ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI: STRAWBERRY PRESERVES: A CHRISTMAS TREAT

Christmas week was a time of travel for my family when I was a small child. All of our family lived in Southeast Missouri and west Tennessee. The necessity of these journeys created a rather unique Christmas ritual for me.

Each night of the week before Christmas, I would receive one gift. Two gifts that I shall never forget were a hand-sized New Testament in a gold embossed box and a molded red Santa Claus boot with white fur trim. Then on Christmas morning there would be one gift from Santa under the Christmas tree for me at my grandmother's.

In 1957, when I was 6 years old, all my uncles, who were within 10 years of my age, pooled their piggy banks and bought me a pink rosebud "Little Miss Powder Puff Mitt." I adored it then, and I still adore it today. If ever there was a gift that depicts the true spirit of Christmas, then surely it is this one.

I rather relished this Christmas ritual of mine, for it always made me feel special. I was 18 years old and a freshman in college when I spent my first Christmas Eve in my own home. We traveled on Christmas day that year.

There was one constant element of Christmas, no matter where it was spent. On Christmas morning my mother made her traditional strawberry preserves. They were heaped upon hot buttered biscuits or French toast.

I share with you the recipe for these preserves, passing a Christmas morning tradition from our house to yours, hoping that it will make sweet memories for you, too.

Strawberry Preserves

1 quart fresh or frozen whole strawberries

1 cup sugar

1. Slice strawberries.

2. Pour sugar over strawberries, let stand 15 minutes.

3. Cook in heavy saucepan over medium heat for 30 minutes.

Yield: about 1 1/2 cups.

Visit Angie at her Web site, www.cookingwithangie.com. Angie Holtzhouser is author of "Drop Dumplin's and Pan-Fried Memories ... Along the Mississippi." Her cookbook is available at local bookstores. In addition, it can be purchased through the mail at: Drop Dumplin's, P.O. Box 10, Lilbourn, Mo. 63862. The price is $19.95, including tax and shipping.