After a busy end of the year with shows and shipping totes across the US + Canada, I settled in to a very quiet holiday season. My propensity to over-schedule with meals and gatherings mirrors my vision the season. My family had other designs for the break, so we took it down a notch, and instead I created an atmosphere of relaxation, while keeping key traditions in place.
We receive several boxes of pears every year and this year a rogue box of ripened fruit was discovered under the tree. Today I turned ripe pears in to Mom's Skillet Pear Cake from Bi-Rite Market,s Eat Good Food Cookbook. While the cake was in the oven, I invited the group of teen girls waking up from a New Year's sleepover for an impromptu tea party.. Watching a group of girls (plus my son) enjoying cake and serving tea while cozy in their sweatpants, was a warm sight. Every time a group of children gathers here, it makes me want them all as my children. The tea turned in to a day relaxing on the sofa watching movies. I just got word while writing this post, they don't want the day to end so another mom is sending over a batch of Mac 'n Cheese for their dinner, I'll make a salad; anything to keep the party going. While this has not been a New Years Day tradition in the past, I can see it forming in to one in future years.
Here is to a year of cakes and tea with friends gathered around the table.
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