A favorite part of editing Arkansas Living is preparing, styling and photographing one of our Reader Recipes. It’s something I make time to do every month, and it always brings me joy — and a giant mess. You should see my kitchen by the time I’m done!
Still, it’s worth every dirty dish and sticky spoon piled in the sink, because it connects me to the heart of our readers and the warmth of sharing something cherished and homemade.
This month’s dreamy, ice-creamy White Christmas Punch, contributed by Taylor Smith of Tyronza, gave me the perfect excuse to hoist out my late grandmother Kit’s heavy crystal punch bowl, with its hefty little mugs and delicate ladle. (Yes, that’s her holly plate under the sugar cookies on that page, too!)
I don’t have specific memories of Kit, a gracious entertainer, using the punch bowl. But I know she treasured it, along with her many dishes and her love of collecting that she passed on to me.
Once a staple at every holiday, shower and open house, punch bowls like hers brimmed with something foamy, fizzy and festive. Now they’re usually tucked away in attics, dulled with dust and longing for another chance to shine.
I’m embarrassed to admit that Kit’s beautiful bowl had been buried in the back of the buffet since my last move 10 years ago. Washing it, drying it and seeing its luster return felt like a small act of restoration of both the glass and the memories.
There’s something meaningful about bringing pieces like this back, not just for their sparkle, but for what they represent. When we use our sentimental treasures — Mom’s mixing bowl, Aunt’s candleholders, Grandpa’s carving knife — we’re setting a table that includes the loved ones we miss most this time of year.
This Christmas, reach for something that reminds you of those who made the holidays special. Hang the time-worn ornaments. Savor the gloriously fattening family recipe. Share the stories that make you smile — and pour yourself a little punch while you’re at it.
Cheers,
