Christmas is coming up on Monday. As a household that celebrates both Chanukah (which was earlier this month) and Christmas, we have tons of traditions. And we also try to keep stress levels to a minimum. Our tree went up the first Saturday of December and for eight days, we had both the tree and our electric menorah in the living room. We also made two batches of holiday cookies, with the first being menorahs and gingerbread people and the second, candy canes, Christmas trees and MORE gingerbread people. The cookies are made with oats and sweetened with applesauce. We DO eat added sugar – those cookies come from stores (LOL)…

(for the rest of the post, visit my Substack page!!)

And before I forget, here’s my latest Cynthia Talks Life episode!!

The post Holiday Traditions (Plus New Podcast Episode)!! appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

Cynthia not only discusses how her multiethnic/faith family celebrates December holidays, but also how she, as a child of immigrants celebrated when she was younger.

Is your family multi-faith and/or multi-ethnic or cultural? What are YOUR family traditions? Do tell!!!

Image by Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock

The post Holiday Special: Our Big Fat Multi-Faith, Multi-Cultural Holiday Season appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

In North America, we tend to think of pancakes as a breakfast food, there’s no rule saying that one can’t make them savoury, and therefore a good side for lunch or dinner.  I decided last minute to make pancakes, and as I didn’t have any eggs left in my fridge, I searched for good vegan/eggless recipes.  One of the first I came across was this one.  While it is for a sweet pancake, I decided to modify if for something that is more dinner like.  In order to do so, I used the following ingredients:

Savoury pancakes served with a vegetable ragu sauce and a Dijon and almond crusted chicken (chicken was purchased as ready-for-the-oven from Whole Foods)

• 1 cup flour (any kind – I used spelt)
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder*
• 1 teaspoon each of basil, oregano and black pepper*
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk (your choice of what kind – original recipe calls for soy)
• 1 1/4 tablespoons oil (original recipe calls for 2)

Directions:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together
2. Add the liquid and beat stir until smooth
3. Over a heated pan, add 1/4 cup of the batter and fry on one side until it bubbles before flipping (usually around 1-2 minutes on the first side and 1 minute on the second)
4. Repeat until the batter is gone

The recipe above should make about 4-8 pancakes, depending on size and feed 2-3 people as a side dish.

Sauce ideas:  ideas: Chili, vegetable stew or ragu, curry, chicken a la king.

*These are my own – the original recipe calls for one tablespoon sugar

The post Repost from DelectablyChic!: Savoury Pancakes for Dinner? Why NOT? appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

Young man tying his tie.  Not too many people know how to do this properly anymore

1. Modesty.  I understand that one should be able to wear whatever he or she wants, but why would you want to, say, wear short shorts at the office?  It’s not just a matter of modesty, but really, aren’t you…COLD???
2. Dressing up.  The over-casualness of young people today BUGS – especially for young men.  Dads, do us a favour:  teach your sons how to tie a tie.  Oh, wait, you don’t know how either, right?  Because many guys under 45 don’t, unless they went to a school with a uniform.  Heck, many probably don’t know even if they DID!  Because they just leave the knot on and pull it up when they’re wearing it.  (regarding the two points above, read this post if you don’t really get what I mean).  I don’t even WANT to get into the young man I saw being (mock?) interviewed at a cafe last year…let’s just say he did not LOOK interview-ready.  For a legal position.  In the FINANCIAL DISTRICT.
3. Cursive writing.  Too many people can’t.  And I always cursive – even though my writing is HORRIBLE
4. Saying sir/ma’am.  Read THIS for more details
5. Table manners.  HOLD A FORK AND KNIFE PROPERLY, DON’T HOLD IT LIKE A SHOVEL.  I’ve also seen people who are from chopstick-using cultures NOT holding THEM properly (often like a pencil/pen.  I’m actually surprised, considering how much time these kids spend on their devices), so it’s a global thing.  Oh, and if there are serving utensils, PLEASE USE THOSE AND NOT WHATEVER YOU’RE EATING WITH!
6. Mental math – I used to be able to do that.  Now?  Not so much.
7. Recipe cards – yes, but I never inherited any, sadly.  My family simply didn’t have them – I don’t think they’re a “thing” in China.  And even if they did, I wouldn’t be able to read them!

What’s with young men holding forks/cutlery like the picture on the left?

However, I disagree with some of the others, including potluck dinners.  People don’t do that anymore?  Really?  And saying please and thank you.  It’s pretty logical, right?  Handwritten diaries, sure (though I keep a journal myself – on to volume three now!), but potlucks are amazing!  You don’t have to spend all that money on catering nor do you have to spend hours in the kitchen, preparing.  And many offices do some sort of potluck, right?  I also have some which need to be added on the list, such as:

1. Waiting until the birth of a baby to announce its sex
2. Respect of elders (I suppose this is related to the sir/ma’am thing, but what’s the deal with young children addressing adults by first name without the adults giving them permission to do so?  Or people NOT giving up their seat to, say, seniors?)
3. Keeping things simple, especially around the holiday season (and especially with decorations)
4. A good, proper handshake, one which isn’t too firm or weak.
5. Being more formal in general.  I suppose this encompasses everything on T&C’s list (and my list) anyway!

What are YOUR thoughts?  Do you agree with these? What do you think should or shouldn’t have gone out of style?

Image credits:
By Olena Yakobchuk (guy putting on a tie) and Carlos Yudica (how to hold a fork). Both images came from Shutterstock

The post Thoughts on T&C’s (Old Fashioned) Things that Should Have Never Gone Out of Style List appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.