Christmas Tradition.

My father died seven years ago. He was an old school Polish Catholic. He had traditions. Quite a few actually. One being every Christmas Eve we would gather as a family and share a traditional Polish meal together. Simple meal....perogies, polish sausage, shadonna kapusta (mashed potatoes with sauerkraut and bacon). Period.

My mother would slave for hours making these perogis by hand, by herself. Meaning she prepared the dough, cut out the dough, filled them, sealed them, then they are boiled and fried in butter. So much work.

I don't think any of us kids realized how much my mother did for us until recently. After dad died and us girls started making these, we quickly realized they are so damn much work! How did Mother ever do it? So we announced one year that we were not going to do this any longer. Too much work! Well, let me tell you, the kids would not hear of it. They responded by saying, "we HAVE to have perogi....we've always had perogi" and that was all there was too it.

Thus, I spoke up and responded by stating, if you want them, everyone must pitch in.

So, this morning, we gathered at my house. Traditional Saturday morning coffee with donuts...added a few Mimosas and some Bailey's for the coffee...heck it's Christmas.

 

My mom who started all of this!

My sister, niece and nephew.

My brother Phil mixing up the dough.

Maggie, rolling out and cutting the dough.

 

Mom doing a demo.

 

Leah and Lenny getting the hang of it.

 

Looking great!

 

The Chief and her Indians!

I believe we made close to fifty or so. Everyone will be delighted on Christmas Eve as we gather together once again as family and carry on the family tradition. My Dad is smiling on us! Mother, you were amazing all those years for doing this for us!

This was truly the spirit of Christmas this morning.

 

This is my brother mixing the dough, sorry!

 

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