Freighter View Farms

Christmas at Freighter View Farms is always a season of light and warmth against the quiet stillness of the dark, cold days. When we are home for Christmas, it becomes more than a holiday—it’s a labor of love, an embrace of traditions, flavors, and ingredients that reflect a year of growing, harvesting, and planning. As the season approaches, the anticipation builds, not just for the celebration itself, but for the meals that bring everyone together; each dish a reflection of Freighter View  Farms and the time spent in the kitchen.

This year is no different. The meals are already mapped out, their preparation becoming its own rhythm leading up to Christmas Day. It begins with the small moments, the fresh basil growing on the windowsill, soaking in the cool winter light. That basil, bright and fragrant, will top our homemade Christmas Eve pizza, an annual ritual. The dough is made by hand, rolled out to perfection, and layered with pizza sauce made from tomatoes and herbs harvested from the summer garden, cooked, and frozen for this very night. Fresh mozzarella, procured from Artigiano’s in Bay City, and thin ribbons of prosciutto round it out, all pulled together with a crackling crust and that single perfect basil leaf. It’s a meal simple yet decadent; a reminder of the summer’s bounty brought forward to the depths of winter.

On Christmas Eve morning, the house hums with the aroma of homemade cinnamon swirl bread baked the day before. Breakfast is a celebration of color and flavor—poached eggs with avocado and tomatoes served on homemade bread, alongside Canadian bacon and bright banana and strawberries. It’s the perfect way to welcome a day steeped in anticipation and tradition.

The planning starts early, pulling together not just recipes but the ingredients themselves. On the 23rd, I make my annual pilgrimage across the area to all my favorite places that make Christmas at Freighter View Farms complete. There’s the Meat Shop in Bay City’s South End, nestled across from St. Stan’s Church, where I pick up the perfect loin steaks for Christmas Day. From there, it’s a stop at Artigiano’s Cheese Shop downtown, where local cheeses, prosciutto, and other delicacies fill my basket. I continue to The Nut House, another Bay City gem, for locally made treats nuts and candies that will find their place on the breakfast charcuterie board. Finally, I pick up a fresh bag of holiday coffee beans from Populace Coffee downtown and stop at Petit 4 Pastry in Essexville for a sweet treat that rounds out our holiday spread.

The Meals of the Season

December 23rd The evening of the 23rd is a prelude to what’s to come: homemade soft pretzels and cheese for dinner along with a few craft beers and good conversation. It’s a meal that sets the tone: relaxed, comforting, and celebratory. This night is also for preparation, with the house warm and fragrant from baking.

• Cinnamon Swirl Bread is prepared for Christmas Eve breakfast.
• No-Knead Bread is baked for Christmas meals.
• French onions are prepped, their slow-cooked caramel sweetness ready for Christmas Day potatoes.
• Grandma Eva’s cookies are baked and tucked away for Christmas morning’s breakfast charcuterie.

There’s a quiet satisfaction in this work, in knowing that what’s planned will unfold into something beautiful.

December 24th: Christmas Eve Breakfast is hearty and bright:

• Poached eggs, avocado, and tomatoes on homemade bread.
• Banana and strawberries on the side, a refreshing contrast to the richness of the season.

For lunch, the kitchen fills with the scent of butternut squash soup simmering on the stove. It’s a recipe I cherish. A creamy, silky soup made with butternut squash, thick-cut bacon, and just a hint of maple syrup. Served with a slice of fresh-baked no knead bread, it’s a simple but deeply satisfying meal.

That night, Christmas Eve dinner is our much-anticipated homemade pizza. There’s something so special about this meal, kneading the dough, spreading the sauce made from the summer’s tomatoes, and sprinkling on fresh basil from the windowsill. Every ingredient tells its story, and every bite tastes like home. Paired with a sparkling wine from our Itialian vacation, it becomes a celebration of place, season, and effort.

December 25th: Christmas Day Christmas morning begins with the breakfast charcuterie board—a delightful spread of waffles, granola, yogurt, fresh berries, oranges, nuts, cookies, and mimosas. It’s casual yet indulgent, and there’s something magical about lingering at the kithc counter in the soft light of Christmas morning.

Lunch brings together flavors that have been weeks in the making. The loin steaks are perfectly seared, served alongside sweet carrots still pulled fresh from the garden and French onion baked potatoes. These potatoes, with their caramelized onions, Gruyère cheese, and a touch of thyme, are the very definition of comfort. The meal is rich but balanced, full of warmth and heart. The kind of food that fills more than just your plate.

To finish, there’s a stunning vanilla bean cake. A recipe of tender layers, rich buttercream, and a subtle, fragrant sweetness that feels like a gift all on its own. It’s the perfect way to end the day, with a toast to the season and all the moments that brought us here.

A Meal for the Season of Light

Christmas at Freighter View Farms is about more than food, it’s about connection. Each dish is infused with meaning, with roots that trace back to the summer garden, the hands that knead the dough, and the places in the community that make the meals whole.

These meals remind us of what the season truly is: a light in the darkness, a warmth that lingers, and a celebration of everything grown, made, and shared with love. From the fresh basil in the window to the carrots still crisp in the soil, this is Christmas as it should be, a time to slow down, savor, and give thanks for the year behind us and the one yet to come.