From Our Homes to Yours
Nothing brings the holidays to life quite like the flavors, memories, and traditions we share. This year, our Pathfinder team is opening their kitchens and hearts to share their favorite recipes and holiday traditions. From cherished family dishes to special seasonal moments, these stories offer inspiration and practical ideas to help you create your own meaningful celebrations this holiday season. The holidays mean different things to different people. This year, our Pathfinder team is opening the door just a little, sharing the recipes, traditions, and small moments that bring us comfort and joy.
Consider this our holiday gift to you. Not a guide or a checklist, just real stories from real people who care deeply about the work we do and the communities we serve.
A Holiday Breakfast that Stands the Test of Time
Megan Hart, M.Ed., NCC
Breakfast on Christmas mornings has always been a special part of our family traditions. As a child, I did not realize the significance of gathering around the table to eat with my siblings and parents. It served as a way for the six of us to slow down and enjoy being together without immediately becoming absorbed in the gifts, gadgets, and toys we received.
Over the years, aspects of breakfast have changed. The main dish has varied year to year from scrambled eggs to French toast to breakfast casserole to shrimp and grits. The timing of breakfast has also changed—the older my siblings and I got, the later we slept, turning breakfast into brunch. As adults, those in attendance have changed, too. Since my sister continues to live in Phoenix, Arizona, where we grew up, we miss having her join us every year. My two brothers have their own families, including my niece and two nephews. In recent years, we have moved our Christmas brunch to Christmas Eve and turned it into a larger gathering with close friends. As our family has changed, so have our family traditions, but family breakfast together during the holidays continues to be part of our celebration.
Despite the main breakfast dishes varying, we always enjoy this recipe as a delicious side item at our Christmas (or other) celebrations. It is especially popular with guests at our Christmas Eve Brunch. Christmas brunch will be different again this year, and although I am relieving my mom of most of the cooking by buying premade food, she has graciously agreed to make this recipe.
Fruit Dip
½ pint Whipping Cream
Powdered Sugar (to taste)
Almond Extract (to taste)
1 container of Sour Cream
Mix whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff. Add the almond extract to the desired taste and mix well. Fold in sour cream. Serve with your choice of fruit (strawberries are a Hart Family favorite).
From Turkey to Tinsel: A Tradition of Togetherness
Linda Brown
One of our favorite family Christmas traditions is putting up the tree on Thanksgiving Day. While the turkey is still cooking, we gather around, pull out the decorations, and decide together where everything should go. After that, we sit down for our Thanksgiving feast, and of course, enjoy a well-deserved nap afterward. Then, we get into the holiday spirit by decorating the house with lights, ornaments, and all our special touches. On Christmas Eve, we cozy up together and watch our favorite version of A Christmas Carol, the 1951 classic starring Alastair Sim. That’s the only version we watch, and it feels just right for us. Besides that, we don’t have many set traditions. For us, it’s about taking a little time to relax, enjoy each other’s company, and talk about what’s going on in our lives. As we enter a new chapter in our lives, we will discuss forming new traditions to create lasting memories.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!!
Nicaragua’s Glow: Finding Joy in Togetherness
Andrea Castillo
One of the things that makes me feel good during the holidays is remembering my time living in Nicaragua and the way the entire country seemed to glow with a special kind of togetherness. It wasn’t just the lights strung across the streets or the sound of fireworks echoing in the evening; it was the feeling of community. People looked out for one another, and families and neighbors shared what they had with genuine warmth.
Walking through a Nicaraguan town in December was magical, the smell of Nacatamales cooking, the laughter of children during the Purísima celebrations (a tradition honoring the Immaculate Conception of Mary), and the familiar greetings from people you might not even know by name, but who welcomed you like family. These moments remind me that joy doesn’t need to be grand or expensive. It often comes from connection, tradition, and the recognition that we all belong to something bigger than ourselves.
Now, during the holidays, I feel most grounded when I pause to take in these simple blessings. I’ve learned to carry my traditions with me wherever I call home, whether it’s sharing a cup of cacao, lighting a candle, or watching the sunset from my backyard. These small rituals remind me to appreciate the present moment with my family.
If you’re reading this, I hope you find something in your own traditions, whether in Nicaragua or anywhere in the world, that fills you with peace, strength, and hope. The holidays are a chance to reconnect, rebuild, and remember that even the smallest light can guide us forward.
