Holidazzle, Arizona style

Every year since 1992, over 300,000 spectators converge on downtown Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall to celebrate the Holidazzle Parade. It's an annual event that's not to be missed. Sponsored by local businesses, participants are all locals. It brings community together year after year, delighting young and old alike.

 

 

 

Adults, kiddies and tiny tots come bundled in jackets with furry hoods, warm knitted mittens and scarves, carrying blankets to sit on or wrap around themselves as they are delighted by one float after another.

Beautiful light displays slowly advance down the mall, marchers warming heart and soul with smiles, waves and laughter. It is a winter tradition bringing folks from miles around to enjoy the hour-long festive event.

 

Well, here in the Arizona desert, we have our own Holidazzle. Okay, a bit smaller in scale, but the lights, decorations, waves and laughter are all there, not to mention the holiday spirit.

 

That is white rock on the ground, not snow!

Yes, folks, it's a golf cart parade!

Sixteen golf carts joined in this year, weaving in and around every street in the resort park. Some had lighted Christmas trees on top, and all were decorated with lights, wreaths, jingle bells and garlands.

Christmas music played from a few of the carts and if you were lucky, one would pass by throwing Christmas candies. Why, even Santa himself was there, riding in a cart alongside Mrs. Claus.

No Parkas found here; no folks bundled in blankets, no frosty breaths. No snow, no rubbing hands together, no stomping feet. Arizona's answer to winter.

Although I miss the Holidazzle parades at home in Minnesota, this one warmed my heart all the same.

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season and taking time to participate in a few festive events.

 

Christmas and cactus

Since this is our first holiday season in Arizona, we were wondering what it would be like.

No snow. No icicles. No Parkas. No winter boots, mufflers, and fleece-lined mittens. Surely it would be so different.

Well, we've discovered it is....and it isn't.

People are out decorating their houses in grand style. Icicle lights, twinkle lights, wire reindeer, Santas, angels and snowmen, all lit up at dusk. The evening news on television features houses not to be missed when you're out and about at night looking for dazzling holiday light displays.

Malls are decorated with giant Christmas trees. Holiday music is playing everywhere from grocery stores to department stores to post offices. Shopping specials are offered everywhere.

Eggnog is on the grocery store shelves, along with red and green sprinkles for cookies, candied fruits, pecans, specialty bread mixes and holiday cookie cutters in star, reindeer, gingerbread men and tree shapes.

Toy drives are being held. The Nutcracker Suite ballet is performing at the Mesa Arts Center. Holiday baking is going on in kitchens everywhere.

Just like home in Minne-snow-ta.

Except the twinkle lights are wrapped around palm trees. Wreaths are draped around Saguaro cactus plants. Holiday shopping is done in short sleeves and Capri pants. Christmas trees are all artificial. Outdoor decorating is done leisurely, with bare hands.

Neighbors are greeting one another stringing outdoor lights, without frost coming out of their mouths. Baking is done with patio doors open so all the aromas drift into your house, providing inspiration to get going yourself.

On our block, each house has a wooden Santa standing in front. So when you drive down the street, you are greeted by twenty Santas waving at you.

This is our own Santa.

And our snowman sits in our rock alongside our home.

So you see why Christmas in Arizona is at once the same and then again different than Christmas in Minnesota.

It is still the same special, magical time of year when spirits are kinder and gentler, and where the birth of the Newborn Babe of Bethlehem is celebrated.

Let it begin. Both here in Arizona, and wherever this season finds you.

Cranberry tea

Now that you've made your cranberry tree, it's time to relax with a piping hot cup of cranberry tea.

One of my favorite holiday recipes was given
to me by a friend, and former librarian of our local library. What's so interesting about this cranberry tea recipe is that it actually contains no tea.

Maybe it should be called Christmas Tea. Even if it has no tea...

So, although it's anybody's guess how it got its name, cranberry tea is so delicious and soothing.

Here's how to make it:

In a large pan, boil together for five minutes over medium heat: 1 to 1-1/4 cups sugar, 2 cups water and a 6-inch cinnamon stick.

Add a gallon of cranberry juice cocktail, a 16-ounce can of orange juice concentrate, and a scant 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice.

Simmer and enjoy the aroma of the wonderful blend of spices.

After a busy day, when you're feeling overwhelmed and don't know how you will possibly get everything done, and life is just plain hectic, and you're almost wishing the holidays were over, kick off your shoes, heat up a cup of this holiday drink till it's very hot, sit back, slowly sip, and relax.

Ahhhhh.....that's better.

For entertaining, it's very pretty served in a clear glass cup. I have used it for serving with lingonberry cake or nut breads.

