Easter Traditions

One tradition my family has had as long as I can remember is an annual family picnic, held the Saturday before Easter. As far as I know, it started with my grandpa Smith. Grandpa worked for Utah Power and Light, so part of his job included maintaining and working on power substations in southern Utah and the surrounding area. Because of his travels on the job, grandpa was good at scouting out remote picnic spots for his family.

The very first picnic I remember was when we went to Beaver Dam (AZ) and had our picnic in a field next to an abandoned motel. Teresa (my sister) and I had a grand time playing in and out of the deserted building as well as in the old, empty swimming pool. It was at that picnic spot where I saw my grandpa eat a raw hamburger patty. Nasty. It’s funny, but I don’t remember the family grilling burgers after that year. Somewhere along the line, each family started bringing their own chicken to the Easter picnic, along with a side dish and/or dessert to share.

Another activity that was added to the picnic tradition when I was a teenager was a treasure hunt, with each family bringing a bag of candy to contribute to the treasure buckets/bags for the kids. My aunt Karen, who’s always been a good sport, would take all of the kids and teenagers on a hike after lunch, while the Easter Bunny prepared clues and a treasure.

One more reason the Easter picnic tradition is important to me is, in 1982, Don and I took advantage of having the entire family together to announce our engagement to be married. 

Here are a few photos from yesterdays festivities...

Pointless Yuletide Trivia

1) What does Alvin the Chipmunk want for Christmas?
2) Where did there arise "such a clatter"?
3) Which reindeer is never mentioned in 'The Night Before Christmas'?
4) What brought Frosty the Snowman to life?
5) Which carol demands figgy pudding?
6) Other than green and red, what are the two most popular Christmas colors?
7) In 'A Charlie Brown Christmas', what does Lucy want for Christmas?
8) To get back up the chimney, what does Santa have to do?
9) In Disney's 'The Santa Claus' with Tim Allen, Hot Cocoa is not stirred but________.
10) Who wrote 'A Christmas Carol'?

Answers-

1) Hoola Hoop
2) On the lawn
3) Rudolph
4) A Magic Hat
5) We Wish You a Merry Christmas
6) Silver and Gold
7) Real Estate
8) Lay a finger aside of his nose and give a nod
9) Shaken
10) Charles Dickens

Candied Yams

6-8 Large Yams

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Cups Water

1/3 Cup Light Corn Syrup

1 Tablespoon Cornstarch

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Wash yams and boil until tender (test by pricking with a fork). Peel and cut cooked yams into large cubes or slices. Spray a 13"x9" pan with cooking oil and add yams.

Mix sugars, water, corn syrup, and cornstarch in saucepan. Slowly bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook down until mixture thickens. Stir in vanilla and pour over yams. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 30 minutes, periodically spooning the sauce over the yams.

My grandma passed this recipe on to me before she died. I am assigned to bring Candied Yams to Thanksgiving dinner every year. It's an all around favorite.