Mamaw’s 5-Cup Holiday Magic
April Meredith
My grandmother, affectionately called “Mammaw,” was an amazing home chef who never turned away a hungry child. She didn’t just feed bodies, she fed souls. One of her holiday specialties was 5-Cup Salad, a tradition my sister and I proudly continue. It’s sweet, simple, and perfect for any occasion.
The classic recipe uses one cup each of:
- Miniature marshmallows
- Shredded coconut
- Drained mandarin oranges
- Drained pineapple chunks
- Sour cream
I like adding crushed pecans, while my sister prefers extra of her favorites. For large gatherings, she skips measuring and uses:
- A bag of marshmallows
- 8 oz sour cream
- Two cans each of fruit cocktail, pineapple, and mandarin oranges
- ½–¾ bag of coconut
- Pecans, optional
Get creative! Add red and green cherries for Christmas or make a patriotic version with pineapple stars, cherries, and blueberries for Independence Day. Use fresh fruit for a lighter twist. Serve it as a side or dessert, even in martini glasses for an elegant touch, and call it Ambrosia.
Like Mammaw, gather loved ones to make and share this festive treat. It’s more than a recipe. It’s a way to fill hearts as well as bellies.
Flavors of Noche Buena: A Feast of Tradition
Jennifer Padron
As the Christmas season unfolds, Christmas Eve, known as “Noche Buena,” is one of many holiday traditions. We celebrate being together and prepare food traditions/ dishes.
- Mexican Pozole Rojo – A rich stew made with hominy and tender pork simmered in a flavorful red chile broth.
- Homemade Mexican Tamales (my favorite) – Corn-based masa dough filled with meats or cheese, wrapped in corn husks, and steamed. Making tamales is a process, but it’s fun with multiple people helping to stuff and wrap!
- Ponche Navideño – A warm, fragrant Christmas punch made with apples, guavas, cinnamon, and cloves.
- Champurrado – A thick, chocolatey drink enriched with masa and spices, perfect for cold nights.
- Churros – Golden pastries dusted with cinnamon sugar, crisp on the outside and soft inside.
Creating memories, continuing traditions, and spending time with my family make me feel good during the holidays.
Monkey Bread: A Sweet Start to Christmas Morning
Margaret Sanders, M.Ed.
For me, monkey bread has always been the unofficial start to Christmas morning. The sweet, sticky aroma that fills the house while it bakes is the first sign that the holiday has truly arrived. I remember waking up as a kid to the sound of the oven timer and the quiet clatter of my parents pulling apart the golden, caramelized pieces of dough.
It is not just the taste, though the warm, gooey cinnamon and brown sugar are undeniably comforting. It is the ritual itself. Everyone gathers around the pan, fingers reaching in to pull off pieces, laughing at the inevitable mess, and sharing stories or teasing each other over who got the biggest chunk. There is something intimate about that act, breaking bread together in a way that feels communal.
Over the years, I have found that making monkey bread has become a personal tradition too, a way to pause and savor the morning before the chaos of gifts and family activities. Each batch carries with it memories of past holidays and the hope of creating new ones.
In a small, sticky, cinnamon-coated way, monkey bread reminds me that Christmas is about connection, warmth, and the simple joys of sharing something sweet with the people you love.
Recipe link: Granny’s Monkey Bread.
Kwanzaa: A Week of Purpose and Connection
Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
Every year, my family gathers to celebrate Kwanzaa, a tradition that brings us joy, connection, and a deeper appreciation for who we are. Kwanzaa gives us a full week to pause, be intentional, and honor the Seven Principles that guide how we live:
Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles)
Day 1:Umoja (Unity)
Day 2: Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
Day 3: Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility)
Day 4: Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
Day 5: Nia (Purpose)
Day 6: Kuumba (Creativity)
Day 7: Imani (Faith).
During the celebration, we cook, talk, laugh, and reflect on what the year has taught us. One of the most meaningful parts for our family is exchanging Zawadi, gifts that have purpose. We usually give things like books, handmade items, or anything that encourages learning, creativity, or personal growth. It’s not about cost or perfection; it’s about intention and meaning.
What makes me feel good during the holidays, and what I hope inspires others, is how simple and grounding Kwanzaa can be. It reminds us that joy lives in connection, culture, and spending time with people who matter. Watching the younger generation participate, learn the principles, and carry the tradition forward is one of the highlights of my year.
Kwanzaa helps us close out the year with gratitude and step into the new one with clarity, strength, and purpose. It’s a tradition that keeps my family connected and gives me something real to look forward to every holiday season.
