Christmas Traditions

With Christmas fast approaching, my thoughts turn to past and present Christmas traditions. My kitchen turns into something resembling a small bakery, with wonderful smells of fabulous Christmas treats filling the air. With fondness I think back to how these traditions became a part of my life.

Decades ago I was a young married woman, looking forward to spending the first Christmas with my in-law family.  Just starting out in married life, buying expensive gifts for everyone wasn’t an option. What do you buy for those who already have everything anyway? They didn’t need anymore “stuff”. I loved to bake, family and friends seemed to enjoy my creations, so I got busy baking Christmas goodies for my new family.

The response to my homemade gifts was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, and thus a tradition was born. As the years progressed I fine-tuned my tradition, baking treats to give away each Christmas. I learned which treats were the favorites. Sometimes, I added homemade jams and jellies in decorative jars. Some of my favorite Christmas recipes are family favorites that have been passed down through the generations. These recipes bring back fond memories of childhood holidays, spent with family.

In the weeks preceding Christmas, I’d like to share some of my favorite recipes with you. I hope you gain as much enjoyment from creating these treats as I have. Today’s recipe is delicious and very simple to make.

Tiger Butter

1 pound white chocolate melting wafers

2 heaping tablespoons peanut butter

Approximately 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pour white chocolate melting wafers into glass dish with lid (casserole dish). Place in microwave and melt chocolate at high setting for 2 minutes (check often as the chocolate burns easily). Stir melted chocolate until smooth. Mix in peanut butter and stir until chocolate mixture is smooth. Pour out onto cookie sheets lined with wax paper. Spread out over waxed paper to about 1/8 of an inch thickness.  Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips in microwave and stir until smooth. Drizzle or drop small amounts over white chocolate mixture on cookie sheets. Using knife, swirl dark chocolate mixture through white chocolate, until desired effect is achieved. Let chocolate harden. Cut into squares when hardened.