Happy Holidays!

Making a cranberry tree

Many years ago, my mother and I enjoyed
a holiday tour of the Alexander Ramsey House in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Alexander Ramsey was Minnesota's first governor, originally governing the territory, and then the state of Minnesota when it joined the Union.

One of the nation's best preserved Victorian-era homes, the Ramsey House offers a glimpse into life in the 1870s. Anna Ramsey, wife of the governor, greets you in costume, as do the guides dressed as her servants.

As you pass through the home's kitchen, the smells of cinnamon and clove fill the air as fresh cookies, made from recipes of the 1800s, are offered.

But what caught our eye was the cran-
berry tree decoration on the dining room table.

Typical of the holiday decorations of the day, it was elegant in its simplicity.

Mom and I studied it carefully and then went home to make one!

Here's how:

You'll need about 2 pounds of fresh or thawed cranberries, whole cloves, round (not flat) toothpicks broken in half, and a green Styrofoam cone.

Beginning at the bottom of the cone, push the sharp end of the toothpick about half-way through the stem end of the cranberry. Then remove the toothpick and put the thicker end
of the toothpick into the hole you just made. Then push it into the Styrofoam cone.

Do this around the whole base; then continue to do the same on the next row up and so on until you reach the top. Use the larger cranberries for the bottom of the cone and smaller ones as you work your way up. Place a large cranberry at the top of the cone.

In between rows, where you see any blank spots, put the stem end of a whole clove into the cone. You get the added advantage of a most wonderful smell.

I found that when finished, the cranberry tree needs to be kept in a cool place. I put mine on our enclosed front porch until ready to use, then brought it out to decorate the table when entertaining. I displayed it on a clear, glass plate with small boughs of fresh greens around it.

Although I didn't try this, you can put a bit of egg wash (egg white beaten until frothy), using a pastry brush, over the tips of the cranberries, and sprinkle sugar on it while the egg wash is still wet.

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season and will enjoy a bit of Christmas-past with this simple, homemade decoration.

Happy Holidays!

Hallelujah!

We welcomed the holiday season last night
by attending a musical, Hallelujah! at North Heights Lutheran Church in Arden Hills,
a 45-minute drive from our house.

We went with three other couples who are
long-time good friends. We celebrate the season each year by attending a special holiday production. This is the one we selected for this year's tradition, and we were glad we did.


This is no ordinary musical. But then, it is no ordinary church.

I'm sure it is the largest church I have ever seen. Although it is really a huge auditorium,
it is warm and inviting all the same. It has wonderfully cozy seats with ample space between rows for walking through, and acoustics that are second to none. The sound was amazing.

There is no "stage." The production, with a cast of hundreds, including children, takes place all over: on balconies, in the aisles, on a real skating rink, even from the ceiling.

Hallelujah! features stunning holiday music
by very talented musicians, including an orchestra, several choirs and singers, creative dancing, graceful ice skating, and flying angels in flowing white to announce the birth of Jesus. The lighting and visual effects were spectacular.

It was fast-paced, joyful, uplifting and a simply delightful way to usher in the holidays with good friends.

Hallelujah! was not only inspiring, it really captured the true beauty of the season: the newborn Babe of Bethlehem.

Christmas cards

I just put the last stamp on the last card for this holiday season, sending my friends and family a festive Christmas greeting.

Each year, I review my practice of sending Christmas cards. I hear more and more people have given up on this long-standing tradition. The day will surely come when it is another thing of the past.

It doesn't take me long to realize I am not yet ready to abandon this tradition. Something would be missing from Christmas without it.

To not connect with people who are important in my life, even if it means connecting in a tangible way only once a year, would be a significant loss to me.

And as I address each envelope and sign the card, I think fondly of the recipient and how thankful I am for the richness each has added to my life. Each in a unique way.

I wondered where the tradition of sending Christmas cards ever started. So I Googled.

I learned that Christmas cards began when school children in England drew Christmas greetings for their parents. And in 1843, the first director of London's Victoria and Albert Museum commissioned an artist to create the first professional Christmas card so that he could send greetings to his friends.

Christmas cards can serve as bridges to keep friendships alive. I think it is fitting at Christmas time, when we celebrate the joyous birth of the Christ child, to let loved ones know they are valued by us, as we are valued by the Baby Jesus.

I also love to receive Christmas cards. I go to my mailbox in anticipation, wondering who I will hear from today. Maybe you?

Not everyone has e-mail. Or is on Facebook. Those are perhaps efficient vehicles for communicating, but they don't express the same, gracious messages as a lovely card. Pen and ink have been forgotten in this era of keystrokes and send buttons.

