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814-Lancastar Farming, Saturday, Novambar 8, 1997
Time To Plan For Bn
Seven Weeks Unti
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
LEESPORT (Berks Co.) If
you have an image of what the ide
al family and the perfect Christmas
should be, then it’s time to “think
clearly about the rush of it all,”
Phyllis Pellman Good said at
Berks County Extension’s annual
holiday program.
According to Good, seven
weeks until Christmas gives us
enough time to make a choice
about what we want to do and what
is “do-^blc.”
The barrage of ideas for food,
gifts, decorating, and entertaining
offered by Good and other speak
ers will either make the holiday
‘lf it’s more of a burden than fun, then
don’t do it,’ Good said about deciding
whether or not to continue a Christmas
tradition .
season more enjoyable or more
hectic, depending on each person’s
response.
the person who wants to try
everything presented will probably
end up frazzled and short tem
pered, but those who select and
begin what they consider most
important will probably find the
holidays enjoyable.
Good shared selections from a
book she authored, “Christmas
Ideas For Family.” Ideas for decor
ating, food, advent, music, giving,
receiving, shopping, and celebrat
ing focus on things anyone can do
without a lot of expense or major
projects.
“If it’s more of a burden than
fun, then don’t do it,” Good said
about deciding whether or not to
continue a Christmas tradition.
Polish
Holiday Traditions
Susan Szczesniak-Anastasio
and her 3-year-old son Thomas
dressed in native Polish costumes
to share how Christmas is cele
brated in Poland.
Food, decorating, family, and
Phyllis Pellman Good shares Ideas for celebrating Christ*
mas from her book “Christmas Ideas For Families.”
music are as much a part of Polish
tradition as it is in America, Anas
tasio said of the similarities
between the two countries.
“We decorate to the hilt and the
month is full of anticipation and
planning,” she said.
Christmas Eve is considered the
most sacred. There is always a thin
layer of hay placed beneath a crisp
white linen tablecloth to remind
people of where Christ was bom.
An empty place is always set as a
reminder that Christ is a welcomed
guest. A door is always left open as
a sign of welcome as a guest in the
home is considered as Christ in the
home. At the same time, Polish
people strive to serve an even num-
ber of guests because according to
superstition, serving an uneven
number is a foreboding of death to
a family member.
Supper begins when the first star
is sighted in the sky. The host cou
ple begins the meal with the break
ing of unleaven bread which they
exchange with each other and hug
and kiss. Guests follow the
example.
If there has been any animosity
between family members and
guests, it is forgiven and forgotten
at Christmas when good harmony
prevails.
Much of the food served tradi
tionally in Polish homes holds a
symbolic meaning. For example,
poppy seeds is a symbolic gesture
of a good night’s sleep and honey
the sweetness of toil.
Fay Slrickler, home economist,
shared many Polish recipes. Here
are a few:
i able Season
I Christmas
Nut Or Poppy Seed Rolls
1 pound butter
1 small yeast dissolved in 'A cup
warm water
4 cups flour
4 eggs, beaten
Mix butter and flour with pastry
blender, add eggs and yeast Knead
for 8-10 minutes until it does not
stick to hands. Shape into a roll and
wrap in cloth and refrigerate
overnight
Divide dough into 4 portions.
Roll dough on granulated sugar
and spread filling on dough. Roll
like jelly roll. Bake at 3SO degrees
for 30 minutes. Before putting
rolls in oven, brush top with a
beaten egg.
Nut filling:
IK cups nuts, chopped
'A cup sugar
'A cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
Mix nuts, sugar, milk, and butter
and boil until thick (approximately
10-15 minutes). Cool.
Poppy seed filling:
3 /« pound poppy seed
A cup raisins
1 cup sugar
'A cup milk
1 tablespoon honey or molasses
Mix poppy seed, raisins, sugar,
milk, honey or molasses. Boil until
thick, approximately 15-20
minutes. Let cool before
spreading.
Workshop participants sampled Polish Tone and Nut Roll made, from left, by Mar
ianne Gavel, Fay Stiickler, and Greta Scully.
Debbie Weaver, left, and Debbie Hartman display gourmet pantry gifts that are easy
and fun to make In the kitchen.
(Turn to Pag* B 16)
Susan Szczesnlak-Anastasio and her son Thomas dress
In native Polish costumes to share how Christmas is cele
brated In Poland.
A'
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