Regardless of the holiday that a person celebrates, a common holiday tradition among many different celebrations is the special array of foods that are associated with the occasion. With the holiday season in full swing this December, these special foods are definitely something to look forward to. I wanted to channel the excitement for the holiday season and ask what some people’s favorite holiday foods are. From cookies and pie to cranberry sauce and ham, Magnet students love it all!
Three people said that cranberry sauce is their favorite holiday food; however, two people specified and said that canned cranberry sauce is the only acceptable type.
Iris Steele said that cranberry sauce is excellent in essentially every holiday dish, as well as leftovers from these holiday celebrations. Additionally, Lance Campbell said the taste and Jello-like consistency of cranberry sauce is spectacular. Sophomore John Miles-Olson, who seems very passionate about canned cranberry sauce, said “[Cranberry sauce] is too good. I have never eaten something better. Every Thanksgiving I am the only one eating it, I will eat it out of the can. I cried when I saw that a can I was saving went bad.” On top of this, he clarified the type of cranberry sauce he prefers, saying “And none of that gross homemade garbage, the real stuff. I want that gelatinous fruit loaf right now. I need it. I have a can at home I will be devouring after school. No can of cranberry sauce can escape me, it’s just a matter of time.” I really hope that during this holiday season John is able to enjoy some cranberry sauce, and only the storemade kind.
Sophomore Christina Little said that apple pie is delicious and that biscuits are great because they go with pretty much anything. Elena Barber also said that apple pie is her favorite holiday dessert. She said that the apple pie she makes is delicious and also visually appealing because of the lattice top and bottom of the pie. She said she likes to eat it cold or warm with ice cream.
Freshman Isabella Steele said that her favorite holiday foods are Baked Mac and Cheese, Honey Baked Ham, Sticky Buns, Rolls. All of these are great and Isabella said they’re her favorite because of the nostalgia associated with these foods, claiming they’re childhood favorites.
Another common favorite food that I found are cookies with 7 people saying that is one of their favorite foods. John Rosato said that he loves cookies during the holiday season because of the cookie dough.
Likewise, Senior Quinn Enright said that she loves gingerbread cookies and they are some of her favorite holiday treats (in addition to soup and peppermint bark). Quinn said gingerbread cookies are amazing because “The taste is literally Christmas in a bite. They’re fun to decorate and give away.” I agree, gingerbread cookies are a perfect representation of the Holiday season and it is so fun to decorate them or even make a gingerbread house. Plus, they do make amazing gifts, like Quinn suggests, and let’s be real, a staple of the Holiday season is giving gifts to the people in our lives to show appreciation.
Like Quinn mentioned, peppermint bark is another holiday staple. Quinn said that “it’s much easier to find during the holidays and it’s so so good.” Peppermint barks encapsulates the feeling of the holidays so well, and, yes they are a lot easier to find during the holiday season. Nothing beats a nice Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark square. Freya Lawrence also listed peppermint bark as a holiday classic, along with hot chocolate, because of the chocolate that each of these treats has.
Machaela Black also shared her love of peppermint bark saying “First of all, I love everything that makes my tongue tingle, especially peppermint!” In addition to this, she talked about her love for spice cookies saying “I really love to bake, so every year I try to make something to share with everyone!” Finally, Machaela mentioned how hot chocolate is a nice break from the cold during the winter, ”And who doesn’t appreciate a nice cup of piping hot chocolate stacked with dozens of marshmallows after a day of being outside in the cold?”
While staying on the topic of Holiday drinks, some people mentioned their love for Starbucks limited Holiday Drinks. One person discussed their enjoyment of Starbucks Holiday drinks, particularly the Peppermint Mocha, and said “they make me want to spread holiday cheer and it’s so peppermint and christmas-y.” It’s truly a bummer that these drinks are only available for a limited time every year, but I guess that is part of what makes them so special. On that note, another article in this edition goes deeper into Starbucks’ holiday drink menu, so be sure to check that out to hear more about the drinks featured on their holiday menu!
Another popular choice of favorite holiday foods was Christmas Crack(le). Macie Correia said that she really enjoys the Christmas Crack that her aunt makes every year, though it can be really sweet. On top of Christmas Crack, Macie said “Knishes and mussels are delicious, and my mom always talks about our family history/heritage when she makes them.” Alaina Jarrett also said that the Christmas Crack that her Grandma makes is also one of her favorite holiday treats. Alaina said that Christmas Crack is caramel and pecans on top of graham crackers, which honestly sounds delicious!
Rowan Podolsky said that his favorite holiday foods include candy canes, latkes, and gingerbread because of how these three include sweet and salty foods and are still delicious. Freya Lawrence also listed candy canes as a holiday favorite because they are sweet and channel the holiday vibes.
Overall, there is such a large variety of favorite holiday foods at Magnet; there are some sweet, some salty, some desserts, and some full meals. Thank you to everyone who answered the survey and participated in this! I hope everybody has a great holiday season this year and can enjoy some great food!
