It's All About the Muffins (Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories #2)

[Originally posted a year ago.]

Holiday Foods

I almost skipped this day on the advent calendar because I initially couldn't really think of anything specific to write about regarding Christmas foods. It's amazing, though, how reading other bloggers' posts can trigger some memories of your own.

Christmas Day meals were always certain to have one attribute: they were HUGE! More food than however many family members were gathered could possibly eat. For my immediate family, ham was usually the protein of choice. And I do believe I remember the garnish of pineapple. For some reason, the side dishes are not standing out in my mind. I have a feeling it's because I didn't pay attention to the meals much when I was a kid. The presents I was about to unwrap were the important thing, you know.

Grandma Logue & three of her daughters.

One thing I do distinctly remember about all the family dinner tables I was gathered around at Christmas (this includes the table of my mother and father, as well as the tables of each of the grandparents - Lincecum and Logue) is the unmistakable feeling of love, security, and pure joy. The beautiful sound of laughter closely follows.

I must also comment on another food tie-in to Christmas. My brother and I always left a little something for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Usually some cookies and eggnog (or milk) was the dish of choice. And if a carrot was in the house, it was provided for Rudolph. Funny, though, the carrot usually had a bite out of it, but it was rarely eaten completely. Dad must not have liked them much then. ;-)

And now finally, about the muffins: God bless Betty Crocker, because her blueberry muffins mix (with a can of real blueberries) are one of my strongest Christmas food memories! We did not have a big breakfast on Christmas mornings. There were at least a couple of reasons for this I'm sure. We were too busy playing with what Santa brought, and Mom was busy trying to get everybody and everything ready to move on to the next house. But those blueberry muffins were a staple, and my brother and I loved them. In fact, I enjoy them to this day!