Written By: Chloe Schwalbe and Olivia Prather

This winter and holiday season, families are celebrating with traditions, decorations, and, most importantly, food. During the colder months, food becomes a source of warmth, comfort, and a way to bring people together. Each family has their own unique recipes that reappear year after year for the food they enjoy during the holidays. Not only do family recipes provide a sense of cheer and nurturance, but with these special foods come memories that are recaptured in each bite. Familiarity and sentimentality is rediscovered at this time of year through the foods served during celebrations and cold, winter nights. 

In the Rye Country Day community, students stepped up to talk about their own family recipes. Students had the opportunity to share if they had specific meals or foods that reminded them of family traditions, the holiday season. They could also share any specific favorite foods they had that they loved. 

Chloe Berg ‘29 listed some of her Chanukah traditions. She added, “My mom makes latkes, a type of shallow-fried potato pancake, and my family’s close friends also bring suffangiyot, deep-fried, jelly-filled donuts.” Latkes represent the miracle of Hanukkah, specifically the miraculous eight days the temple oil burned. The donuts Chloe mentioned, sufganiyot, also symbolize the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days during Chanukah, and specifically highlight the theme of light and divine providence. During Chanukah, foods like latkes and sufganiyot are often eaten, and have deep, religious meanings to Jewish families. 

Along with this, Stasisu Klingenstein ‘29 shared his Polish Christmas traditions. He said that his family eats “Zurek, a Polish sour rye soup with an egg, that my grandmother makes each year. My family often eats the soup out of  bread bowls.” It is hearty and tangy, built on a fermented rye flour base, and it can be enhanced with sausage, bacon, potatoes, onions, garlic, marjoram, and bay leaves. This Polish tradition stems from the Middle Ages, and emerged from necessity due to having fairly accessible ingredients. Klingenstein also mentioned his family’s tradition of making piregois– savory, delicious dumplings filled with mushroom, mashed potatoes, cheese, and more. Piregois arrived in Poland around the 13th century, evolving from noble treats to peasant food, and solidified as a national dish and a staple to Polish cuisine. 

Lastly, Olivia Napoli ‘29 celebrates her Italian heritage by having chicken cutlets, ham, and pizza rustica, an Italian meat-filled cheesecake made with a flaky pastry crust during the Christmas season. Pizza rustica dates back to the 17th century, created as an indulgent way for Catholics to break the Lenten fast after 40 days of having no meat, dairy, and eggs. It uses up rich ingredients such as cheeses, cured meats, and eggs, and symbolizes the end of penance with its hearty filling. Italians also celebrate their heritage over the holidays with pastas such as lasagna or tortellini, and followed by meats and an abundance of seafood. 

As winter break comes to a close, many students try to do everything they can to feel a sense of comfort and relaxation. As a way to reclaim these feelings, there are a few foods and meals to make throughout winter. First, the epitomes of warmth and comfort itself, are two recipes from Ina Garten. Her Giant Crinkled Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe makes large, flat, crunchy, and warm cookies, requiring large, semi-sweet chocolate chunks rather than chips to further elevate it—a delicious, “must have” dessert. Additionally, Garten’s viral Brownie Pudding is incredibly heart-warming. Cooked in a water-bath, the top of the brownie becomes crispy as the inside remains gooey and rich. For the savory fans, Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese Sauce is highly recommended. Filled with onion, carrot, celery, and ground beef, the sauce is delicious with any pasta and extremely cozy. Lastly, the New York Times features a Chicken Noodle Soup recipe by Ali Slagle, her take on the classic, winter-season soup. It is quick and easy, as it calls for chicken stock and cooked chicken, rather than boiling an entire chicken for a few hours. 

Ultimately, the holidays are the perfect time to appreciate the food and meals you make with your family, and food is the perfect way to celebrate and reminisce with your loved ones. Experimenting with new food can bring newfound senses of happiness and excitement, as well as comfort from familiar meals. When you find yourself overwhelmed with the cold and darkness this winter, food can be the best thing to warm you up.