Tuesday, December 13, 2011

My Homemade Christmas Gifts... so far

This year I've been making a lot of homemade gifts. I've just shipped out some packages to my family and friends in Europe and the U.S.

I've made some Honey Lollipops for the assorted tea samplers I put together.

Homemade Honey Pops

Recipe from

Makes 18-20 pops

* 1 cup sugar

* 1/2 cup honey

* 1/4 cup water

In a heavy pan, combine sugar, honey, and water. Over high heat, bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-high and continue to boil until honey mixture reaches 300°F (hard-crack stage), about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour into prepared lollipop molds (greased with lollipop sticks inserted), following manufacturer’s directions; cool completely. Remove from molds and wrap in plastic wrap. Store in a cool, dry place.

I also made some potpourri

It's so easy to make your own potpourri, and it's such a fun and inexpensive gift.

Slice up oranges, place them on a reck in the oven at approx. 120 °C / 250 °F. Leave for 2 -3 hours, turn them 2-3 times and keep checking on them, they can get burned easily. You can also just leave them in the oven for a shorter while (until they are dry enough and won't be dripping) and just place them on your heater (radiator). This way they won't get burned.
Same with the mandarin/clementine skin, just place them on your radiator.

Add some cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves. You can also add some vanilla beans.

If you're making potpourri for yourself, just put all the ingredients in a bowl and let the warm spicy scent waft around the room.

If you're giving the potpourri as a gift, then it looks nice wrapped in a cellophane bag tied with some raffia or ribbon.

Hot Chocolate Cones

You'll need cone-shaped cellophane bags or (just like me) you can make them yourself with a help of an ice cream cone.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

3 c. nonfat powdered milk

2 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 c. unsweetened coca powder

1 c. powdered nondairy creamer

1 c. mini marshmallows

1/2 c. mini milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips or bits

Stir together all powdered ingredients. Divide among bags and top with chocolate chips or bits and marshmallows. Tie off bag with ribbon, robe, etc.

Homemade Chocolate Spoons for the Hot chocolate mixes

Melt the chocolate in the microwave. Dip the spoon in the chocolate and let excess drip off. Immediately add sprinkles . Place on wax paper to dry, You can also place them in the fridge until they are set.

Homemade Chocolate Barks

Chocolate-Orange Hazelnut Bark

Festive Chocolate Bark

Mixed Nuts

Spiced Mixed Nuts

Ingredients:

2 large egg whites

2/3 cup sugar

2 1/2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 cups mixed nuts (any combination of untoasted walnuts, pecans, cashews, and pistachios)

1/4 cup (½ stick) butter, melted

1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 300° F. Line 2 large baking sheets with foil or parchment. Grease lightly and set aside. Position a rack in center of oven. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy. Gradually add the sugar, beating to a loose, meringuelike texture. Beat in the Old Bay Seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, cayenne, and salt. Add the nuts and butter and stir well to coat evenly. Add the Parmesan and mix again. Divide the nuts between the baking sheets, spreading evenly in a single layer. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes to a golden brown (do not allow the nuts to darken too much), rotating the sheets during cooking for even roasting. Line a work surface with foil or parchment. After removing the nuts from oven, immediately slide them onto the foil or parchment. Cool completely. Store, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Honey roasted Almonds and Peanuts

2 cups Almonds and peanuts

2 TBS Honey

2 TBS Water2 TBS Oil (Almond, Peanut or Canola)

1/4 cup Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1. Place the almonds on a baking sheet and in a preheated oven for 10 minutes. (If the almonds are already roasted, skip this step) Set the almonds aside and let cool.
2. In a medium sized sauce pan add the honey, water and oil. Bring to a boil and add the almonds. Stir around for a few minutes, until all of the liquid has been absorbed by the nuts.
3. Transfer into a medium bowl and toss with the sugar and salt.
4. Spread back on the baking sheet with wax paper, let cool.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Winter in Kiruna

View from our balcony

This is the church that you can see from our balcony. It was voted Sweden's most beautiful building.

The Town Center

These are just a random neighborhoods that I thought looked nice

Church of a village near by

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Santa Claus Day - December 6.

The tradition of St. Nicholas is not synonomous with the role of Santa Claus in the U.S.. As practiced in many European countries, the celebration of St. Nicholas is separate from the Christmas holidays, and occurs during the 2 weeks prior to December 6th, which is St. Nicholas's day.

Santa Claus and St. Nicholas chocolate figures

St. Nicholas was born in 271 AD and died around December 6, 342 or 343 AD near the Asia Minor (Turkey) town of Myra, where he later became Bishop. He performed many good deeds and was a friend to the poor and helpless, and upon his death, myths soon sprang up about him all around the Mediterranean Sea. He was reputed to be able to calm the raging seas, rescue desperate sailors, help the poor and downtrodden, and save children. He was soon named as the patron saint of sailors, and when Myra was overthrown, his bones were transported by sailors to Bari, a port in Italy, where a tomb was built over the grave and became the center of honor for St. Nicholas. From here the legend spread on around to the Atlantic Coast of Europe and the North Sea to become a European holiday tradition regardless of religion.

Santa Claus comes to Hungarian children on 6th in the morning. Basically he looks like your Santa Claus in America, his sledge dragged by reindeers. There are always 2 little devils (dressed in black with red horns and tail) with him to punish bad children. On 5th in the evening little children clean their boots and put them on the window for the night as Santa Claus in Hungary puts his presents into boots. Children can hardly sleep that night and always wake up early in the morning. But bad children get not only presents but also birch (a bunch of branches painted gold to swish them with if they were bad - children are so afraid of getting it!). Of course on 6th you can meet many Santa Clauses in the streets, in the stores - and also in the schools. If children (but also teachers in the schools!) sing him a song or recite a poem about Santa Claus they can get some chocolate.

Birch

But Santa Claus Day is not just for the kids. So, instead of putting my boots in the window, I hung up my Christmas stocking... and by the next day, Santa left me some great presents! He was very generous this year, and he even got me some chocolates from Hungary! :)

Monday, December 5, 2011

Our Lion headed Bunny

We got him 1 year and 9 months ago. We went to a different city where they had a wider selection of pets at the pet store.

As I stood next to the glass cage of the bunnies, this one came running. As I squatted down, he stood up on his hind legs and put his palms against the window... it was love at first sight :)

We bought him when he was 8 months old, he is now almost 2,5 years old. He is very active and adventurous.

Oh, and he's also a half dwarf rabbit.
We call him 'Bunny' because that's the only name he actually listens to :)

It took him a while to get used to his new place and us. He was very shy in the beginning, he barely even came out of his cage, but now whenever we open his cage door, he comes running to the living room, and he loves to lay on the couch with us.