Being in Texas it is really traditional to have Tamales on Christmas Eve or even Christmas Day. I LOVE tamales, but have never tried to make them because of the time involved and the fact that I think it is something that has to be done with a group of people, like Grandmas, Sisters and Friends! Sure you can buy tamales but the bonding that takes place while you cook in the kitchen together I think is why people continue to make them at home.

Tamales have been traditional for Christmas Eve  for centuries because they’re portable, easy to store and inexpensive to make for large gatherings like you would have this time of year.

My family is not from Texas originally and are not hispanic, so I did not grow up with the Tamale tradition although we have adopted it since living here. But there are dishes that I can’t make without thinking of my grandmother and vividly remembering making that very dish standing next to her in her kitchen. Broccoli Salad, Pizza Casserole, and Lemon BBQ Meatloaf just to name a few. When I make these recipes I can see and even smell her with me.

These memories are far more important to me than any gift I have ever been given, the memories themselves are the gift. I want to make sure that my kids and someday grandkids have these same memories, making the same foods, that I did with my Grandmother during the Holiday’s and all year long.

This year, grab your kids or nieces, nephews, cousins or maybe even your cat, dog or neighbor, and make some memories cooking traditional food in the kitchen and spending some time together eating and filling the house with good smells!

You can get a Tamale making tutorial HERE.

What are some traditional thing that you make with family, leave a recipe for us to try!  What are some memories that you have?

This is what my dining room looks like right now… It usually doesn’t look much like a dining room as there is no table, just a bunch of shelving and a piano, but today I can’t walk by it and not smile to myself! These are all presents that were donated last night at the cookie exchange! What a wonderful blessing you all are to the kids here in Houston!

A BIG thank you to Samantha and her office for donating a bunch of toys! Crystal and her family for helping with food and toys + the email stating the need in the first place. Also, to all the readers who dropped by with cookies and a toy + LeLee my friend who sent money so I could go shopping for gifts. I can’t not mention my blogging friend Heather, Freebies4Mom, who made the best Rolo Cookies EVER! They were my breakfast. Thank you all so much!!

Tomorrow morning Crystal and her son, plus my kids and myself, are driving down to drop all the toys off. Then to the airport to pick up family and at some point I am hoping my house will magically clean itself!

At least our Elf “Chocolate Budy” behaved himself and only slightly got into the cookies on the table. He did help himself to a little glass of milk and a few cookies and candy. It was a challenge working around him to decorate the table as you can’t touch him or he looses his magical powers. My kids are super protective of him and have eyes like hawks so they notice the slightest movement 🙂

What a wonderful blessing it is to be able to give an extra gift this season to someone to make their Christmas a little brighter. It is a very scary feeling as a parent at Christmas time to wonder what you are going to have for your kids to open on Christmas morning. Even scarier as a child coming into CPS custody at Christmas wondering if Santa will be able to find you this year as you are not even with family. My heart breaks to think of kids having to worry about something like that, although I know that there are far too many that do.

Thank you again for all that you do!