Christmas Traditions and Peach French Toast
It’s definitely Christmas shopping time. My wife and I are elbow to elbow with the rest of the crazy shoppers out there. We have found some really great deals, and I am excited for this Christmas Eve and and Christmas morning. We have a lot of traditions in our families when it comes to Christmas. For instance, my wife’s family always opens their presents Christmas Eve; where my family opens them Christmas morning. This has worked out brilliantly when you have to get to both households for Christmas. My family opens a “funny” gift on Christmas Eve, and my parents are very good at finding the funniest presents for each of us. This tradition started when as kids we would be so anxious for Christmas morning mom and dad would let us open 1 present on Christmas Eve. We would be so excited to open that present, only to discover that it would be something like a note that says Merry Christmas or the like on it. It was great fun and now we look forward to it every year. In my wife’s family, they lay the presents under the tree as soon as they are wrapped, which is also great because it’s a whole new level of decorations. You get to see Christmas morning every day in December. It’s the traditions and spending time with the family that make Christmas so remarkable.
I watched a special on the History channel about the history of Christmas and how we got a lot of our traditions. I recommend everyone watch it. It explains how the secular world intertwined with the religious world to give us the Christmas of today. Things like why it’s celebrated on the 25th of December and why we have a Christmas tree (thanks, Vikings!). Another cool thing I found out was about the song, “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” Man, that’s a crazy song! You should really listen to the lyrics. Carolers would stand in front of your house singing, and, basically, would continue singing or (worse) invite themselves into your house until you brought them something to appease them, like figgy pudding. It was not a nice thing, as is always portrayed in Christmas movies. It’s the funny things like that, that I enjoyed finding out.
Our last tradition that I have now inherited from my wife (and I am curious if anyone else does this) is that our TV stays on the Hallmark Channel all the month of December. Every show is a Christmas show, and my wife can’t get enough. Some of the shows are very corny, but, I will have to admit, most of them are heart warmingly good. What Christmas traditions do you have?
Peach French Toast
Serves 2
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 2 Tablespoon Water
- 1 1/2 Cups Frozen Peaches
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar
- 2 Slices of Bread
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Pinch Ground Cinnamon/Sugar Mix, or to taste
- Whip Cream
Directions
- In a saucepan, stir together the brown sugar, butter and 1 tablespoon water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
- In another saucepan stir together peaches the other tablespoon of water, sugar and other tablespoon of water and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently until peaches thaw and resemble canned peaches
- Pour the brown sugar mixture into a small baking dish, and tilt the dish to cover the entire bottom. Place peaches in a layer over the sugar coating, then top with slices of bread. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla. Slowly pour over the bread slices to coat evenly. Sprinkle cinnamon over the top. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight (you want the flavors to really meld).
- Remove the dish from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking to come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bread is golden brown.
- Spoon out portions and top with whip cream
- Enjoy!
We always have anyone who isn’t with family over to our house Christmas night for a big feast!
The French toast looks fantastic!
I’m still not sure Thanksgiving actually happened…I can only imagine waking up to this!
Your peach french toast looks amazing! THanks for sharing your family traditions. They make this time of year so much more fun!
Thanks for sharing your holiday traditions. It makes this time of year fun getting to know what everyone is looking forward to doing. We host an open house one week and and then family the next. Our gifts to everyone who supports us.
Jason