thing). Christmas Eve always meant Grandma’s chili and watching the adults drink mysterious hot drinks called Tom & Jerrys.
Have you ever had a Tom and Jerry? It’s an alcoholic hot drink mainly served in Minnesota and Wisconsin around Christmas. Egg whites, sugar, vanilla, rum and nutmeg make this sweet and frothy drink the perfect drink to warm you up on a cold night.
As Wisconsinites our family was always responsible for bringing the mix to Iowa Christmas celebrations, along with a few other Wisconsin specialties. Cheese? Check. Brats? Check. Tom and Jerry mix? Check. We’re ready to go!
Now my grandma is gone, but her Christmas Eve legacy lives on. My mom still makes Grandma’s chili in the crock-pot and serves up a big buffet. She also whips up a few Tom and Jerrys for us. I can still feel the warmth of family laughing and talking around the table busting with food. I hope one day my kids and grandchildren will be laughing and talking over a bowl of my chili.
If you like my mom’s chili recipe check out her healthy(ish) Cherry Cheesecake.
Interested in more fantabulous Christmas Traditions? Check out these posts!
Called to Be a Mom – Operation Christmas Child Favorite Tradition
Creative K Kids – The Beginning of a New Christmas Tradition
Denverista – Magical Christmas Lights, A Family Tradition
My Life Abundant – From the Attic
Still want more? Head to our Fantabulous Christmas Favorites Pinterest Board!
This sounds so good, and I loved to hear about your tradition! I am going to pin your recipe. Have a great Christmas!
Thanks for pinning! I hope you enjoy her chili as much as I do 🙂