Bena Mae’s Kitchen: It’s Christmas time in the city

If hearing “Silver Bells” at retail stores since Halloween hasn’t been enough to stir your holiday spirit, never fear. Starting this week, it’ll begin to look a lot like Christmas in downtowns across America.
Nothing kicks off the holiday season quite like the downtown Christmas parade, which makes its way down Main Street every year after Thanksgiving.
Hundreds of people gather to watch high school bands, scout troops, baton twirlers, vintage cars, colorful floats, religious depictions of Jesus’s birth, The Three Wise Men, business owners walking down the street with a jolly Santa bringing up the rear calling out ho, ho, ho to the crowd. It reminds us of days gone by, a bonding thing to townspeople who look forward to it every year.  
I love a parade. The parade scene in my favorite Christmas movie “A Christmas Story” pushes my nostalgia buttons and takes me back to a similar time when the seasonal event drew everyone in town.  Little Ralphie’s wish for a Red Ryder BB Gun (You’ll shoot your eye out, kid, and his nose pressed against the store window for a look at his hero and the must-have BB gun) reminds me of my own wishes for a Shirley Temple doll when I was a child. Oh, those magical store windows, the Christmas music, the street decorations, the enthusiasm of the crowd.  
Because, after all, it is the season to celebrate. I love it when the marchers brave the cold and put on their yearly show, making it a community thing. They are not daunted by the hard work, the organization of securing volunteers to take part, the building of the floats. As I said, “it’s a community thing.”
Tonight, the Christmas parade will line up in front of my house. From my living room window, I can view the parade from the comfort of my own home. After the parade, the festivities will continue with revelers meeting at the gazebo at the town square for hot chocolate and cookies and church groups singing Christmas carols.  Tonight, the entire town will become one big family. Peace and Good Will will be felt by everyone.
It is a proper beginning for the most joyful season of the year.

As I promised, here’s another recipe for Christmas goodies.

Tootsie Roll Fudge

1 teaspoon plus 2 tablespoons butter, divided
2 cups Tootsie Roll Midgees
2 tablespoons peanut butter
3-3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon  Pure Vanilla Extract
1 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup green and red M&M’s

Line a 9-in. square pan with foil. Grease the foil with 1 teaspoon butter; set aside. In a heavy saucepan, melt the Tootsie Rolls, peanut butter and remaining butter over low heat, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in the confectioners’ sugar, milk and vanilla (mixture will be very thick). Fold in pecans.
Spread into prepared pan. Using a sharp knife, score the surface into 1-in. squares. Press a M&M’s candy into the center of each square. Cool. Using foil, remove fudge from pan; cut into squares. Store in an airtight container. Yield: about 2 pounds.