Comments on Life in the Past Lane: Holiday traditions: Food, family & fun

Thanks for stopping by, Sarah! Hope you have a Mer...

2011-12-04T17:44:47.455-08:00

Thanks for stopping by, Sarah! Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

The door is always open for you, Sarah J--we left ...

2011-12-04T17:23:43.870-08:00

The door is always open for you, Sarah J--we left a candle burning in the window to help you find the way! Happy Holidays : )

Sorry I'm late for the party. I loved this bl...

2011-12-04T17:00:28.777-08:00

Sorry I'm late for the party. I loved this blog and the recipes--yum! The post was just beautiful.

Jessica, it has been a real pleasure for me to spe...

2011-12-01T18:01:27.871-08:00

Jessica, it has been a real pleasure for me to spend time here today with you and all our friends who stopped by to "sit a spell". Wonderful memories and wonderful folks : )

AN OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS RECIPE

1 cup love
3 Christmas carols
1 special Christmas party with
friends and family
2 bunches of presents to open
1 plate of favorite cookies
1 cozy fire to warm us
1 cup hot chocolate
1 large decorated Christmas tree
2 dashes of joy
1 sprinkle of peace on earth
1/2 cup memories

Mix together to make a recipe for the best Christmas there ever could be.

Thanks again everyone! A very Merry Christmas to a...

2011-12-01T17:41:06.782-08:00

Thanks again everyone! A very Merry Christmas to all and I wish you a Blessed New Year!

Thanks everyone for posting and sharing your stori...

2011-12-01T15:46:52.473-08:00

Thanks everyone for posting and sharing your stories! I did not expect to get home so late to respond, but did check in remotely all day.

And thank you, Virginia. This was a fantastic post!

Hi, Laura! Thank you! I wish you and Randy and the...

2011-12-01T12:29:12.336-08:00

Hi, Laura! Thank you! I wish you and Randy and the boys a very happy holiday season : )

Marilyn--thank you so much for taking time to visit! I know that you are very busy right now with the release of your wonderful book, "A Summer in Europe". Marvelous read! Happy Holidays : )

Celia, thank you so much for your time and your lovely comment. You are also very busy with so many blogs and book releases! Happy Holidays : )

Thank you, Cheryl! Those old post cards are really works of art--wonderful memories of days gone by! Have a very happy holiday season : )

Caroline--thank you--you're the best! I can always count on you for a great story! Have wonderful holiday this year : )

Beth--best wishes with your Good Reads group--sounds very interesting!

Thank you, Mary! Merry Christmas & Have a great New Year : )

Great post! I'm going to save the link and com...

2011-12-01T11:37:47.459-08:00

Great post! I'm going to save the link and come back for recipes. The Roasted Red Pepper Dip and the Apple Butter Cupcakes really appeal to me :) I also love the vintage postcards. Thanks, Virginia and Jessica. Merry Christmas!

I wish my delicate digestion would allow me to ind...

2011-12-01T10:14:15.514-08:00

I wish my delicate digestion would allow me to indulge in more of these tempting dishes, Virginia. I love the old fashioned cards too. We have some saved in the family. Yes Jessica, I do live in one of the most beautiful places and would love to chat more with you. Also, I started a goodreads group for American historical romance and would love to have you join us and anyone else who's interested. http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/55572.American_Historical_Romance

Virginia, you are one of my favorite people and I ...

2011-12-01T08:38:23.546-08:00

Virginia, you are one of my favorite people and I continue to be amazed at your resourcefulness. I loved the vintage postcards and have a funny story about those. One year a friend found a box of vintage Christmas postcards for sale and bought them. He included one with each Christmas card as a treat to friends. We told him how happy we were to receive it, that it was from the year my mom was born, we'd save it forever, and how thoughtful and clever he was. He said "You got the idea!" He also said about half the people sent them back because they didn't know why he included them and thought it was a mistake; others told him they tossed them in the trash!

You reminded me I used to make spritz cookies for our daughters. I stopped when they were old enough to help make snickerdoodles, their favorite. Thanks for reminding me of happy memories!

Love the postcards!

