An Old-Fashioned Christmas

Ever since watching Bing Crosby sing White Christmas with the Vermont woods as the backdrop, I think has always lingered in my mind as the perfect vision of what Christmas would look like. It's truly my favorite time of year, not just with gift giving, but a time to spend with family and friends, gathered together over a nice meal on a cold winter's night. That is the ideal way of celebrating during this time of the year. Now I have a great book to share with you, An Old-Fashioned Christmas: Sweet Traditions for Hearth and Home by Ellen Stimson. In this beautiful hardcover book, she shares what has been called her families annual Christmas Adventure with readers. Along the way, she passes along some fantastic and mouth-watering recipes from her family who lives, believe it or not right in the heart of Vermont. 98 of them are included in this book along with some nostalgic photos of favorite Christmas ornaments her family has gathered during their life time, along with the story of what inspired that particular purchase.

It is the very same thing we all do during Christmas each year, with our own traditions, or recipes making their way to the dinner table or as we unpack boxes of ornaments, perhaps taking a bit of time as we unwrap each one and remember the time and event that inspired that purchase, from a new home, first child or other significant but memorable time from the past. It makes me want to incorporate my own book if you will that I can pass along with my family as our legacy continues long after family members are gone. Some of the traditions captured in Ellen's book are Christmas ornaments. Some members collect what is relevant in their life at the time, while others are drawn to something symbolic about the ornament they choose or a memory that it brings back from a distant time in the past. It's a ritual their family keeps going each year and one my own mother instilled in me, many years ago before I moved out and have since passed along to my own kids.

Some of the recipes I can't wait to try during Thanksgiving dinner like, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Corn Pudding, Eggnog Gooey Butter Cookies, Maple Pepper Bacon, and Sugar Glazed Donuts!! There are simply so many good ones to try I'll be experimenting all through the Christmas season. There are even some dog friendly home made treats so your four-legged friends don't miss out on the fun either! Included in the book are some great Christmas movie and book recommendations as well as places for your family to stay if they want to consider taking a vacation to Vermont during the holiday season and some favorite online retailers that offer New England products that can be delivered to your door just in time for Christmas as well. Truly something for everyone!

I received An Old-Fashioned Christmas: Sweet Traditions for Hearth and Home by Ellen Stimson compliments of The Countryman Press and TLC Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. This is a perfect gift to anyone who truly loves Christmas and offers some incredible traditions you might want to incorporate into your family each year depending on where you live. I know for me, this one will be a family favorite for many years to come and has found a permanent place on our bookshelf. I easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about An Old-Fashioned Christmas: Sweet Traditions for Hearth and Home, Ellen Stimson or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

An Old Fashioned Christmas: Sweet Traditions for Hearth and Home by Ellen Stimson 

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To read more reviews or participate in a giveaway opportunity of this book, please visit TLC's Book Tour Page.