Having originated in England, it’s not surprising that the American colonists brought this drink to the new world with them. Like many dishes from their native land, it was sure to bring a sense of familiarity and comfort. And because many of the colonists kept cows, and chickens to subsist in this untamed world, eggs and cream were almost always available.

It’s charm has not worn off over the last 221 years with versions like the aged eggnog that Brandy makes each year to celebrate the season. Exclaiming, “it ain’t Christmas until this eggnog gets broken out!”

Serious Eats

An Eggnog to Die For

The Art of Mixology

Aged Eggnog - Nutmeg Nanny

Aged Eggnog - Alton Brown

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The tart, red cranberry is a beacon of brightness when the days are short and gray. We love this luscious berry in all manner of meals but also as a simple decoration to grace the holiday seasons. In today’s 20th Alimentary Advent Calendar episode, we go into a favorite recipe that has graced Kim’s holiday table for many years.

2014 Botany Advent: Day Eight - Cranberry

DIY Cranberry Strands from Oceanspray 

The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen, Sean Sherman with Beth Dooley

Eating in America, Waverly Root & Richard Rochemont

The Oxford Companion to Food, Alan Dodson

Kim’s Favorite Cranberry & Orange Relish - As We Eat Journal 

Vegan Pemmican Bars- Blissful Hiker

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Tamales are a food that inherently demands community. Labor intensive and time consuming, many hands make light work of this dish. It’s a food that can bring families together both physically and metaphorically. It’s a food that contains stories of heritage and culture. A food that was once offered to the gods and is now considered an offering of gratitude to family, friends, and those less fortunate. It’s a food with religious facets and a food that symbolizes the history of a people and their culture.

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Yolanda Marmolejo

The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink

Too Many Tamales

Que vivan los tamales!: Food and the Making of Mexican Identity

Tamales 101: A Beginner's Guide to Making Traditional Tamales

Red Pork Tamales - Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Mexican Pork Tamales - Goodie Godmother

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Like the people who make up the United States, holiday cookies and biscuits come in all flavors, shapes, sizes and from all corners of the world. Whether they are rolled, pressed, dropped, or cut into shapes - we seek out certain favorites because the sugar and spices recall warm memories. Grab your favorite cup of cheer and curl up with us as we go wandering down cookie Memory Lane.

As We Eat family

Food Timeline

Betty Crocker’s Cookbook (Kim’s go-to source)

Better Homes and Gardens, New Cook Book (10th Edition)

Kolaczki - Season Thyme

Ranger Cookies - Real Housemoms

Buckeye Cookies - Sugar Spun Run

Spritz Cookie - Sally’s Baking Addiction

Ginger Cookies - As We Eat 

Hermit Cookies - The Lemon Bowl

Pfeffernusse - Barefeet in the Kitchen

Thumbprint Cookie - Sugar Spun Run

Russian Tea Cakes - Natasha’s Kitchen

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Leigh discusses her memories of Christmas Day dinner. After conferring with her sister, what the dinner actually consisted of, she shares some of the lore behind the reasons that ham graces so many holiday tables. She also offers a PSA about the importance of documenting your holiday traditions before they are lost to time.

Recipes:

Sweet Soup (Sot Suppe) - As We Eat

Lefse - The Spruce Eats

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Kim’s friend Sarah harbors a cherished memory of her family’s annual “Cookie Day.” Among the many varieties of cookies made every year - peanut butter kiss cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and more - Sarah’s father would make rosettes, filigreed cookie-like fritters made with special iron molds, that reflect his Swedish heritage.

Sources:

Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets, 2015

Recipes:

Persian Rosettes - Family Spice

Grandma Greene’s Rosettes- As We Eat

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When Michelle reached out to As We Eat to discuss traditions including time spent in Abu Dhabi as well as her Filipino background, we of course said, “yes, please.” She talks about sharing holidays and special occasions with her UAE “family” to deeply rooted beliefs in her Filipino culture.

Mentioned in this episode:

Recipes:

Pancit - Pickled Plum

Filipino Pineapple Ham - Kawaling Pinoy

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Christmas in the Philippines is a joyful celebration punctuated by feasts, especially on Nochebuena, or “The Good Night,” and for Filipinos living abroad, it is challenging to find or even create the familiar flavors of home. Behind today’s 14th Alimentary Advent Calendar Door is a story about what it takes to bridge the gap between your country of origin and your new home, especially at the holidays.

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Join Leigh as she shares the symbolism of a bread that is central to a Swedish holiday during the winter Season. Discover how the Silk Road, and Italian martyr, and pagan rites converge in the feast day known as St. Lucia’s Day.

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For Kim’s friend, Lacy, Christmas fruitcake is a misunderstood treat. Her family’s version is imbued with fermented brandy and fruits and a small surprise about what happens after the kids are put to bed. Today we uncover why she’s taking up the mantle of her family’s traditional Brandied Fruitcake recipe with a sentiment that is all too relatable.

We would love to connect with you

AsWeEat.com, on Instagram @asweeat, join our new As We Eat community on Facebook, or subscribe to the As We Eat Journal.

Do you have a great idea 💡 for a show topic, a recipe 🥘 that you want to share, or just say “hi”👋🏻?  Send us an email at [email protected]

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