Sharing the holiday spirit with Holiday Plates
Holidays are wonderful for spending time with friends, family and loved ones. In a country as diverse as our landscape, we are blessed to be surrounded by a multitude of cultures and religions. It is so easy to get preoccupied with life and not always make time for our neighbours. In fact, it’s not unheard of to have two families living next door to one another for years without even knowing each other’s names.
My mother in law started a wonderful tradition of holiday plates which I adapted when I joined the family. It’s an array of sweet and savoury snacks to share with your neighbours at your holiday time. Depending on the year, the season and our schedules, the items are either all or partially homemade, wrapped and shared with a small note or card wishing our neighbours well. A couple of items I love to include in our holiday plates are baked samosas and apple turnovers. They are easy to make, easy on the budget and definite crowd pleasers.
What I’ve found over the years is that the language of food is universal. No matter the holiday or culture, sharing food means spreading goodness. Of course it’s always important to keep an eye on the budget around the holidays. I’ve discovered an awesome FREE App called Flipp. It allows you to stay on budget while saving time and money. I personally love that I can price match all my fruits and veggies. I can browse flyers, search for items, create a shopping list and find the best deals on the go. This is especially handy during the holiday season or when cooking for a crowd. It’s no secret that things can get very pricey, very fast. Go download it and try it out for yourself.
Here’s a clip from my segment on Breakfast Television.
I like to mix up my holiday plates from one year to the next. Some year’s I’ll make a plate of brownies topped with M&M’s, other years I will serve cakes, tarts and cookies. The menu is not what matters most at the end of the day, it’s the thoughtfulness and spreading the holiday spirit using the universal language of food.
I love Simosas! I would love to make some but I think they would be too complicated for a newbie cook like me.
Ann they are so easy to make. If the ingredients for the ground beef look complicated, feel free to just start with salt and pepper. Then work your way from there. They are delicious and so versatile.
My family is really keen on samosas, and these ones look great. That Flipp app sounds interesting, and I might just check it out.
They’re super tasty. The Flipp App is wonderful and free to download. You can save anywhere from $25-$50 on an average batch of groceries for your family of four.
Those baked Samosas are the best looking ones I have ever seen. Come to my house and cook for me 🙂
Happily! Though in the meanwhile, they are so easy to make you can whip them up in a jiffy!
These look so yummy!!!
What a great idea! I love it!! I have been thinking about a cookie drop for neighbours!! Those Samosas look delightful!
Thanks! And sounds like a great idea Jennifer.
My mother in law makes homemade treats for teachers & bus drivers. It’s a nice thought, but with all the food allergies out there, you need to be careful.
I make homemade treats for my doctors to say thank you for their awesome care.
I can close my eyes and just imagine how light and flaky your apple turnovers must taste! Now I’m hungry for some!
Those apple turnovers look really delicious! Apple everything is perfect for fall.
Give me an apple turnover and I am a happy lady – they just simply delicious. x
I wish I were your neighbor! The apple turnovers and samosas both look amazing.
I ant those samosa’s and well you know I LOVE Flipp!
Thanks Hollie 🙂 Who doesn’t love Fipp?
I haven’t ever had a simosa before! I’m not sure why.. They look incredible!
I love apple treats this time of year. Fall crisp in the air. Smell of spices and cider. Its just yum.
I have never had a Samosa but they always sounds so delicious. I need to find a place to get an excellent one or learn how to make them!
I love apple turn overs but my kiddo is allergic to apples so we don’t keep them in the house anymore. I miss apples.
Those both look beautiful! And I LOVE that clip – you’re so good!
Thanks Kristen!
Those apple turnovers look really good. I think they would be a big hit at all our family gatherings.
Yum! Those sound great. I also enjoy some heat and that sounds like a great addition to the Samosas! Really great tradition. We all love to eat! You look beautiful and such a sweet voice!
Yummy…love all the good stuff we only seem to make at the holidays. Apple turnovers might be on the menu for today.
I just wrote about getting to know my neighbors, since I don’t. I was thinking a little holiday party. This is a great idea too!
Thanks April!
That is certainly a nice way to get to know your neighbors, to offer them homemade treats. 🙂 I am going to check out Flip. It sounds useful! 🙂
They’re sure to be a hit with your neighbours! Flipp is an awesome App, saving between $25 to $50 on groceries for my family of four is definitely something I can get used to. I absolutely love that it’s free!
Those samosas look delicious! They’re a TEENY bit advanced, but I think they’re worth a try. Yummy!
We just moved to a new neighborhood and I need to meet the neighbors! I’d hate to bake anything as I don’t know about food allergies but I think these look delicious. I might just have to change my thinking and go for it!
Those look like wonderful recipes! Perfect for breakfast, brunch or lunch. They would look really pretty on the holiday table.
It’s awesome that you are carrying on family traditions. Those Apple Turnovers look delicious!
Thanks!
I don’t think I have ever tried it. Now I would like to because it looks so yummy
Oh wow apple turnovers! They look so yummy and perfect for the upcoming Holidays!
Yummy!! Now you have me ready for some holiday food!
I love apple turnovers! I can eat them for breakfast, lunch and snack. Perfection.
I am seriously craving an apple turnover now! I better download that app asap so I can find the best prices of what I need – then I won’t have to wait until payday to make them! 🙂
Those turnovers look so yummy. I have never had simoas.
You are so right about food being a universal language! And this time of year is the best time for it, too. Those both look delicious!!