Cooking tops Sisters holiday traditions

Readers continue to share their favorite celebrations and activities surrounding the holidays and a clear favorite has emerged - baking.

Take Mayor Michael Preedin for example.

"My favorite holiday tradition is making my grandma's clam dip that is best with wavy potato chips – perfect addition on either Thanksgiving or Christmas Day where grazing on food is encouraged and counting calories is discouraged," he said.

City Manager Jordan Wheeler weighed in: "Christmas for me is a time to spend time with and enjoy precious moments with my family and a lot of our traditions revolve around food! Our annual holiday rituals include baking and decorating cutout cookies for Santa with my daughters, making homemade eggnog and cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning, and traveling north to visit family and share in the cooking of Christmas brunch and dinner. As my daughters have grown it's been fun to watch them recognize and look forward to all the wonderful and cheery traditions of the season."

Linda Goebel, from Black Butte Ranch, tickled us with this one: "Not sure you want this in your family newspaper. My Grandfather loved to make mixed drinks. During the Great Depression on Christmas mornings, when there was precious little under the tree, he made French 75s for the family - before breakfast!

"A French 75, named after a [French] cannon ... is made from a mixture of gin, lemon juice, and sugar in a highball glass. Champagne is then added and ice. Mighty good. And after one of these who cared what was, or was not, under the tree? Thanks, Grandfather! We always have French 75s at Christmas - but not before breakfast!"

For Ruth Crew, it's all about gingerbread.

Photo by Tabitha Cottrell

"Gingerbread cookies? That's easy peasy," she said waving her hand as if swatting away the idea. "Houses. That's where the action is," she said gleefully.

"Over a three-week period, our grandchildren in Bend and Redmond - seven in number - put their creative genius to work in making bird houses, doll houses, playhouses, all from gingerbread recipes. Icing acts as the concrete and shingles. Gum drops make doors and windows. And M&Ms make doorknobs and other fixtures. Marshmallows for chimneys.

"They've used peppermint sticks, licorice - the list is too long to tally," she said. "This year we're going to try lighting some."

One after another mentioned some tasty delicacies like red velvet reindeer cake. Or, the Johnstons' Kransekake - a Scandinavian celebration dessert that literally means 'wreath cake.' The tower of ring-shaped cookies whimsically decorated with royal icing is worthy of being the center of any celebration.

Snowy Pinecones are made with crunchy cereal exteriors and creamy peanut-butter-and-chocolate-hazelnut centers that don't need baking.

Photo by Jim Cornelius

The Hartmanns in Cloverdale bake an ugly sweater cake every year.

The Roths in Sisters don't celebrate Christmas, but that doesn't stop them from baking. Gelt Peanut Butter Blossoms are their favorite to celebrate Hanukkah. Each cookie is coated in festive sprinkles and pressed with a chocolate gelt coin - a traditional Hanukkah present - while still warm.

Same with the Aarons who make decorated dreidel cookies. A dreidel is a spinning top, with four sides, each marked with a different Hebrew letter.

If food helps make the season merry, Sisters will have a joyful holiday indeed.