Life during COVID can feel stressful and isolating. So during this holiday season, responsible gatherings can be a soothing balm. We know the recent resurgence of the virus may curtail many plans, but small groups of vaccinated and tested friends and family can still come together to celebrate the gifts we still possess. One thing COVID has given us is a renewed focus on all the non-material abundance in our lives: family, friends, and co-workers.
Growing up Easter was always one of the most special days of the year. My sister and I would wake up at the crack of dawn to see big, beautiful baskets stuffed with green plastic grass, overflowing with candies and toys, all courtesy of the Easter Bunny. The carrots we left out for a late-night bunny treat would be so carefully gnawed on and we would be tickled to see our treasures. We would put on our frilly dresses and head to church all in anticipation of what we knew was waiting for us after mass. Year after year, we would celebrate the holiday at my Nana’s house. She would put together the most beautiful Easter buffet complete with so many Italian favorites and what seemed like endless desserts! After lunch, we would partake in the annual Easter egg hunt. My Nana would hide hundreds of eggs outside in her yard which was made for such an event and we would all scurry to fill our baskets. My Uncle Veto would follow around with his video camera catching the smiles on our faces as we found the eggs under leaves, in trees, and my personal favorite – in the rain gutters! The whole holiday was straight out of a storybook.
Family traditions are one of my favorite things – the rituals, the memories, the nostalgic feelings of family traditions provide me so much joy. I was raised in a Catholic family and we celebrated holidays in a big way. All the major holidays were big deals in my family and celebrated way more than birthdays, so holidays are super important to me. One of my favorite things about my husband is that he is Jewish, and I have spent the last 7 years not only getting to celebrate the major holidays I grew up with but also celebrating all the Jewish holidays. I was pretty familiar with Hanukkah and even Rosh Hashanah, but full disclosure, I knew nothing about Passover. I vividly remember going to my future brother and sister-in-law’s house for Passover the first time. I was super excited to attend and learn about all the traditions of Passover. I won’t lie – I was also intimidated because I was hosting Passover the second night to a big crowd, and somewhat terrified about that experience. Ok fine – I was more than terrified. I sat at the table soaking it all in, completely mesmerized by all the prayers, songs, new to me foods, the wine (so much wine), and all the traditions. I also fell even more in love with matzo ball soup that night.
My favorite Passover menu item!
Everything is harder in 2020, especially writing this end of year top ten. Every time I start to think back on the year, I feel like I am getting assaulted with everything we have faced this year. It is like being hit with snowball after snowball – in the face. I am sitting at my actual desk for the first time in months writing this, by myself, with just a small lamp, hot cup of tea, great music on, no distractions – the perfect setting to write a blog. I have been staring at my screen for 30 minutes and now have come back to trying to write this blog for three days. How do you put into words in a one-page blog what this year has been like? How do you explain surviving as a company in a year where you were forced to cease doing the very thing that your business is about? How do you properly recognize the resiliency and amazing teamwork our team has shown this year to survive?
I mean – it’s been a long year, no?
But Christmas is here, and it is officially time for reflection and celebration. Here goes.
I have been with Catering by Michaels for around ten years, and I’ve seen some changes. One thing that remains the same: we do Christmas right! Each year our culinary team creates new and innovative items for our special holiday menu; our pastry chef practically moves into his pastry kitchen and spends every waking hour making assorted Christmas cookies, cakes, pies – oh my!
