Food is always something that brings people together, especially during the holiday season. This time of year gives people the opportunity to continue and share traditions that they have practiced for years.

The Wolf interviewed two staff members, English teacher Jessica Porter and Culinary teacher Samantha Brown, to learn more about their favorite holiday recipes.

Brown finds the holiday season as a time to honor family traditions that she has been doing since childhood.

“My family’s cream onions recipe has been passed down from my grandmother. It’s a traditional English recipe. My grandmother was born and raised in Ireland, whose cuisine is heavily influenced by the English.”

The holidays are also a great time to make new traditions. Porter started making her family-favorite pumpkin cheesecake when she was in college and has continued to bring it to holiday get-togethers over the years.

“One recipe that I make most years is pumpkin cheesecake. Some years I make it completely vegan, so everyone in my family can eat it,” she said. “Last year I made a vegan and refined sugar-free one. I love to do something unique that’s not overdone, like pumpkin pies.”

Creating new memories does not always mean breaking old traditions. Tweaking a recipe is always a great way to either perfect a recipe or find a new dish to pair it with.

Brown likes to experiment with her recipe by using different types of onions and herbs to see what combinations taste well together. Porter, however, tries “to make different variations of it like bars and tarts.”

Looking back at family memories during holiday seasons can sometimes cause strong emotions. Porter explained, “The first time I made it was the first Thanksgiving I had with my sister-in-law, which made it very special to me.”

It can also give people a sense of comfort, remembering the little things from your childhood.

“Thanksgiving was the only time of year when my grandma would bring out the fancy plateware (china), or just cook this meal in general,” said Brown.