Merry Christmas

This is a very different Christmas for me. I'm thinking of the family all together for the morning's festivities. Every year since my oldest nephew was born, the whole family gets together very early Christmas morning and we open all of our gifts together. I remember Christmases when we traveled from Pittsburgh to my sisters house in Grand Island and all of the gifts for all of the family members where placed "under" the tree late Christmas eve. There were times that no one could walk into the room because the packages covered the entire floor! Once we all settled into our usual seats (Grandpa in the corner) the kids handed out the gifts until each of us had a stack next to us. Then, one by one we opened a gift, held it up for all to see and giver and receiver alike received complements on their good taste or how well they'd use the gift. And then, on to the next. Oh... with one short tradition between. A ball of wrapping paper tossed at the youngest to deposit in the garbage bag (Brad won that honor for most of his life). About halfway through, we would take a break for more coffee and Christmas cookies (yes, cookies are an acceptable Christmas breakfast). On average? Three hours to open gifts.

Don and I were talking this morning and reliving memories. He remembers his 8 year younger sister Penny coming into his room while it was still dark one Christmas morning and giving an account of everything he and Eric received for Christmas that year. Seems that she decided to get a head start on the unwrapping. I remember opening gifts in the basement rec room in our house on Elmwood Avenue. I was probably in 4th or 5th grade and all I wanted was a chemistry set. We opened all the gifts and I came to the end of my pile and still no chemistry set. I remember the feeling when I was excited about all I had received, but sad because I really wanted that chemistry set (apparently looking at fly legs through a microscope held some appeal during those days). Then...surprise... it seems that a package with my name on it had "mistakenly" been placed in Chris' pile. Life was so good again, and the fly legs were within sight!

This morning we are at home, just Don, Chelsea and I. I was thinking that it wouldn't be Christmas without all the hustle and people. But surprise... it's still Christmas, just different. We slowly opened and ooh-ed and ahh-ed and enjoyed the receiving and giving. I miss everyone and can't wait until tomorrow to be with them. This year I get to have Christmas twice. Different, but both very good.

As a child, my mother used to make a great coffee cake. It was the standby for every occasion and everyone liked it. That was breakfast in Boiling Springs this morning. Here's the recipe:

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

3/4 c butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 c sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 c sour cream
Filling (below)

Heat oven to 350. Grease tube pan, 10 x 4 inches or two loaf pans, 9x5x3. Combine butter, sugar,eggs and vanilla in large mixer bowl. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes or 300 vigorous strokes by hand. Mix in flour, baking powder, soda and salt, alternately with sour cream. Spread half of batter and sprinkle with half of filling. Repeat.

Bake about 60 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out cleann. Cool slightly in pan before removing.

Filling:Mix 1/2 c brown sugar(packed), 1/2 c finely chopped nuts and 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon (I didn't have nuts, so I increased the brown sugar and cinnamon in the same ratio)

Hint: I used low fat sour cream and only 1/4 c butter. Not quite the moisture I remember, but the flavor is still good.

By the way... it's especially good with a glass of milk, just like I remember it