A Merry Mississippi Christmas

But first a tale of the Congealed Salad: 

The Snipes family takes our Christmas surprises quite seriously. We can hold onto them for months and refuse any persuasion to know what a gift may be. Yet, the one thing that remains not a surprise is our Christmas dinner... a steady constant for about the past decade. It was chosen based on tradition and of course it is Christmas colors. The base is a chicken dish brought from my mom's Georgie recipe repertoire, Country Captain (red sauce), a form of a Southern green bean (green), and of course our traditional congealed salads (one red, and one green). Having grown up, forcefully learning to savor congealed salads every Christmas, I never thought of them as such a novelty. Until my friend Emily Ballard and I spent a ride to the beach this past Easter discussing them or rather making fun of them. I must admit, I feeling a bit ashamed, I did not bring up our two salads that frequent our dining room table every 25 of December. 

While I was melting cream cheese into strained pineapple juice (yes. you can melt cream cheese) for our "Christmas Salad" (so appropriately named due to the greens & reds that create this one). I began to think of the role these classic sides play to our palettes. As Southerners, we are known and respected around the world for our fried chicken, biscuits, vegetables laden with butter, and other delicacies, but no one seems to take note of the congealed salad. They are the staple to potlucks, holiday dinners, and plate lunches all throughout the southeast. They come in a rainbow of colors with a rainbow of ingredient combinations floating in a tasty congealed state. The beauty of a congealed salad is that there is a color and an ingredient for every occasion. Just this past thanksgiving at a church potluck, we experienced an orange one that had the same hues of the plates for which we were eating upon. This spiked a controversy in the congregation because traditionally the congealed salad was...red. 

For this particular article,  I had to look up how to even spell the word congeal and came across this dictionary.com result. I must admit that the third definition nails it..." to make or become fixed, as ideas, sentiments, or principles"... because it is a absolute Southern staple.

con·geal

/kənˈdʒil/ Show Spelled[kuhn-jeel]

verb (used with object), verb (used without object)

1.to change from a soft or fluid state to a rigid or solid state, as by cooling or freezing:  

The fat congealed on the top of the soup.

2. to curdle; coagulate, as a fluid.

3. to make or become fixed, as ideas, sentiments, or principles: Some philosophic systems lost their vitality and congealed.

 

 

Tomato aspic. Along with our sweet "Christmas" salad (its basis of lime jello with chopped cherries, pecans, and pineapple), we also include one of the savory nature to the menu, aspic. Another Georgie staple from my mom' s lineage. My dad always says that "you don't grow to like aspic...you marry into it". Last year while sitting at the Christmas dinner table, I ever so politely suggested an alternative to our beloved tomato aspic. For those of you that aren't familiar, aspic is of the savory congealed salads. It consists of tomato juice, onions, olives, celery, and hot sauce. As a lover of "Zing Zang's" bloody mary mix, I suggested we try it as a replacement for the boring tomato juice. My suggestion was so convincing (or persistent) that the Pegs insisted I make it this year for a taste off...the entire time insisting that my grandmother, had she been alive, would have never approved of such a replacement.

Not knowing that she makes it from a recipe in her head, I took off full force slicing and dicing and mixing gelatin. 2 minutes later my ignorance of the science of gelatin was brought to fruition. I had assumed it was a throw it all together recipe..not a boil, cold water, and wait type recipe....I immediately regretted my egotistical attempt to improve upon this Christmas staple.

Most of you know that I am a quite competent cook, but realized in minutes I was in over my head. Soon, I had to strain all of my ingredients from the Zing Zang's because aspic like most other congealed sensations is a delicate, balanced process...that must be taken seriously. I mean, these ladies in the 50's were obviously not of the fast food generation...

 

In the process of straining my concoction, my gelatin mixture congealed too fast.... 

Causing Beau to become very concerned with the fact that the words coming from my mouth were not of Christmas cheer...

And what seemed like three hours later,  I began to question whether I had even grown up in below the Mason Dixon line? But after some miraculous culinary artwork and moving past the desire to pour vodka into the concoction for a bloody mary, I managed to save my rendition of tomato aspic...

and in a Bobby Flay throw down style...took home the winning aspic for this Christmas dinner.

I leave the final posting of this year with images from a Delta Christmas. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas night and enjoy your time with families and loved ones. May your new year be gold, your bourbon bold, and those congealed salads cold! 

Mistletoe

This holiday season, while the rest of the world is enchanted with the melodious holiday sensation of Justin Bieber's "Under the Mistletoe", we horticulturists and landscape enthusiasts are quite taken by the real thing...mistletoe, the semi-parasitic plant that adorns our native oak and apple trees. It's present year round, but it is only now that we take notice since our oaks have become bare for the winter.  And since most of us have been incorporating mistletoe into our decorations for longer than the bieb has been alive, I thought it only appropriate to give a little insight into it.

