After a loss, create new Thanksgiving, Christmas traditions
Thanksgiving and Christmas may be hard to face after a personal loss such as a death or divorce. But it could also be the time you start reinventing yourself and your holidays.
Decide who you want to be with, but be flexible. If you can’t fly off to visit family, see who you could be with.
Often, if you share your lonely feelings, people will reach out to you. You could find that others would be pleased to share a feast or visit a restaurant with you on that day. If they are all busy, maybe you can get together the day before or the day after.
Then on the holiday itself, pamper yourself in every way you can think of. You are the center of your attention.
When children are involved, you need to be creative and joyful. Invite others to your dinner so the absent person won’t be as obvious.
Create an activity that’s different from any you had before. One psychologist suggests scheduling a silly string fight in the garage. Buy cans of silly string to cast at each other. Don’t forget to take pictures.
Fancy Lattice Apple Pie
Ingredients:
8 cups peeled and sliced granny smith apples (or other tart apples)
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
Dash of salt
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon water
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375F.
In a large bowl combine apple slices, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice. Place mixture into pie crust. On a lightly floured surface roll remaining pastry dough and cut into strips. Place strips on top of apple pie making a crisscross pattern. Mix the egg yolk and water in a small bowl and lightly brush the top of the pie. Bake for approximately 45 minutes.
Serve warm topped with custard or whipped cream. Luscious!
Pumpkin Pecan Muffins
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, combine pumpkin puree, eggs and vanilla. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture until just combined. Do not over mix. Fold in chopped pecans. Spoon batter into lightly greased or lined muffin tin and fill to 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven at 350F for approximately 20 minutes or until golden and baked through. Cool in muffin tins for 5 minutes until removing to wire racks to cool completely. Delicious!
