Food traditions appeal to more than our tastebuds

The December holidays are often embraced for their comforting traditions, whether in the foods we consume or the rituals we repeat.

We want each holiday moment to be special, like those that we remember from years past or our childhood. From choosing the best presents to give to finding the perfect recipe to serve, there’s something magical about re-creating the scene and making each year better than the last.

This is where the best family traditions come in, both the old ones handed down from generations past and the new ones created for future generations to cherish.

My holiday food favorites include the cutout cookies that my children and I bake to leave out for Santa (my recipe is on Page 25) and the potato soup that my mother-in-law makes each Christmas Eve. It just wouldn’t feel like Christmas without those traditions.

Our cover story this month features the holiday food traditions of several Stark County residents. And let me tell you, we found some good ones: Apple walnut chicken, Sunrise casserole, pirogies, rigatoni with sauce and sufganiyot. Yum.

The stories (starting on Page 19) behind each of the foods — and how they became traditional for each of the families — make the recipes even more appealing.

So dig in — and enjoy every moment of your holiday this year.

About Your Home Design Challenge

We have some fantastic spaces to show off this month, courtesy of the winners of the About Your Home Design Challenge.

Months back, we asked readers to submit before and after photos of a room makeover for our contest. Both professional and do-it-yourself designers were free to enter. The entries were scored on functionality (30 percent), originality (30 percent) and visual appeal (40 percent).

As a part of the judging panel for the contest, I can tell you that the winning rooms each had something unique that appealed to the judges. The overall winning room, a kitchen, caught our attention in particular because it turned what appeared to be a nice, functional kitchen into something extraordinary. The results are amazing. Meet the kitchen’s homeowners, check out the before and after photos of their space and see the runner-up entries starting on Page H-8.