I captured an image of this little guy on one of the apple trees in our orchard last week:

 

Mistletoe belongs to one of five genera. The two most common are:  Phoradendron, which lives on deciduous trees or Arceuthobium, which thrive on our conifers. Within the Phoradendron genus the USDA/NRCS plant database identifies 24 different species. Our common Christmas mistletoe is commonly called "Oak Mistletoe" or scientifically called Phoradendron flavescens or Phoradendron serotinum or Phoradendron leucarpum. You can see where it grows in the map below:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PHLE14

When I say thrive on a particular tree, mistletoe does just that. It thrives on the nutrients provided by trees, but since it is semi-parasitic, it is also photosynthetic (it makes its' own food). Most of the time, the host tree is not harmed by the mistletoe. If it died, the mistletoe would also die. Mistletoe arrives on its' host with the help of birds. It actually germinates through seeds dropped off by the bird's... well you know. This is why we see it in the tops of trees. One article I read even mentioned that this is where mistletoe gets its' name. Apparently, "mistle" is the anglo-saxon word for dung and "tan" is the word for tree, so mistletoe = "dung on a tree". (http://landscaping.about.com/cs/winterlandscaping1/a/mistletoe_3.htm.)

Still want to kiss under the mistletoe after learning that? As it turns out, there are many myths and legends that are associated with mistletoe. Many stemming from Norse, Druid & Roman mythologies. All seem to have the same underlining meaning: that mistletoe is a symbol of fertility, love & peace and provides protection from evil spirits. Who would have thought that such a small plant could symbolize so much? The act of actually smooching under the mistletoe comes from the Norse mythology.

 gvc0914.gvc09.virtualclassroom.org 

According to this folklore, Balder, the god of the summer sun had a dream that he was going to die. His mother, Frigga, the goddess of love and beauty, was frantic about his dream and said that if he died, everything on Earth would die. To ensure her son's safety, Frigga went to all of the elements -- air, fire, water and earth, as well as to all of the animals and plants -- and asked them not to kill Balder. Loki, Balder's enemy found a loophole in Frigga's request -- mistletoe. Mistletoe grows on the tree it attaches itself to, and therefore has no roots of its own and could not be affected by Frigga's request. He then tricked Balder's brother into shooting him with a poison mistletoe dart.

For three days, all the elements tried their hardest to bring Balder back to life, but failed. Finally, the tears that Frigga cried for her dead son changed the red mistletoe berries to white, raising Balder from the dead. Frigga then reversed mistletoe's bad reputation, and kissed everyone who walked underneath it out of gratitude for getting her son back. [source: Suszynski].  

  Since Frigga was the goddess of love, couples have been kissing under the mistletoe in hopes of good luck for the next year. Mistletoe is also an aphrodisiac. And for all of you etiquette rangers out there, the proper technique is for the man to remove the berry from the mistletoe then kiss his significant other.

But whatever you do, don't eat it; most parts are poisonous to humans. 

If you're thinking of incorporating the real thing into your decor this holiday, it may be a bit tricky. Obtaining mistletoe often involves shooting it down from a tree. I would not recommend this in a neighborhood setting or if you are simply a bad shot. My first attempt at shooting mistletoe down proved quite a challenge. As it turns out, the branch, on which the mistletoe was growing, was too large for just a .22 caliber, I (with my Southern roots ablaze) grabbed one of our deer rifles to handle the task. Needless to say, mistletoe adorned every corner of my apartment in Auburn that Christmas season, and part of my Oak tree is still missing.

 

So this year, as you're driving to your holiday destinations secretly or un-apologetically jamming to "Under the Mistletoe", take note of the green balls scattered throughout our trees alongside the highways and interstates. This peculiar little plant, full of history and myth, is one of the great joys and traditions of our holiday season. 

Oh, and mistletoe is the state floral emblem of Oklahoma....just fyi.

Sources: 

Suszynski, Barbara, and Sam Abramson.  "How Mistletoe Works"  11 December 2000.  HowStuffWorks.com. <http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays/mistletoe.htm>  14 December 2011.

While Visions of Manger Scenes Danced in their Yards

We all can remember THE gift we wanted when we were little, or the gift we wanted but Santa just seemed to forget it every year...THE gift that got away. Well, while most of my friends dreamed of basketball goals and barbies, I (the future landscape designer) dreamed of the classic, outdoor light up manger scene. Starting at the age of four, I had visions of a light up manger scene gracing my front yard. I can remember being enthralled with the beauty of the pinks, greens, and yellow hues that adorned these classic yard lights. I can also recall the theological debate that would ensue as we rode and looked at the lights along Deer Creek. I would ask if we could have one (for the hundreth time), mom would say "no", and I, playing a pity/religion/get my way card, would reply "but you said we love Jesus, so why can't we have one?"  

