Christmas…past, present, and future (Amish Cinnamon Bread)
Christmas…past, present, and future
Amish Cinnamon Bread
The Heart’s Way for Creative Clinicians
With the holidays approaching, I thought it would be fun to change up things a bit and share some cozy, feel-good, and (in this case) tasty topics. Christmas…past, present, and future is about Christmas memories and traditions, such as the joy of baking, eating, and sharing Amish Cinnamon Bread. It’s updated from the original 2015 post published on The Heart’s Way, Imagery and Insights. I hope you enjoy it…and consider making your own for your friends and family!
I’ve been thinking about Christmas…past, present, and future.
Our lives are filled with busyness, particularly around the holidays. Planning and preparing for seasonal celebrations can bring about feelings of stress and anxiety. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to take some time to slow down, unwind, relax? As we contemplate what we would like our holidays to look like this year, perhaps we can take a cue from those special times in the past.
Christmas…past
For me, Christmas past seemed less stressful, less hurried, more meaningful. Maybe it was because I had fewer responsibilities and more time to spend with loved ones. Can you remember such a time from your past? Sometimes it’s the small things around the holidays that are the most memorable. Simple traditions from the past. I grew up during the time that silver (aluminum) Christmas trees were popular. I remember sitting for what seemed like hours looking at the changing lights on the tree. Later in life, my family gifted me with my own silver Christmas tree. That’s love, folks! Another simple thing I remember during Christmastime were sweet treats, like fudge and cream cheese treasures and Amish Cinnamon Bread.
My mother would bake loaf after loaf of Amish Cinnamon Bread for family and friends at Christmastime. I’m talking homemade, made from scratch…with love Amish Cinnamon Bread (also known as Friendship Bread).
The best part of making this bread is that you save out a little bit of the “starter” to either make another batch of bread…or give it to someone else so they can bake their own loaves…and experience the deliciousness of this family tradition. So, I thought, what better present could I share with you, my friends? What Christmas traditions do you carry forward to Christmas present?
Christmas…present
Christmas present doesn’t have to be so stressful, especially if we take out some time to engage in the wonder and humbleness of baking. I can’t bake the bread for you (wish I could!), but I can give you the recipes of this delicious treat!
Christmas…future
This leads me to Christmas future…where you now can spread the tidings of good cheer to your family and friends!
I’ve included the recipe for the Amish Cinnamon Bread starter here (Amish Cinnamon Bread Starter). You’ll have fun with this…it’s a bit like a science experiment! The starter takes about 10 days to complete.
After your starter is ready to go, you can make the bread. The bread recipe takes 9 days to prepare and you can bake it on day 10. I’ve included that recipe here (Amish Cinnamon Bread Recipe).
This Amish Cinnamon Bread starter and recipe is definitely old-fashioned! Although admittedly time consuming, I assure you that it’s very easy to do. And it is so worth the effort! I hope you enjoy this treat…from my family to yours!
I’d love to hear from you about your Amish Cinnamon Bread experience. And any holiday traditions that you are working to preserve for the future! Happy Holidays!
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