Holiday Rituals

 

From Halloween until New Year’s Day, there are numerous times that people gather, enjoy each other’s company and share meals.  These are times when we share our family traditions with our children.  They are specific to our families.  They have personal meaning.

Rituals are different from routines as they have a personal aspect.  Brushing your teeth is a routine thing we do every day.  It’s not a great deal of fun, but we need to do it to avoid cavities, so we do it.  Having family over for a Thanksgiving meal is a ritual.  It is something you plan on every year, and most families look forward to it.  It is celebrated in a specific way based on your family values and your upbringing.  In our house at Thanksgiving, my extended family all come together to eat a great meal after church, hang out in the afternoon and play games and nap.  We then have a light evening meal of leftovers, and call it a day to gear up for shopping the next morning.  It is something we look forward to.  Our children now look forward to it also.  It is a ritual for them.  One they can count on.  One we hope they pass on for generations.

Children need rituals.  It gives them a sense of belonging.  It gives them insight into where they have come from and what is important to their immediate family.  Sometimes it’s the event—and not so much how it happens.  For example, last year my Dad passed away right before Easter.  On Easter, we would usually all go to mass, and then go to my Mom’s house for a ham dinner and a quiet afternoon.  Since no one had time to prepare a big dinner, we ordered pizza after mass, and still enjoyed Easter.  The important fact is that we were all together!  The food wasn’t that important.  Although my Mom refused to have pizza for Easter this year!

One huge ritual in my family is passing down recipes.  We all love to cook.  Now that I have a busy growing family, sometimes it is not always easy to prepare a great meal.  Rushing from soccer to football to school seems to keep me running.  On busy nights in the fall, I like to continue my Mom’s tradition of quick soups!  My favorite is her vegetable soup.  It takes very few ingredients, and you can make it as extravagant or as simple as you have time for.

Easy Vegetable Soup

• 1-46 ounce can of tomato juice
• 1 bag of Libby’s Vegetable Pouch corn
• 1 bag of Libby’s Vegetable Pouch green beans
• 1 bag of Libby’s Vegetable Pouch carrots
• 2 sweet potatoes, grated
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Place all ingredients in a Dutch oven.  Do not drain Vegetable pouches.  Heat until 135 degrees F.  It takes less than 5 minutes!  Items can be placed in a crock pot to heat on low all day.  This is also a great place to use up leftover pasta/potatoes, and meat/chicken.   Adjust the seasonings to meet your family’s needs.  Beau Monde or celery salt is also great in this quick soup!  Give this a try!  Serves 6.

Using the Libby’s Vegetable Pouches saves time and adds nutrients as you do not drain the liquid.  They add flavor and vegetables that are tender and flavorful without having to cook them to death in soup to get them tender.

I received free samples of Libby’s new Vegetable Pouches mentioned in this post.  By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Libby’s and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest.  I was not compensated for my time.