And I didn't just want the nucleus of the set, I wanted every piece of the set  from the star you could put on top of your manger to the camels, donkeys and the black wiseman. Basically, I wanted to transform our entire front yard into a manger scene; one that people would make special trip to see and ooh and cooh over until at least Valentine's day, but probably Easter since mine was going to be so spectacular. 

But at the Snipes household, we live by two books: the bible and that month's edition of Southern Living. As in, instead of asking up if our room was clean, the Pegs (as we call my mom) would ask "Is your room clean enough for Southern Living?" As if they would drop in for a photo shoot of our house at any moment. Needless to say that although the manger is included in the bible, I don't believe the light up manger scene was ever included in a December edition. So, I spent November, Decembers, and Januarys pining away over a manger scene that never really happened. The light up manger scene was THE gift that got away. Until my 21st Christmas, when my mom and sister so carefully tucked one away on our courtyard. Although, it was only Joseph, Mary, the Jesus, and an Angel and not part of a complete Christmas landscape in our frontyard...I do now have my own private viewing of my manger scene every Christmas when I come home.

Therefore, as an ode to our Southern neighbors who string, thread, and cover our landscapes with lights, I'd like to showcase the wackiest, classiest and even tackiest of Christmas lights scattered throughout the pines this year. Everyone has their favorite "Christmascape", so pass them along to me so we can get them out there for everyone else to see.  Oh, and if you're wondering if you can even still get a light up manger scene, the answer is oh yes, yes you can... (they provided the photo).

http://www.americansale.com/

Decking your Halls (with more than just store bought) Holly

 

This time of year, it's not hard to find some holiday inspiration. In fact, we have all  been seeing visions of mall garland and ribbon since about October. But what about changing it up this year by finding that inspiration outside? It is absolutely the most wonderful time of year to utilize some of our great Southern evergreens for your decorations, and many of these evergreens are found right outside your backdoor. These guys are a joy for the senses, great scent, a multitude of textures, and an array of vibrant shades of green.  Instead of roaming the mall, take a walk  outside in our winter landscapes to gather, to cut, and create your own holiday look...for your table, door, mantle, or wherever that pop of Christmas green is needed. 

And for those of you who claim to know not a thing about plants and who think they don't even know where to start, don't worry, it's pretty foolproof this time of year... just follow the green. Since the leaves have fallen off of our deciduous species, our evergreens are the stars of the landscape right now.   

The materials:

 A handful of Eastern Red Cedar, Loblolly Pine, some winged branches, pine cones, Muscadine vine and a lichen covered limb (don't overlook the grays and the sculptural potential of winter limbs and branches) were all picked up on a Saturday morning hike. Some other options include: Hollies (of all variety), Magnolia, Aucuba, or any other evergreen leaf (large or small). Since these were for the cabin, we stuck to the natives we could find right in the woods. To pull it all together, I used an Oasis cage and boat...both of which can be found at your local flower shop or craft store. Of course, you will need some snips, scissors, some ribbon, and maybe some floral wire (also available at your local flower shop or craft store). I set up shop outside on the porch due to the great weekend weather and an easy clean up.  

The Centerpiece: 

I started with a centerpiece after soaking the Oasis block. Before you get started, know your space...How tall can it be? Will the piece be viewed from all sides or just the front? How wide can it be? Mantles in the South are of all widths. Now, just start from the bottom, filling in around the base. Balance is the trick to making a great centerpiece...the sides (front, back, left, right), colors (there are different shades of greens), and textures (course and fine) should all remain in balance to create a cohesive look. 

    Don't forget a focal point. For this one, we wired in a lichen branch across the front and then nestled a pine cone grouping behind it. The focal point, needs to be just as it says, the piece that really pulls in your focus. The winged branches added an extra pop of winter to the background. 

And it never hurts, to have a pair of elves...not matter the breed to help out.

  .... And a spirited piece of a winter landscape to make your holiday trimmings both merry and bright! 

The Centerpiece of your Front Door: 

(or in our case the front porch post)

  For our cage to hang on the door, the process is pretty much the same. Simply, start by soaking your cage. 

Then fill in your greenery around the base and move toward the center, mixing up the textures and colors. To change it up a bit, the pine was given a bit of a "haircut" to shorten the needles in order to alter its shape and make it appear more dense.

The focal point for this cage (as you can note) is our Christmas bow tucked into the bottom left corner and some muscadine vine looped behind it. Muscadine vine is a great addition due to its pliability...you can make it do just about anything.  Don't forget to know your space...size of your door, post, clearance, etc. It also helps, when doing door cages, to hold them up to the door during the process (as my mom is doing in this case).  

So this year, take a break from the mall and celebrate our native winter landscapes by utilizing all the joy they have to offer in your own decorations, and the joy of saving time and money will be an added side effect to the wonderful sights and scents of your evergreens. Remember that just like a live plant, keep it watered and your celebration of the winter landscape will last through the new years!