Hi, <<First Name>>
It's Christmas Eve and I'm at my mom-in-law's here in upstate New York, where there's actually SNOW, and so it feels appropriately Christmassy. We just finished our Merry Snackmas, which means we make a bunch of snacky things (Mexican layer dip with chips, buffalo chicken dip with crackers, and dill dip with rye bread) and eat a little tonight, so we can graze on the rest all day tomorrow (after the big meal, anyway).
But in my family, Christmas Eve meant not only Scandinavian holiday treats, but also opening ALL our presents on Christmas Eve. Only Santa presents and stockings got opened on Christmas morning.
Regardless of how you celebrate the holidays (if you celebrate at all), the passing of the winter solstice earlier this week means that the 4 pm sunsets will slowly move further and further back as we approach spring. The cold and the dark of the coming months can feel daunting, but good food and cozy spaces can make things so much nicer.
If you're a Patreon patron, you'll be getting another email to accompany the holiday cards I sent earlier this week, so keep your eyes peeled! It will be all about the Scandinavian traditions I grew up with (with recipes, of course!). If you're not a Patron, join and you'll get instant access to that, plus other posts!
Last weekend, we had a very tiny Bramble House Christmas - normally I make a big spread and we host nearly 30 people - this year we had just six people. And instead of making lentils Wellington with mashed potatoes and roasted carrots and wild rice salad and brussels sprouts slaw with homemade buns and other delights, I made one batch of cookies, some savory pastries, lentilwurst, dill dip, deviled eggs, and a few other snacky things. See the full spread below!
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