Almond Stick with mom.....................traditions!

Every year for......................years, I don't even know how many, my mom and I have done our part to fit into the dutch community, and we make almond stick.

My mom buys the ingredients, mixes up the dough and filling, and then brings everything to my house and we assemble them and bake (and sample :-) them. I know, you're thinking - Hey, I want in on that deal! I tease my mom and tell her as long as I can get her wheelchair up to the counter, she's not getting out of our tradition!! :-)
My mom makes the best - even real Dutchies say that! Her dough is SOOOOOOOOOOOO flaky and they ALWAYS turn out. Every year she says "I don't think they're going to turn out this year"- but every year they do.

I miss my dad on days like this - he would help mom haul everything in, and then he would sit down with a book and a blanket by the fire - ready to sample at any minute. He didn't love almond stick - but he liked it warm. Typing about him, makes me sit here and cry - so we'll move on - I miss you daddy!

We always do a double batch, that's 16 almond stick.

My mom rolls out the dough (the hardest part by far)............................(she can roll it out perfectly rectangle and the perfect size!)..................................
I put in the filling and roll 'em up................................

and the hardest job of all is for Emily :-)................................
My favorite thing about the holidays is the traditions...................sleeping by the tree on Christmas Eve, making almond stick, my annual goodies list, having the Brim gang over, having my family around....................we are blessed indeed!