Savor holiday memories and recipes

I have wonderful memories of family holiday traditions growing up. When I was a child, my mother invented Christmas Eve Zicker. This is the day before Christmas Eve, and it came about as her grandmother was trying to get things done around the house, and all the kids kept asking when they could open presents. So as the story goes, when she had had enough, she said if they would help do the kitchen work, they could open one present, because it was Christmas Eve Zicker. Now I have no idea where the name came from, but we still honor this tradition.

Holiday memories are often centered around the kitchen and the recipes we pass from generation to generation. Here are a few tips to keep your holiday eating in check while still enjoying all the tradition. Try using half the butter in a baking recipe, and replace the other half with canola oil. Remember to eat leaner meat such as turkey, pork or beef tenderloin, and skip the skin on poultry. If you are making dips or sauces, you can replace things such as mayonnaise with yogurt, and instead of cream in a sauce, you can use vegetable stocks or skim milk and thicken with corn starch.  If you want to cut the fat on your favorite gravy, try refrigerating it, and then skim off the fat that settles at the top. In desserts, think fresh fruits and evaporated skim milk instead of heavy creams. Try taking your favorite pumpkin pie and lose the crust, or substitute a lighter graham cracker crust. Another tip is to use dark chocolate in recipes instead of milk chocolate. Dark chocolate has less fat and the added benefit of increased antioxidants.

Most importantly, enjoy your favorite foods. If you are going to a holiday party, eat a healthy snack (like an apple) before you go, so that you are not overly hungry once you arrive. Use a small plate, and limit portions.

The recipe this month is my mother’s famous peanut butter balls. It is her original recipe with my adaptations to make them a bit healthier while still tasting great.

Peanut Butter Balls

2 Sticks of Butter

2 Cups of Crushed Graham Crackers

1 Box Powdered Sugar

1 Cup Chopped Nuts ( Pecans, Peanuts or Almonds)

1 Cup Coconut

½ Cup Peanut Butter

12 oz Dark Chocolate ( or milk chocolate)

1 Stick of Paraffin (optional, makes a nice shine)

Mix first six ingredients and make into ping pong-sized ball and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Melt chocolate and paraffin in double boiler. Once chocolate is melted, coat ball and set on pan and cool.

Morris, owner of Rhett’s Restaurant, Personal Chef & Catering in Southern Pines, can be reached at (910) 695-3663 or e-mail rhett@rhettsinc.com