My name is Alex Kitchens, and I am the social media editor for HottyToddy.com. Although I am currently an Oxford resident, I am originally from Montgomery, Alabama. My mom’s side of the family is from the small town of Opp, Alabama.
Everyone in Opp knew the Johnson family. My great great grandfather was the mayor, my great grandmother could out fish any man in town, my great grandfather was the most liked person in town and my grandfather was the hunky football star that everyone wanted; but, he only had eyes for one girl in high school and that was my grandmother. And… these are their traditions:
My family’s Christmas tradition started over 70 years ago, in Opp, Alabama, with the Johnson family. My great great grandmother started hosting Christmas brunches in the 1940s. The main dish is fried turkey, which is always a crowd favorite. The turkey breast is first cut up and put in flour with “secret seasoning,” then deep fried in grease. The end result is a basket full of breaded golden brown deep fried turkey nuggets. Everyone in our family waits all year long for this fried turkey… it is just that good.
My great grandmother, Marjorie Johnson, always said, “The secret to a good piece of meat is salt.”
She instilled this cooking tip into my grandmother’s head many years ago, and my grandmother made sure to pass this tip on to me. It might not be the healthiest cooking tip, but it sure does make for a good meal in our household. Some of the Christmas brunch sides may vary, except we always make sure to have grits, rice and homemade buttermilk biscuits before anything else.
Ever since I was born, nearly 23 years ago, my family has had a tradition when it comes to Christmas presents. After our Thanksgiving dinner, we write everyone’s name down on a piece of paper, cut it in pieces and put them in a hat. Whoever’s name you draw is the person you buy a Christmas gift for.
Before my great grandmother, Marjorie Johnson, passed, she had a tradition of her own. She would make an 8-inch tall fruitcake. Marjorie would wrap the fruitcake in a pillow case a week before Christmas, and every morning she would soak the pillow case in blue nun wine. Fruitcake was the perfect treat to end the Christmas brunch.
Have some Christmas traditions you’d like to share? Email your stories to hottytoddynews@gmail.com.
Alex Kitchens is the social media editor for HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at alex.kitchens@hottytoddy.com.
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