2009 Old Fashioned Christmas Schedule

Schedule Update!
Due to inclement weather the Old Fashioned Christmas Fireworks Display will be held on December 13 at 6:00 pm and the John Gracie Concert will be held December 13 at 7:30 pm in St. James Presbyterian Church. Hope to see you there!

The 2009 edition of Sherbrooke Village's Old Fashioned Christmas celebrations will take place from Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 29, and from Friday, December 4 to Sunday, December 6. 2009 marks the 14th annual Old Fashioned Christmas and will feature an opening night tree lighting and procession, Christmas crafts, concerts, dinner theatre, Victorian tea and more

Christmas Recipes

Some of the following recipes are a part of the Sherbrooke Village recipe collection. The collection is a book of recipes printed on the old fashioned press at the St. Mary's Printery within Sherbrooke Village.

Apple Crumble

Ingredients:
6 apples peeled and sliced
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar

Sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar over apples in baking dish, mix well.

Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup rolled oats

Mix well and sprinkle loosely over apples. Bake at 350.

Cottage Pudding

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp salt
4 Tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla
4 tsp baking powder
1 cup milk
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups raisins
2 cups brown sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 tsp nutmeg
5 cups boiling water

Mix batter in usual manner. Put batter in a greased 9x13 inch pan. Make sauce by combining brown sugar, butter and nutmeg in a deep bowl. Add boiling water and stir. Pour sauce over batter. Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until golden brown. As this pudding bakes the batter rises to the top and sauce stays on the bottom.

Gingerbread

Ingredients:
1 cup butter and 1 cup shortening, mixed
2 eggs
2 cup molasses
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1 cup sugar
5 cups flour
3 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups hot water

Cream together butter, shortening and sugar. Add the beaten eggs and molasses. Add dry ingredients. Add hot water and beat until smooth. Bake in a greased 9 x 13 pan at 325 for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the well beaten eggs and flavouring. Lastly add the dry ingredients which have been sifted toghether. Roll not too thin, and 1/4 of an inch, and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake 10 minutes at 375. Using a 2 inch cookie cutter, this makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Sponsors

In addition to thanking all of the people and groups who give so freely of their time and talents, the Old Fashioned Christmas Committee would like to thank our sponsors and community partners:

Opening Night Sponsor:

Antigonish Eastern Shore Tourist Association
A.W. Leil Cranes & Equipment Limited
The Chronicle-Herald
Conserve Nova Scotia
Emergency
Health Services
ExxonMobil
Home Hardware
Municipality of the District of St. Mary's
Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture

Nova Scotia Power
Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 56
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Sherbrooke)
Sherbrooke Village Restoration
Shoppers Drug Mart
St. Mary's Lions Club
St. Mary's Lioness
St. Mary's Tourism Association
St. Mary's Volunteer Fire Department

Tree Care Tips

There are a few important things you should know about selecting and caring for your Christmas tree. The first consideration should be freshness. After all, you want to be sure that your tree will survive through the entire holiday season. Don't buy or cut your tree any sooner than you have to. If you must cut it early, store your tree in an unheated area such as a porch or garage to protect it from the heat and other elements until you are ready to decorate it.

Tree Care Tips:

1. Make a fresh cut across the bottom of the trunk to open up the pores in the wood, allowing it to absorb water readily. Make the cut about one inch above the old base.
2. At this point, place the tree in the stand.
3. Depending on the size, species, and location of the tree, it may absorb a gallon of water in the first day, so it should be checked frequently and re-watered as necessary.
4. Keep your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators and television sets. Make sure that all of your light cords are in good shape.
5. When you are finished with your tree, recycle it instead of throwing it away!