+ IN THE Kitchen
Holiday Sweets Every winter holiday has its own signature dessert from pies and puffs to cakes and cookies. By Jessica Gilbreath
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he best holiday memories come from spending time in the kitchen with loved ones, rolling cookie dough or mixing pie filling. There is always that one recipe that comes to mind while preparing the holiday meal; a dish that always has a spot on the table and in our hearts. For many, that’s dessert, and every holiday celebrated around this time of year has its own traditions, customs and favorite sweet recipes.
fried honey puffs from the Mediterranean region, particularly Spain, Greece and Turkey. Depending on the region, these delicious honey puffs are made in a variety of ways. Some are filled with jelly, while others are sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar or tossed in a sweet honey or citrus syrup. Other treats include rugelach, a rolled pastry with a sweet filling that resembles a croissant, and gelt, which are gold-wrapped chocolate coins handed out to children during the holiday.
Christmas Cookies
Kwanzaa Confections
Diwali Desserts
This holiday season, use these ideas from various cultures to fill your table with both sweets and love.
There are a variety of traditional Christmas desserts, including fruitcake and yule logs, but for many families, Christmas cookies are the staple for this holiday. Modern Christmas cookies can trace their history to recipes for Medieval Europe Christmas biscuits. These treats include ingredients such as cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, almonds and dried fruit. One of the most common (and delicious) treats that appear around Christmas is ginger snaps and gingerbread men.
Diwali, or the festival of lights, is a five-day Hindu festival. Days before it begins, the females of the family start preparing traditional delicacies for everyone to enjoy. On Diwali, there is a custom to exchange sweets with friends and neighbors so, naturally, Diwali can’t even be imagined without its traditional desserts and homemade sweets. One of the most common and loved desserts of Diwali is badam phirni, which is made mostly of almond, rice flour and milk, and is an irresistible festival favorite.
Hanukkah Desserts
This eight-day holiday is a time to celebrate Jewish tradition and faith. Like most great holidays, it is accompanied by a delicious feast. Hanukkah bimuelos or loukoumades are 8
Central Florida Lifestyle | November 2020
For Kwanzaa celebrations, a homemade sweet potato pie makes a delectable dessert that also honors ancestry and tradition. The dessert honors the great black chemist and botanist George Washington Carver, whose landmark work highlighted dozens of uses for the sweet potato, which is now recognized as one of the most nutritious natural foods. Including it on the holiday table is a tribute to culture and tradition.
