Atole de Fruta (Mexico)

This morning at our traditional family brunch of crepes there were many new additions, most notably our precious son Suki, enjoying his first Christmas with our family, and my baby nephew Elijah, who arrived in October. Suki and Ian happily ate crepes and played with their baby cousin in all the corners of Grandma and Grandpa's house. The adults happily drank coffee and told stories and redirected wild boys and passed the baby. Celebrating the season as an extended family with kids is such a joy, keeping the message of Christmas simple. Always love God. Always love each other.

Most often in these days of high consumerism that message has turned into 'always love each other with many, many expensive gifts purchased amid a frenzied mob during middle of the night shopping sprees.' My husband and I are as guilty of this as anyone, carefully amassing piles of brightly wrapped things to entertain and delight our children. But we do try to impress upon our children the message of a baby born to humble parents in humble surroundings. Tonight as we heard the story of Jesus's birth, as my boys carried the figurines of Mary and Joseph down the aisle at church to gentle complete the creche, we were reminded of the message. Always love God.  Always love each other.

Another new addition to our morning brunch was the Atole de Fruta, hot creamy fruit punch, a drink traditionally served during Mexican Christmas posadas. These posadas are a time to remember two humble parents in search of shelter and warmth for the impending birth of their baby. This Mexican tradition involves neighbors and friends moving from house to house, much like Mary and Joseph, but this time they are offered hospitality and welcome, a hot drink, a refreshing and sweet mix of fruit and cream. The heat of the thick drink radiates the message. Always love God. Always love each other.

This small gesture, the passing of a warm mug or bowl or basket, is repeated around the world in unlimited ways, crossing the boundaries of race, religion, ethnicity and more. The message is clear and at the heart of many peoples and places. Reach out to those in need. Share what you have. Embrace the ones you hold dear. Always love God. Always love each other.

Cafe con Canela (Mexico)

My cookbook, and the blog subsequently, have been gathering a little dust these last two weeks, so I decided to kick start my weekend with a new recipe, perhaps the easiest one of the in Extending the Table. This morning I started the day as I usually do, with coffee in the kitchen as I fed the boys, but the Cafe con Canela, Mexican Coffee, was a sweet infusion of spice to get me back on track.

I've been bogged down at work lately. The end of the first trimester and the start of the second for the school year wiped me out. The extra grading, intensive teaching days, and new student song and dance leave me falling back on the frozen meals I prepared back in August when I was fresh and rested from a long vacation. And, of course, the ever-so-tempting ease of a prepackaged meal that needs only heat and serve.

So my morning coffee seeped with a little sugar and a cinnamon stick jolts me out of the rut today. It usually doesn't take much to alter the well-tread courses we fall into on occasion. We need the comfort and routine and the falling asleep on the couch of those ruts just for survival's sake. But then we shake off the cobwebs, open the spice drawer, and re-imagine the day as we know it.