On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
Baking is my favorite Christmas activity. For me it beats decorating hands down. Usually I bake with my grandchildren but this year “the baking season” began in my daughter Rebekah’s kitchen which is a treat for me as usually we are six hundred miles apart. Today’s baking by Rebekah yielded five different types of cookies, loaves of vanilla tea bread and muffins large and mini. I contributed a fudge experiment which was a failure as fudge, but it will make some fantastic hot fudge sauce. My major contribution was washing up, you know all the bowls, spatulas, measuring cups and spoons and I enjoyed every minute of it. I have sweet memories of working side by side in the kitchen with my mother and aunts. I think we created some memories today too. Soon we will be back in North Carolina and three generations will be baking together. I am sure I will be continuing my role as dishwasher-in-chief.
Rebekah’s favorite recipe source Tea Time magazine
As a child, my mother and I had matching aprons. Hers wore out but mine was packed away and brought out for Rebekah, then my granddaughter, Karyssa. The apron Rebekah is wearing in the photo below is a memory apron with three generations of cooks embroidered on it. It will soon be time to create a new apron for my granddaughter.
Vanilla tea loaves coming out of the oven.
Old Things R New 
Oooh, yum! Love cakes at Christmas…
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My favorite thing is when other folks in the family bake, so I can eat what they bake! (Especially chocolate mint bars)
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Yumm Chocolate mint bars! Tamie you offer a valuable service. Bakers need eaters!
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For me, any activity that brings the family together is a favorite. I loved when the kids and grandkids would gather together after T-Day dinner and design/decorate their Christmas stockings. It was a great time, full of fun and laughter, but as my one son noted: Dad. Mom. We’re going to have to come up with something new, I’ve got 14 decorated socks! Santa is having trouble filling them all. Now the grandkids are older and help with the cookie baking – I’m still the official taster, tho. Thanks for sharing.
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A heart-warming story, much needed in this age of commercialization of the Christmas season. This is what it’s all about.
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It is indeed what it is all about. Thanks for stopping by, Scott.
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What a wonderful blessing! Cooking with 3 generations is certainly a great tradition and memory to hold onto. I have done my share of cooking with my mother and sister. My daughter’s have helped as they can and for the record-I hate being dishwasher-in-chief! But I make a MESS when I cook, so I maybe I deserve that title 😉
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We don’t always have three generations to bake together. This year is really special.
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We just had a big Christmas Cookie baking day with my grandchildren who are 6, 4 and 2 and it is by far my favorite activity during the holidays! Even though a lot of frosting made it into the 4 year olds mouth and not the cookies! I cherish every moment spent with family!
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It’s the best, isn’it it Tara?
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I’m just a terrible baker… I’m one of those people that likes to improvise and you seriously can’t just do that with baking! But I do think that food brings a family together. Happy Holidays!
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You are right, Elyse, unless one is a very skilled baker, improvising is risky. I stick to recipes.
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“Dishwasher-in-Chief.” 😀 I’ve taken on that role for family holidays as well–though I must admit my mom sneaked in to do it this past Thanksgiving while I was watching football with the guests. Generations of family baking sounds like a lovely experience!
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Moms are like that Nadine.
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Christmas baking was always something I looked forward to as a kid, and I still love it today. I wish my kitchen was big enough for mom & I to mix things up side-by-side. In a couple of weeks we will be cooking in the big kitchen though 🙂
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I remember those days when my sons were young. It was always a ‘fight’ to get to lick the mixer’s blades. Clean up, hah! I suddenly was all alone in the kitchen. That’s okay, I never minded the cleaning part.
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My son bakes with his children at Christmas and he still ducks out of the clean up!
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I don’t mind either, Barbara. I give the kids the blades, I want the mixing bowl!
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Oh, how I envy you, Alta. Baking Christmas cookies with my daughters is a treasured memory. Such fun! Janice and I still bake goodies for the Chrisdtmas party we attend for co-workers. Pleas extend my love and best wishes to Becky.
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My favorite activity now at the beginning of the Holiday season is putting my hristmas Village on display. I even have a ski slope with skiers moving up and down the slope, shops. a church, and a skating rink with moving skaters. It brings out the “little kid” in me. : – )
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Mike’s aunt always had a Christmas village. It was the centerpiece of their decorating. Yours sounds pretty and fun with the skiers.
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Having fun with your daughter and granddaughter sounds great. 🙂
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Thank you, Levi. I am looking forward to the next round of baking when we return to North Carolina.
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