So I'll continue this Christmas card tradition, hopefully for many years to come.

'Tis December

So now that it's December,
I can talk about Christmas openly. And decorate my front door.

And turn up the volume on my Christmas CDs. And bake Christmas cookies.

Doing so in November brings odd, disapproving looks from people who think October is Halloween, November is Thanksgiving, and December is Christmas.

I got out my holiday recipes to see what I was in the mood to make today and decided on "Peanut Blossoms." They're the peanut butter cookies with the chocolate kiss (or star) on top. I have made them every year for many years.

Except now I cheat.

I use a package of Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix. It comes in a pouch. So easy that I'll never make them from "scratch" again. I might try the same for sugar cookies.

Then I'll make turtle candy. And cheat again. Here's an easy way:

You'll need a bag of miniature pretzels. During the holidays, you can often find them in star and tree shapes, as well as the traditional knot shape. You'll also need a package of Rolo candies, and pecan halves.

Place the pretzels on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Unwrap the Rolos and put one on top of each pretzel. Place in an oven pre-heated to 250 degrees for four minutes.

Remove from the oven and press a pecan half on top of the chocolate which will squish it down and cover the pretzel holes. Then put the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for a short time. Waa-lah! Turtles!

Here is a tip that isn't really cheating. It's just getting the most for your effort. I make miniature cut-out gingerbread men with a small gingerbread man cookie cutter. Making them "bite-size" makes so many more out of a batch of gingerbread dough. I use those silver ball decorations for the eyes and add a couple for buttons.

So now that my oven is preheated, I'm ready to get started. And if anyone comes to the door, it's okay that I'm baking Christmas cookies.

After all, it is December.

Elva Kaffe

If you drive down a quiet country road, not far from where I live, you'll come to a small area known as Kost. Many around here know Kost for its dam, great for fishing and a pictur-
esque hike. A road sign indicates there is a pottery shop nearby.

Drive just a bit further and you'll come to a quaint, white country church. You have now arrived at Kost Evangelical Free Church.


When Kost was settled in the 1880s by a large migration of Scandinavians to America, they formed clusters which met in homes for the purpose of worship. From there, the Kost church was established in 1886.

The church continues to honor its heritage and share it with the community. Once every three years, they host a festive Scandinavian event called, Elva Kaffe, inviting the people of the area to come for coffee and cookies as they begin their preparations for the holidays.

My friend, Mary Kay, and I attended last Saturday. What an elegant, charming and absolutely enjoyable event this is. What a delightful way to spend a crisp, sunny Saturday morning.

We were greeted at the door by a man in Swedish costume. Then we noticed all the hosts and hostesses were also dressed in clothing representative of the various provinces of their homelands.

Scandinavian decorations were everywhere. Hearts are traditionally used, as the symbol of love, reminding us all to be generous to one another during the Christmas season, as well as all year long. Pines, the symbol of eternal life, and pine trees are also commonly used.

All four Scandinavian countries were represented in various craft displays in a large room: Hardanger, wood carving, Julgranskorg (woven hearts), Huvudia (woven head wreaths), rug braiding, birch and vine crafts, rosemaling, spinning, basket weaving, and more.

Flags from all four countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Around the craft display room, there were demonstrations of Scandinavian foods, with samples being offered. All demonstrators were in costume, and you could hear Swedish being spoken. We tasted most all of the wonderful foods: abelskiver, krumkake, smørrebrød, krem, pepparkaka, köttbollar, fruit soppa, plättar and lefse.

I grew up with Scandinavian food and customs. But if you don't know what any or all of those are, let me just say that all are delicious. We were given a recipe book with directions for making these wonderful treats ourselves. Instructions were also provided for making some of the holiday crafts at home.

The Swedes say: Var sa god. Be so kind as to come to the table for a cup of coffee.

Across the hall from the demonstration room was their Kaffe Stuga. Tables were set for us to enjoy coffee. An elegant serving table, complete with silver service and crystal cake plates, was prepared with Scandinavian cookies, Jul kage (Christmas bread) and Kranse Kaka.


A tower of individual, graduated pastry rings is used to make Kranse Kaka, traditionally served at weddings.



Decorated with the country's flag, it is served from the top ring down and is broken into pieces and eaten as a cookie. It has a wonderful almond flavor, and uses only three ingredients: almond paste, granulated sugar, and egg whites.

It will be another three years before we can enjoy such a festive celebration again. You can believe that Mary Kay and I already have our calendars marked for 2013.

Tusen tak (thank you) to the Kost Church for hosting this wonderful event.

We are in the holiday spirit already. God Jul!