Brandy snap tubes, rainbow popcorn and red and green jelly.

In our house the Christmas season starts when the birthday season ends. For our family we are lucky enough to not have any birthdays between the 31st of October and the 18th of March. Once Halloween is finished I start Christmas shopping for gifts and food that I stash here there and everywhere. We bake, decorate and watch Christmas movies. It’s great!!

When you think of Christmas traditions in Australia special food is generally at the top of the list for most people. Stone fruits, pavlova, seafood, prawns, puddings, cookies and trifles make an appearance at most Aussie households over the festive period. Specific foods we only have at Christmas time.

I joked with my kids a few years ago and honestly didn’t think they would remember. But we knew it was Christmas when mum broke open a bag of rainbow 🌈 popcorn”. A few weeks ago I asked the girls. Do you know what it means once Anton’s birthday and Halloween are done? to which Miss Em replied!!! “Christmas and 🌈 rainbow popcorn.

Christmas was always awesome growing up, I don’t remember it being bad. I also don’t remember it being as extravagant as it is now, but we didn’t care. At one nana’s house for Christmas she would break out the red AND green jelly, because HELL it was Christmas after all. I haven’t had the heart to tell her I’ve never liked Jelly.

My food tradition with my kids is brandy snap tubes. I made them when both the girls were really little because they were simple and moorish. I don’t actually make them from scratch, I just dip each end of store bought ones in melted chocolate let them set then fill them with whipped cream. My first Christmas without my kids (they were at their dads) I cried and cried because all I wanted I was brandy snap tubes and they were out of stock. Last year mum bought the last 10 packs in Woolies Alice Springs in November because she wasn’t having a repeat of Christmas 2012.

It’s not the expense it’s the memory! I’ve never liked jelly but I remember. I’m not a huge fan of rainbow popcorn but I remember! Brandy snaps may not be fancy but at the very least I hope they remember!!

Merry Christmas 🎄 and happy munching.

Bec