Christmas Carols and Birthday Wishes

Sunday, December 8, 2013
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. I have much of my shopping done – and wrapped! – and our evenings are filling up with visiting friends and loved ones we don’t see enough of the rest of the year.

Part of the pre-Christmas fun is observing the same traditions every year, like watching White Christmas and reading A Christmas Carol out loud as a family. But this year we did something different – we attended a production of A Christmas Carol, put on by my friend Sara and her theatre company. The story is a true classic, and relates the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from money-hungry miser to a man imbued with a spirit of generosity and love. We shivered at the sound of Jacob Marley’s chains and surreptitiously wiped our eyes over Tiny Tim’s predicted death. After the show, the girls gamely posed with the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. We loved this fun, energetic performance and may just have started a new Christmas tradition.


Yesterday was also Andrew’s fiftieth birthday. Rather than celebrating with a party, he chose to spend a quiet day with us. Our oldest daughter gave him song lyrics as a gift (more about Andrew’s music in another post!) and we had dinner at one of our favourite restaurants, Salt. We celebrated with dessert at home. I had offered to make whatever birthday dessert he wanted; like me, he isn’t really a cake person, and asked for this Berry Crisp. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t posted this recipe yet. I’ve made it for years and we always love it. 

Happy birthday to my dear husband!


Mixed Berry Crisp
(barely adapted from Bon Appetit)

6 cups frozen mixed berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries), unthawed
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour (first amount)
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup flour (second amount)
3/4 cup old-fashioned oats (not instant)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
7 Tbsp chilled butter, diced

Combine berries, sugar, 1/4 cup flour and lemon juice. Mix well and transfer to greased glass or pyrex dish. Combine remaining 3/4 cup flour, oats, brown sugar, spices and salt in medium bowl. Add butter and combine. Sprinkle over berry mixture and pat gently into place.


Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Can be served warm or at room temperature.

20 comments:

Kimberly said...

You are so good to have your shopping done, and wrapped! What a wonderful tradition and the start of a new one with A Christmas Carol - I love that movie. The berry crips looks very yummy.

Anonymous said...

That looks like a wonderful birthday dessert! As much as I like chocolate, I love a good fruit dessert.

Valerie Gamine said...

Berry crisps should be served on birthdays much more frequently! Love!!
(That first photo made me very curious to read the story behind it.) :D

Kitchen Riffs said...

Crisps are such a great dessert! We rarely make them with berries, though - we should. I'll bet the flavor is wonderful! Happy Birthday to Andrew, and thanks for a delish recipe.

Julie said...

Wow shopping done and wrapped! Nice! My shopping is done but I don't care for wrapping, so I always put that off. Happy Birthday to your husband. Looks like a delicious crisp recipe! Have a great week!

Belinda said...

Happy birthday! The more to celebrate!

Daniela Grimburg said...

A Cristmas Carol is a tradition to watch in our family as well as going to see the Nutcracker Ballet during Advent.
This is a time for family traditions and if one of them is as delicious as your Berry crisp, mmh:)
Happy belated Birthday to your husband, Beth!

Gloria Baker said...

Im mpressed you have shoppngs made!! and love the Berry crsp!!

Display name said...

Lucky him to get that crisp! Looks lovely :) ela

Vi said...

Feels so good to have my shopping done too! We saw a live production of the Christmas carol last year and it was really neat to see it on stage. A great story.

Kathy said...

A Christmas Carol has always been one of my favorite Christmas stories. I watch it every Christmas…that and It’s a Wonderful Life! Happy Birthday to your husband. The berry crisp sounds like a great treat for a celebration!

Unknown said...

Such a lovely family you have Beth and such a fun time. It looks like everyone had a wonderful time, it's so good to create memories like this!

Monet said...

Aren't fruit crisps the best? I love them so very much. And I loved hearing about your new Christmas tradition. It sounds like it was so much fun!

Andrea_TheKitchenLioness said...

Beth, Happy belated Birthday to your husband! It sounds as if you all spend a wonderful evening together! The crisp is always such a nice comforting dssert to serve!

Joanne said...

This crisp is such a lovely way to celebrate! Happy belated birthday to your husband!!

Inger @ Art of Natural Living said...

Happy birthday to Andrew! Sounds like you have some lovely holiday traditions--we watch White Christmas too and go to see the Nutcracker which the girls used to dance in when they were younger. Congrats on your shopping!

Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl said...

This berry crisp looks amazing! I love crisp but totally forgot about it for a few months, thanks for the delicious reminder! Happy belated birthday to your love!

Katerina said...

Happy birthday to your husband Beth! I think the best way to celebrate is with your family! The crisp sounds like a great idea!

Caroline Taylor said...

Happy birthday to him! Love your recipe too.

Angie's Recipes said...

Beth, Happy belated Birthday to your husband! The crisp looks very delicious.

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