Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Holiday Recipes

What is a celebration without food? We're celebrating Christmas In July in the shop right now and I thought this would be a good time to share some of our favorite celebration recipes - foods that we make when we have a get-together. It's a perfect time to collect some new recipes and try them out as we enjoy summer picnics or reunions. And get a head start on our menus for Christmas parties. I thought I would start the ball rolling with a very simple recipe that I received from my sister. For many years our family would get together at Christmas and have a hors devours table as a simple but delicious fare after gift opening. We cooks each had our traditional favorites we would bring. Among my sister's specialities is a Crab Dip that is simple and delicious. I hope that you enjoy it.

Crab Dip

1 8oz. package of Cream of Cheese
1 can Crab Meat
Cocktail Sauce*
Assorted Crackers

Use a small bowl and soften the cream cheese by gently stirring with a spoon until it's smooth and softened slightly (you want it to be easily spread on a cracker but still firm enough to hold it's shape. Place cream cheese on a serving plate and form it into a round, dome shape (your preference to shape but I usually make it about a six inch circle about 1-1/2 inches tall). Open can of crab meat and drain. Gently flake. Cover the cream cheese with the drained, flaked crab meat. Cover the crab meat with a light coating of cocktail sauce. Serve with crackers.

* I personally don't like pre-made cocktail sauces. I make my own. This is one of those recipes that I don't measure, but I usually take about 1/2 cup of ketchup with a 1/2 teaspoon of bottled horseradish. This is adjusted to taste - I like a little "zip" to the sauce but not overpowering. You may wish to double this to 1 cup ketchup to 1 tsp horseradish, depending on the preference to how much sauce you prefer.


Monday, July 14, 2008

John C Fremont Days Parade


Downtown Fremont was the hub of activity the weekend of July 12-13th with John C. Fremont Days. Country Traditions enjoyed the festivities and welcomed all visitors Friday and Saturday with Cool Deals on the Mezzanine on Pfaff machines and served up "Creative Juice" (bottled water) and homemade cookies to visitors. On Sunday we had our "Picnic and Parade" with hot dogs and watermelon while we enjoyed watching the annual Parade go by. It was a fun-filled weekend and we encourage everyone to come to Fremont during John C. Fremont Days and stop in and see us!