Remember that holiday food thing that got served every Christmas? For my husband, it was his Grandma Yvonne’s Mandarin Orange Jell-O Salad. Yup, haven’t seen this little number on a table in a while. 

But for me, it’s the appetizer my Dad used to make: BBQ sauce + cranberry jelly meatballs. Man, I miss those things. Sweet & savory, the perfect little meaty snack.

And I know you have one, too. That thing that might look a little unusual on a table these days but used to be there EVERY YEAR whether you wanted it to be or not. So on this day? Make. That. Thing.

• Don’t have the recipe?
  • Maybe that’s the fun part. Turn your home into a test kitchen and invite your own little Master Chef Junior to take part in the experimentation.

• Do some storytelling
  • Revel in tales of Christmas past. Share stories of family members that your child knows and loves, but from a different time.
  • What were your family traditions before your current ones? Are they different from the ones you choose for your own family today?

• Loved ones no longer able to share the season with us…
  • Incorporate those who are gone into your discussions.
  • Maybe it’s a cherished elder your child knew. This is a good time to let your child (and yourself) share good memories. It offers a safe and happy space to talk about someone who is no longer with us.
  • Maybe it’s someone you loved & wish your child had known longer. Share with your kids some of the tales that made that loved person so dear to you.

So get cookin’ and as always, we want to see all the pics!! #MPMoments

 ♥️,

Lauren & the Chicago Parent team 

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'CAUSE WE'VE GOT GIVEAWAYS!
Every week one of you will win one of these excellent holiday prizes.

• Dec. 3  Tickets to Holiday Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Discovery Center
• Dec. 6  Tickets to Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle at Lighthouse ArtSpace
• Dec. 9  Winter WNDRland: Iced In! at the WNDR Museum
• Dec. 12  Tickets to a Blackhawks game