St. Nick

ST. NICK!!!

As a kid, the Feast of St. Nicholas was never a big deal.  It really wasn’t a holiday.  So we did have to go school. We did learn about him in school and knew he was a kind man who distributed gifts to the poor kids in Turkey around the 3^rd Century.  He was sort of the precursor to Santa Claus, but Santa didn’t come till December 25^th. In my family, we never put out our shoes the night before December 6^th, his feast day.  BUT, this day has provided me with the most memorable impression I have of the entire holiday season.

Cousin Marilyn went out of town and she asked me if I would stay with her boys, Jason, Tony and Donny.  Never missing an opportunity to be with them, I did.  Jason was probably around 13, Tony around 7 and Donny 4.  I guess, since they were going to Catholic School, St. Nicholas day was discussed.  Jason by this time was too old to believe in St. Nick and Santa.  Donny was young enough to accept the reality of St. Nick and Santa.  Tony was probably at the age of questioning it but probably felt that if it involved getting presents, it was better to believe!!

Tony was the one who reminded me that St. Nicholas day was approaching.  I got the hint!  But I also reminded him that St. Nick would only come if he was being good.  For the next few days, I had to remind him that he wasn’t being such a good kid and that he better change that because St. Nick was watching.  Well Tony was being Tony.  And he wasn’t that good in spite of my warnings.  And Donny was just following his lead and he wasn’t actually the model child either. And I kept warning them!!!

The evening of December 5^th came and by this time I got tired of warning Tony and Donny.  I would get even!!!!  St. Nick would not leave them presents that night. I mentioned this to Jeannine, their aunt and she laughed saying I wouldn’t have the nerve or the heart to do it. I was, however, determined.

That night, Tony and Donny left out their shoes at the fireplace downstairs.  I took Jason aside and told him to put out one of his shoes too. Jason was going to get something. They weren’t.  That night, after they all went to sleep - keeping in mind that Tony gave me his usual hard time going to bed, I filled Jason’s shoe with little presents, but for the other two, I wrote a note.  I can’t remember the exact wording but it went something like this:  “Dear Tony and Donny, I was unable to leave you any presents tonight.  You both were so bad that I decided against it. However, if you both will be good today, I will come back and bring presents.”

There are moments in life, nanoseconds even, in which you glimpse, and that leaves an indelible mark in your mind.  I had one the next morning.

I made it a point to wake up a little earlier that morning and get downstairs to the basement to wait for the three boys to come down.  I didn’t have to wait long. Tony and Donny came barreling down the stairs.  They rushed to the fireplace and grabbed the note.  I will never forget that moment.  There was this nanosecond when Tony read the note and his expression turned from high anticipation to utter disbelief.  I wish I had a camera.  This was more than a Kodak moment. I don’t think Donny knew what was going on, just that they had no presents. What made it even funnier was that Jason received something and they didn’t. 

As you may have guessed by now, that day, both Tony and Donny behaved.  The next morning St. Nick came back and left them presents.

Of course, you do get a recipe!!

Since the holidays are approaching I will be presenting some timely recipes.  When I taught for William-Sonoma’s lunchtime classes, I did a class on Christmas candies.  Here are a few.

Enjoy and please leave a comment at the end of the entry.

CHOCOLATE NUT PATTIES

¾  cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

2 Tablespoons butter

½ cup sweetened condensed milk

1 Cup salted mixed nuts, coarsely chopped

1.  Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil

2.  Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler, over hot water.

3. When the ingredients have just melted, remove pot from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly. 

4.  Beat in the condensed milk and then the nuts.

5.  Drop the candy by tablespoons onto the cookie sheet and refrigerate until set.

Makes about 2 dozen 

                     QUICK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

4 ounces (4 squares) unsweetened chocolate

½ Cup butter

¾ Cup sweetened condensed milk

2 Cups confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup peanut butter

1.  Line an 8-inch square baking pan with wax paper

2.  Melt the chocolate in a double boiler and when it is half melted, add the butter          and continue to melt the entire mixture.

3.  Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

4.  Whisk in the condensed milk slowly.

5.  Gradually beat in the sugar.

6.  Beat in the peanut butter.

7.  Spread the mixture in the pan and chill until firm, preferable overnight.

8.  Cut into 25 pieces.

              

                                                     PRALINES

2 Cups brown sugar

½ cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-cup pecan pieces

1.   Mix brown sugar and water in a large skillet

2.   Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is thickened to a creamy texture.

3.   Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and pecans and immediately spoon on wax paper.

4.   Allow to cool