Traditions

My creative mind just isn't there today or lately at all! Thus the lack of blogging on my part - sincere apologies for my adoring fans :)! So I've been thinking, what traditions do you have with your family? I'm not sure that Jeff and I really have any traditions that are just our own, well except for the New Year's Elf. Remind me how cool this tradition is come 3 months from now. I'm pretty sure in one of my ridiculous and irrational moods that I've cried to Jeff because we have no traditions all our own and this must mean our marriage is doomed. Now it can only be worse because we have a child depending on us to make her childhood memorable. But how do you really start a new tradition, one that's meaningful enough that you actually remember to do it so it becomes a tradition? Sigh....any ideas post them please!

I guess this thought came about on Sunday when my family got together for the Annual Fish Fry. I really can't remember how long we've been doing this but it all started because my aunt and uncle caught too many fish to eat themselves one summer so they decided to share with the rest of the family. Plus who doesn't like to get-together with a crazy and fun bunch? The Fish Fry entails eating as much fish (or chicken for those of us who aren't crazy about perch) as humanly possible in the span of an afternoon. You would think they were feeding an entire starving nation with as much perch, salmon, chicken wings, and of course fishy crackers (aka Pepperidge Farm Goldfish) and gummy worms that we had. After stuffing ourselves, we engage in one of several activities - laughing so hard that we cry or pee our pants, chasing the little cousins around the yard or more accurately, running away from their latest game of guns/dinosaurs/lacrosse/wrestling, dog piling on top of any unsuspecting family member who wanders into the yard, and wishing that the night didn't have to end.

Oh and last but not least, I'm posting the famous "lemon water" recipe from the Fish Fry. Try it, it's divine!!!




If the picture is hard to read, here's the recipe:
1 Tbsp citric acid
1 Tbsp lemon extract
2 cups sugar
5 quarts water
Mix and refrigerate. Serve with ice. Lemon/lime slices add color. If you want to half it, then mix 1 3/4 tsp citric acid, 1 3/4 tsp lemon extract, 1 cup sugar, 2 1/2 quarts water.