Train Up Tuesday: Tasty Traditions

Hello, sisters! It's been awhile for me. Mostly because I've been busy introducing the newest brother to our family (yep, I'm a mom of 3 boys now). I love him SOOooo much. Seriously, I could just eat him up or serve him as my little butterball for Thanksgiving dinner ;-)

Speaking of food (isn't someone always these days?), I thought I'd share a recipe that has become part of our family tradition for Thanksgiving. The holiday has shifted in recent years, as grandparents have passed on and the location and immediate participating family of this celebration has taken on changes. Also, there have been a couple of marriages in recent years which means new in-laws and thus new recipes have been "brought to the table" (pun TOTALLY intended!)...which also means new favorites are part of our "tradition".

Isn't it amazing how food or an aroma can just take you somewhere or to another time? For me, I remember my Grandmother's flat biscuits (which I'm STILL trying to find a way to make....no one knows her recipe), home-made chex mix, divinity fudge, cheese straws, french onion dip, sugar cookies, among many other things...but the finger foods were always a favorite for us grandkids. I think food is important to family because it helps tie our minds and hearts to favorite memories and times together. It also becomes part of our family "story" and "history" that we talk about for many years. It often shapes what we prefer to have at our celebrations just to remember someone or to remember "when". Talk to your children about your favorite food memories growing up. Ask them about theirs. Get them to help you while making the favorite dishes so they can pass it down one day, too.

Now, with our more recent family gatherings at my Mom's, we girls (my sis, my sis-in-law, and myself) have our own dishes that are "must haves" that will maybe be part of our family "stories". I'll share one with you (which happens to be my hubby's fave). I also like it because it doesn't use a lot of dishes or utensils in the prep. Literally, I used the baking/serving dish, a cereal bowl for mixing, and a fork.

Pineapple casserole

1 15oz. can pineapple tidbits
3 tbsp. flour
1 cup finely grated cheddar cheese
½ stick butter or margarine
½ cup sugar
1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed

Drain pineapple and place in bottom of a 9”x9” casserole dish.


Mix cheese, sugar & flour (in the cereal bowl); sprinkle over pineapple.



Crush the crackers in the sleeve (it CAN be done).


Melt the butter in the bowl and mix the crackers with the butter.


Sprinkle butter-covered crackers over the casserole.


Bake 20 minutes at 350°.

This dish is so good. You can serve it as a side, but my honey says it's good enough to be dessert ;-)

So what are your favorite food items for the holidays? What "takes you back"? If you have blogged a recipe or have a link to a favorite, please post in the comments!

Much love,
Ashlie