Family Traditions

My daughter recently interviewed me for a homework project.  The homework was to find out about her ancestry and the family traditions we still keep going.

My side of the family is basically a "Heinz 57 Variety".  A little bit of this, a little bit of that.  Her father's side has a strong Scottish background. His grandmother came over on a boat with her family when she was a young girl.

One of the Scottish traditions his family has kept alive, is called "first footing".  The first person that crosses your doorstep, after the new year, has to bring you a piece of coal or a piece of silver.This is to bring you good luck the remainder of the year. Since we all share a good sense of humor, we like to try to find the largest piece of coal we can.  It has to be displayed all year, for everyone that enters the home to see.  It is also said that if a person, with red hair, crosses your doorstep first, you will have bad luck all year.  I don't know why, unless there is a long standing feud between the Scottish and the Irish. (maybe like the Hatfields and the McCoys)

Another tradition, that we have started is the Thanksgiving tablecloth.  We purchased a smooth white tablecloth and each year everyone signs their name in pencil. We put the date on one of the corners. Each year, we add the new date above last years date. The tablecloth gets embroidered each year in a different color. The signatures and the date, for each year, are all done in the same color, so you can look at it every year and remember who was there. The color is changed every year to distinguish one year from the next.

The first year we started this, my daughter decided she would draw a huge turkey in the middle and write, "Happy Thanksgiving,"  across the top in block lettering. Since, I do all the stitching by hand, I decided that she needed to help with this one, so she knows how time consuming it is. Needless to say, her creative juices weren't as "large" the next year.

We enjoy looking at the tablecloth each year and reminiscing about previous years festivities. I hope this gives you a new tradition idea to start in you own home.

Hot Cheesy Cauliflower Soup

Hot Cheesy Cauliflower Soup

1 C chopped green onion

1 T olive oil

4 C chicken broth

16 oz. cauliflower florets

1/4 C all-purpose flour

1 1/2 C shredded Pepper Jack Cheese

1/4 C roasted red peppers

1/2 t salt

1/4 t hot pepper seasoning

1.  Saute onion in oil in saucepan until tender (@ 3 min.)
2. Add 3 C broth to saucepan, bring to boil. Add cauliflower, return to boiling. Reduce heat to medium; cook about 6 minutes or until almost tender. 
3. Whisk together flour and remaining broth. Stir into saucepan and bring to boil. Cook; stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. 
4. Remove soup from heat. Add cheese; stirring until melted. Add roasted red peppers and seasonings.  (It says to break pepper with a wooden spoon, but I cut them beforehand)

When I multiply x4, I use two heads of cauliflower.