Heavenly Holiday Nourishments

Perhaps for you, seeing the holidays around you is not enough. Sure, the brisk autumn winds, the first snowfall of December, and the holiday lights are nice, but you want to use more than just your eyes to experience the holidays. You want–no, you crave the literal taste of the holiday spirit!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so why not whet your appetite for Turkey Day by treating yourself to a thick slice of pumpkin or sweet potato pie? Most families will have a pie of some sort at dinner on Thanksgiving Thursday, but there is no rule that says you cannot go ahead and have a pre-Thanksgiving slice. Personally, I find the taste of pumpkin pie to convey the essence of autumn in each salivating bite.

Of course, you need something to wash down your piece of pie, so look no further than a warm mug of either pumpkin flavored coffee or, if you are feeling especially decadent, a pumpkin spice latte. If you’re not too “pumpkin-ed” out, your tastebuds will surely thank you for giving them a firsthand experience of the month of November. Coffee and dessert have gone hand-in-hand since the beginning of time, so obviously, a pumpkin dessert and pumpkin coffee were destined to be soul mates.

Once the month of November has transitioned into December, the holiday season is in the air! I am not one to celebrate Christmas prematurely, but that doesn’t mean I am any less excited to begin once December comes.

December is a time to replace pie with gingerbread cookies and the flavor of pumpkin with peppermint and eggnog. Those are the stereotypical flavors of the holidays, however, I have a few personal favorites once December rolls around.

There is nothing like getting creative with all the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving! Turkey and cranberry sandwiches are quick to make and delicious to eat! All you need is turkey, cranberry sauce (jellied is my favorite style), and two slices of white bread (or any other kind you choose). It makes for a delicious lunch meal or snack!

A delicious looking slice of holiday bliss; photo from verybestbaking.com

Then, there is the scrumptious homemade turkey noodle soup that is quite popular in my family. Let the turkey simmer slowly in a pot of chicken broth and add whatever your heart desires. Usually, we add noodles, carrots, celery, and a bit of salt for flavor. Year after year, our homemade soup puts Campbell’s soup to shame.

Once out of turkey, you can switch your full attention to holiday tastes. I personally don’t think you can ever go wrong with gingerbread cookies. They literally taste like Christmas to me, especially once they are doctored up with frosting and decorations (I love M&Ms). I love to wash that down with a cup of regular coffee, except instead of adding milk to my mug, I add a bit of eggnog. Easy and (relatively) cheap to make, but it tastes like a specialty drink from your favorite coffee shop.

These are just my favorites from the holiday season. I’d love to hear from readers about their favorite foods and drinks of the holiday season, especially those who celebrate a holiday other than Christmas!

Happy Holidays to all!