A Frank Zimmerman Christmas

As I look back on our favorite holiday memories, my wife and our 2 daughters have kept the same tradition with their grandparents (my wife's parents) ever since they were very young.  Every Christmas eve we get together for soup and salad - we always have 2 soups - but one has to be chicken broth with meat filled tortellini for Grandpa Love.  Then we all attend evening worship service at our church with the highlight always his rendition of "Silent Night."  Christmas morning is the opening of presents.  This is not just a brief event - but a one at a time opening - starting with stuffed stockings from over the fireplace, and then opening presents.  Grandpa's comments are always the favorite "oh is that ever neat!"  For several years we even video taped the opening of presents until video went out of style.

This year will be bittersweet as grandpa passed away this past September.  Both girls will be home for Christmas eve and Christmas day, so we will continue the tradition with Grandma Love - but it will not be quite the same without Grandpa.  Maybe we will break out one of the videos or listen to a lasting treasure we have - a CD that our daughter recorded a few years ago of Grandpa singing many of his favorite songs, including "Silent Night."  But life goes on, and we will start new traditions as we anxiously await the birth of our first grandchild - a baby girl due in late April!

In closing, below is our favorite holiday recipe from my mother (deceased 10 yrs ago) for a Scotch Short Bread (recipe handed down through her descendants from Scotland.)

1 1/4 lb flour (4 cups)
1 lb butter   
8 oz sugar (1 cup)

Cream the sugar & butter together.  Gradually add the flour.  Press lightly into pan.  Prick with fork as for pie crust.  Bake in low oven = 300 for about 1 1/2 hours.  Cut into pieces while hot.  Cool and remove from pan.

Happy Holidays!
Frank Zimmerman, Agent