We are coming down the home stretch of Gooseberry Patch week and a celebration of 101 Soups, Salads and Sandwiches, a Gooseberry Patch cookbook publication. Please check out the recipe for Sausage and Bean Soup and the review of the cookbook plus a recipe for Spicy Cabbage – Apple Slaw.
You have a chance to win this cookbook before it even hits the shelves! Gooseberry Patch cookbooks are dedicated to favorite recipes, family and wonderful memories. In celebration of the Christmas season and in keeping with the Gooseberry Patch theme of capturing memories, leave a comment describing your favorite Christmas memory to be entered into the contest. The memory can be a childhood memory or recent memory and can involve gift giving or receiving, food, family, shopping or anything that makes you smile.
The comment must be left in the comment section below, and not on Facebook, in order to be entered in the contest.
Please share this post with as many people as you would like.
The winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 14, 2011.
Good luck and may the best memory win!
Mae Leach says
My favorite memory from childhood is the way my father would decorate the Christmas tree – it was always so beautiful! It was always a real tree with colored lights and everything was placed just perfect on the tree and covered with silver tinsel. Always wished I had his talent!
Kelly P says
Once a year I make a chilli recipe that takes a lot of ingredients and even more time to make, note that’s why I only make it once a year. But I love the reaction I get when my family eats that first spoonful after waiting a year for it. Then we call our friends and have them come over for some and this year we even delivered several bowls as well. I enjoy feeding the people I love and seeing what pleasure it brings to them as they eat my food. Oh how blessed we are to have such wonderful memories with those we love so much.
Kathie says
I have had many wonderful Christmas memories raising two children, seeing them marry and have children of their own, but last Christmas was magical, even though I was separated from my children and grandchildren. Two years earlier I had met my true soul mate. He proposed to me in September of last year, but we were separated until December, when he came to get me, my things in a big UHaul truck, pulling my Jeep behind, and drove us 600 miles in the first snow storm of the season, so that we could be together for Christmas. On Christmas Eve it started snowing, big beautiful flakes. The lamp posts outside his apartment building were the black, old fashioned kind. I stepped out onto the patio and to my surprise, the nearby church chimes were playing Christmas carols. The whole scene was picture perfect and I was with the man I love. Tears of joy streamed down my face. Oh what a beautiful winter wonderland it was and what a mystical, magical Christmas memory it is . . . oh, by the way, I am 59 and the love of my life is 61!
Tess Meyer says
My best memory of Christmas was 1993 – was pregnant with my first child due late January, so I was looking forward to a relaxing Christmas…… but my son decided he wanted to see Santa early. I was rushed to the hospital in a horrible snowstorm in labor. Finally got to the hospital which seemed to be deserted in our small country-community, including the maternity ward. Got settled into a room, expecting a long labor…that didn’t happen. The nurses barely had time to call the doctor on call – who barely had time to find his way to the hospital in the terrible blowing/drifting storm – the doctor came rushing into the room, just as the nurse was preparing to catch my newborn son. No, I didn’t name him Nick – I named him Elijah, since he seemed insistent on making it to Christmas on time. He will be 18 years old this Christmas – where has the time gone? On his way to a bright accomplished future. Love you Elijah! and thank you Jackie for all of your stories that make me smile and make me cry. I look forward to each and every story/memory. Merry Christmas!
Kim Senart says
Looking back many years ago, my family would go
To Grandma and Grandpa’s to celebrate Christmas with
My aunts, uncles, and first cousins. We would eat sweet soup
And flatbread first. Then poles, boiled potatoes, scalloped
Corn, lutifisk (which I would not touch). Of course there was
Melted butter and lefsa, too. We ate so much it would
hurt, but Grandma’s cooking was always something we looked
Forward to, all the time anyway. Then dishes had to be done
Before gift opening. When I was twenty-one, this tradition ended.
We lost my Grandma that past June. We tried to do the best we could with following the traditional ways we had had for years, it just wasn’t the same. We since then have made new traditions of our own.
Jackie Garvin says
I changed it, Kim! 🙂
Kim Senart says
Need to edit the word levee, should be lefsa.
Kim Senart says
Do I do that or do you?
Ann says
Like Gooseberry Patch anything
JoEllynn Crowthers says
a
Betty says
Santa reading my letter on the radio and commenting about it being on pretty yellow paper.
Deborah W says
One of my favorite Christmas memories was when I was 12. My father had just re-married and moved us from Alabama to New Mexico. I was miserable. I wasn’t sure about the new “Mom”, and I was dreading the rest of my life. When December rolled around, I was feeling some better, but I was noticing that it didn’t snow much in New Mexico where we lived. So, I was stressing about having a white Christmas, when on Christmas Eve, it turned out to be shirt-sleeve weather. That night, we sat around the tree, and we were allowed to open one present. After the presents were opened, my stepmom stood up and declared, “If it doesn’t snow for Christmas, I’m going to have to do something drastic!” Well, when we got up Christmas morning, it was WHITE!! We had several inches of snow. Later that afternoon, we had a big ol’ snowball fight! Awesome fun, and one of my favorite memories.
Janet says
My favorite memory of Christmas was being able to spend Christmas with my husband. He was very ill. The Doctors let him come home for Christmas. He passed in February the next year.
natalie mcknight says
I love gooseberry patch but i never have any money to buy them so it would be
wonderful if i won one thank you 🙂
Patricia Thomas says
I love cabbage & love cabbage soup. I would love to win the cookbook.
Jill J says
My favorite Christmas memories are of the years my grandparents would come to town and stay at our house. Mom and Grandma would spend days in the kitchen making all kinds of cookies, fudge, peanut brittle and toffee. Yummmm – I just loved those days!
Pam says
Can’t think of a better present, and each year as new recipes are devoured and become new family favorites new memories are built to be shared, much to the delight of everyone!
Teslaca says
One Christmas Eve when I was quite small, my father ran across the roof of the house ringing sleigh bells. My sister and I just KNEW it was Santa Claus and his reindeer. I cherish that memory.
nancy slone says
I love everything to do with the christmas . I loved it when my children were younger on christmas , just to see there faces . they are grown and have there own homes now , but I will always the memories
Doris Hobbs says
One of my favorite Christmas memories was when my children were little. We always stayed home so our two sons could play to their hearts’ content. I liked playing with them, too, so we always had homemade hamburgers on Christmas Day. We had family celebrations with the usual food items later in the week. I still love the “Hamburger Christmas Days!”
Please enter me in the contest.
Enjoy your blog!
sylvia waters says
I am a beginner cook but I am having the time of my life! I super enjoy old fashioned recipes, I love making stews and breads. I would definitely put this cookbook to constant use, and enjoy sharing with friends and family.
sylvia waters says
Almost forgot! I love reading syrup and biscuits website also. Thank you so very much
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks, Sylvia! We love having you here! 🙂