handmade gifts
This year we decided to make most of our Christmas gifts. There is a special feeling you get knowing that you put part of yourself into a gift for a loved one. I think the receiver also appreciates it more. An added bonus is that you don’t have to spend hours combing an overcrowded mall full of grupmy shoppers and surly staff. Add two kids to that mix and you have a recipe for Christmas disaster! Instead, I am enjoying spending hours making things for my friends and family. I get to chat with my family, think about the person the gift is going to, talk on the phone… Much nicer!
All of our friends, teachers, favourite shop owners etc. are getting a small gift basket of ginger-peach jam, cranberry relish and almond roca. I am so pleased with how everything has turned out. The golden hue of the jam, bright red flecked relish and bite-sized chunks of chocolate and nuts. Who could resist!
Shortcut Almond Roca
(from “The Best of the Best and More”)
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup water
1 1/4 cups toasted slivered almonds
3/4 cup good chocolate, chopped fine
In a large, heavy saucepan, gently boil syrup, sugar, butter and water until it reaches 150 degrees celcius (hard crack), about 25 minutes. DO NOT STIR. Remove from heat and add almonds. Spread on an ungreased cookie sheet and sprinkle with chocolate. Spread chocolate evenly as it melts. Sprinkle with crushed almonds. Cool in fridge and then break into bite sized pieces. Store in an air-tight container.
Cranberry Relish
(adapted from Simply Recipes)
2 cups washed, raw cranberries
2 medium peeled and cored granny smith apples
1 entire navel orange
1 1/2 cups sugar
Run cranberries, apples and orange through a food mill with coarse blade (can use grinder or top blade of cuisinart if careful not to over do it!). Add sugar and let stand at room temperature until sugar is disolved. Spoon into small jam jars and store in fridge or freezer.
Filed under Family, Recipes | Comment (0)9 more sleeps
In 9 days we are heading to my parents house for Christmas. I am getting so excited that I am already feeling giddy! It has been 7 years since I have been home for Christmas. So much has changed that it is hard to envision what it will be like. This time T and I are bringing two children and a dog with us. My brother is married. My sister is a nurse. My Dad is no longer a pastor. My Mom has recerted her RN and is working. My Oma is in Heaven, cancer free. The Christmas tree farm we always got our tree from has been turned into some rich dudes private estate…
Part of me is worried about “expectations”. I have a tendancy to get my hopes waaaaaaaaay up for big events and then end up feel deflated and a bit let down at the end of it all. In terms of expectations I don’t think I really have any grandious ones. I am just thrilled to be celebrating with my family. I feel so blessed this year. God has been so good to us and I am looking forward to celebrating the birth of his son and the gift of life he has given us.
The one thing my family will have to contend with is that I am a stickler for following tradition. Part of what makes certain holidays special for me is the ritual of tradition. For example, when I was a kid my Dad took my brother, sister and I out to cut down our Christmas tree. My Mom would stay home and bake (it always annoyed us that she didn’t come but now that I am a Mom, I so get it! Hello! A quiet house with no one wanting to “helpy” me. Early Christmas gift!). We would walk around forever trying to find the perfect tree. Then my Dad would cut it down and we would all help to drag it back to the car. By then our feet were usually cold and the car was a welcome place of warmth. When we got home my Mom would make us all hot chocolate and give us cookies and squares straight from the oven (that is if she wan’t “saving” them to go in the freezer!). This year we are taking our children to cut down the tree. They are so excited. N promises to stand way, way, way, way back in the safe zone so Daddy can cut down the tree! I’m just not sure if I will go to help cut down the tree or leave that to Daddy and Poppa so I can stay home with my Mom and bake.
Whatever happens this year, I am thankful for my family. For happy memories and traditions to follow. For new traditions and family members. For Jesus. For the financial freedom to make it all happen. For nainaimo bars, Mom’s stuffing and NO turnip!
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