Swedish Tea Rings have been a tradition in Kris’ family for at least a zillion years that I remember. When we all lived in the Tulsa area, we (mostly the girls) would get together at Kris’ Aunt Judy’s house to bake tea rings. The weather was generally turning from fall to winter; the leaves were all gone from the trees by now and temperatures assured you that Christmas was on its way. Kris and Aunt Judy and Cousin JoQueta and any other aunts or cousins would all come with their contribution to the baking. It was a classic time of family spending time together and the elders of the family speaking truth and wisdom to the younger ones. This was the case whether you were inside with the ladies baking the tea rings or outside with the guys . . . well . . . sometimes with the guys you would wonder if it was all truth!

 

After a full day of fellowship and baking, the bounty would usually be 15 to 20 tea rings. The idea was to give them to other family members and friends. They could stick their tea ring in the oven on Christmas morning so they could get down to the business of seeing what Santa had left rather than worrying about fixing something to eat.