2011-12-01T08:15:29.963-08:00

Love the postcards!

Virginia--how wonderful. I adore the vintage photo...

2011-12-01T08:10:37.967-08:00

Virginia--how wonderful. I adore the vintage photos/cards. I have a friend who once owned an antique store, and when she sold it, she kept all the vintage postcards--Christmas, Valentine's, etc. Every year for my birthday, she gave me some very old book and a postcard. Now I have a collection.
When our kids were young, I made spritz cookies with one of those metal plunger items. My speciality was chocolate spritz cookies..deep, dark, rich. My daughter now makes them with some newer gadgets--all kinds, like those on the plate.
Thanks for the trip into the past--loved it.

What a lovely post, and with all of those deliciou...

2011-12-01T08:03:54.350-08:00

What a lovely post, and with all of those delicious recipes, too!! Virginia, thanks so much for sharing them (Snow Ice Cream!) and, Jessica, your book Noble Cause sounds wonderful. Best wishes to you both for a happy start to the holiday season :).

Virginia and Jessica, Beautiful blog and post! I a...

2011-12-01T07:39:32.200-08:00

Virginia and Jessica, Beautiful blog and post! I always light up like a Christmas tree, in the words of dear Virginia, when I see she's in the kitchen AND writing:) These recipes and the thoughts behind them are simply wonderful! I'm adding a few to our holiday menus, especially the red pepper dip! Bless you both this holiday season. Off to look up Jessica's book!

Hey, Tory! Roasted Red Pepper Dip makes a colorful...

2011-12-01T06:18:04.281-08:00

Hey, Tory! Roasted Red Pepper Dip makes a colorful dish for the holiday table--tastes good too!

See you later this month at "Romance With an Attitude" : )

I've made the roasted red pepper dip before an...

2011-12-01T05:49:43.981-08:00

I've made the roasted red pepper dip before and loved it!

Thanks for another great post Virginia!

Tory

Beth - What an awesome heritage you have, and you ...

2011-12-01T05:42:29.517-08:00

Beth - What an awesome heritage you have, and you live in one of the most beautiful places in the country! I am envious. Would love to hear more about your Civil War connection sometime!

Hi, Beth! Thanks for visiting--I am sure you will ...

2011-12-01T05:37:21.952-08:00

Hi, Beth! Thanks for visiting--I am sure you will "right at home" here. How interesting about your connection to the Civil War museum!

FROSTED RED VELVET COOKIES

1 (18.25-ounce) package red velvet cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons water
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 (16-ounce) container cream cheese frosting

holiday sprinkles or colored sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat baking sheets lightly with cooking spray or line pans with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and water; mix well. Stir in white chocolate chips and drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Cool slightly and remove to wire racks. When cookies are cooled completely, frost with cream cheese frosting. If desired, top cookies with holiday sprinkles or colored sugar. Serve immediately or place in airtight containers. Allow frosting to "set" before storing cookies.

What a beautiful post, Virginia. So many delightfu...

2011-12-01T05:15:28.396-08:00

What a beautiful post, Virginia. So many delightful stories and recipes. And Jessica, it's good to visit your lovely blog. Your Civil war novel sounds awesome. I'm a Virginian living in the Shenandoah Valley. My ancestors were among the first Scots-Irish settlers here, and our family is steeped in the Civil War. We have a lot of letters, journals, photographs, stories handed down, you name it. My cousin's husband was the director of that Civil War museum in Richmond.

Jessica, my friend, thank you! It is not only a gr...

2011-12-01T03:50:51.027-08:00

Jessica, my friend, thank you! It is not only a great pleasure for me to be here, it is also an honor. I am such a fan of yours! "Noble Cause" is one of my all-time favorite books--I could go on and on about what a very special book it is, but I will let my review say it for me: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2M1AIBGDER25M/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Happy Holidays to all : ) I look forward to hearing some great family stories and traditions today!

Thank you, Virginia for this wonderful post! I can...

2011-12-01T02:39:22.168-08:00

Thank you, Virginia for this wonderful post! I can't believe I'm waiting for snow now so that I can make Snow Ice Cream!