My Big Fat Greek Family Christmas

Yuletide logs!

Families have their Christmas customs and traditions, last year we started a new one.

We have a new addition to the family, sweet Melina, our first Grandchild.

Now, Christmas is all about Melina.

Last year, she helped me trim the Christmas tree, well, she was only one and a half years old, I rectified things after she had gone home!

We had such a good time though, watching the wonder on her little face, laughing at her excitement, when we switched on the tree lights was sheer joy.

With a little help from Mel

Christmas stories

This year, I decided to make decorating the tree with Melina, an official part of our family Christmas:

Last year, they had just happened to drop by, while I was putting up the tree but year it was planned.

They would be arriving early evening, we would have a:

“Trimming the Christmas tree supper party”

I was up early, preparing PASTITSIO, which everyone loves, it’s something which can be made beforehand.

This is a must, as I knew, that with Melina, there would be no time to be cooking in the kitchen!

Pastitsio

My Daughter-in-law, Sandra, kindly offered to make her famous ravani: Greek semolina cake.

A mouthwatering, delicious , moist cake, soaked in orange syrup, nice on its own, but, absolutely delicious with ice cream and black cherry syrup!

Sandra’s ravani

Once all the Christmas paraphernalia had been brought up from the basement, and the pastitsio was ready to be served,

we opened a bottle of wine, to fortify ourselves, before they arrived.

Christmas cheer

With a roaring log fire, it really was beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Home fires burning

My son, had warned me, that if I started to trim the tree from scratch with Melina,it would take us until midnight!

He knew, from his experience, of trimming their tree with her..

She had to examine each bauble carefully, and then choose just the perfect place for it to hang.

I had told Melina that I wouldn’t start without her, so I was loathe to do so, after all, aren’t we supposed to set an example to children? I didn’t want to break my word.

The thought of six hours trimming the tree though, soon changed my mind!

I did most of it, leaving the things that I thought Melina would like best, for her to put on the tree.

I need not have worried, as soon as Melina saw the tree, she was in such a state of bliss, I think she had forgotten about my promise to her.