Christmas Memories

By

Nancy Carey Johnson

If I could fill my  Christmas stocking with goodies and stories it would be filled to over flowing with all the wonderful vignettes and recipes that are between the covers of this book.   What a wonderful holiday treat to pick this book up and go down memory lane with Ms. Johnson.  In doing that with her, so many of my own childhood memories and nostalgia came to the surface to be relived in my heart and mind again.  What a Christmas gift that is!  

I'm not so much on cooking or baking but the recipes in this book are a treasure trove of yumminess sounding creations I'd be willing to give a go at!  My mouth watered at so many of them like "Chewy, Ooey-Gooey, Chocolatey Dense Brownies".  MMMmmmm!   Or the mysterious "Indian Pudding"...whatever could that be? Kahlua Crackles....bring 'em on!  YEAH!   Then the traditional Christmas foods like the perfect roasted turkey and "exclaimed over garlic mashed potatoes".  Makes my tummy growl just thinking about this!  The book is so full of tasty-sounding recipes that not only sound delicious but had a way of bringing pictures in my mind of the food laden tables at holiday gatherings when I was growing up.  

Reading this book was a virtual walk down memory lane of holidays past.  From the first chilly evenings in fall to the fresh fallen snows of winter, this is a reminiscence with Ms. Johnson's beautiful writing, humor, and wisdom she shares from her heart.  The titles at the beginning of each  of the memories creates a curiosity as to what it's going to be about.  "Red and Greens", Tougher Than Alligator Baggies", "Stumblebummers"....just a few of the many, many stories that I read and reflected on.  It's a book to journey through at a leisurely stroll and take in each and every word and keep them in my heart.  And bringing the memories I have in my heart back to remember.  It was like going into the attic and opening the long forgotten chest and having the gift of those memories back to live again.  I want to thank Ms. Johnson for the joy of reading her treasured memories, thoughts, perfected recipes and that she shared them in this book.  YES!  "Life is Good" and for me this book is a traditional Christmas read that I would gather around a warm cozy fire and share from it with my family and friends.  Thank you so very much!!!   All thoughts and opinions in this review are my heartfelt own.