Christmas Delight

12-24-25

By Carole Canfield
There are so very many Christmas specialties when it comes to your holiday table. Christmas is finally a night away. Children can’t wait to wake up on Christmas morning to find that special thing they’ve dreamed about under the tree; a phone, a PlayStation 5, money, gift cards and clothing plus much, much more. However, the adults will sleep through tonight with thoughts of delicious once-a-year foods served up on the holiday table, from the standard mashed potatoes and stuffing, with gravy, ham or turkey. Some will have scrumptious prime rib, green bean casserole, corn, Hawaiian King sweet rolls, deviled eggs, cranberry sauce, pumpkin roll and apple pie. Don’t forget the assortment of homemade cookies! But wait!! Where is this once a year delight? Whew! There it is sitting in the center of the table! Scalloped Oysters— so tasty and such a treat. They are Grandma June’s special recipe and we will share it with you tonight!
Scalloped oysters are a creamy, baked delicacy in a casserole. The dish has been cherished ever since the 19th century or before. They were popular during the 20th century, even though the cost of oysters increased and oysters were not as readily available for some time.
The recipe itself: One pint of shucked oysters (keeping the liquid ); one and a half cups saltines, crushed into crumbs; one stick melted sweet butter; salt and pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons cream. The instructions are: drain the oysters, rinse them, pat them dry, (if they’re large cut into small pieces). Preheat your oven at 425 degrees; butter a shallow baking dish; blend the melted butter and one third of the crushed crackers; spread evenly. Add a third of the crumb mixture into the dish, cover with half of the oysters plus two tablespoons of the oyster liqueur and one tablespoon of the cream. Add another third of the crumbly cracker mixture, then top with the remaining half of oysters plus two tablespoons of the oyster liqueur and the remaining two tablespoons of cream. Cover with the remainder of the crumbs. Bake in your 425 oven for 20 minutes, checking for a golden brown top. Let it cool and Enjoy!!
From our kitchen to yours: “Merry Christmas and A Prosperous New Year!”