All posts filed under: Christmas Cheer

A Southern Hemisphere Christmas

Published by

                      Although some of you may well be over the Christmas Day cheers and shaken berocca’s. I end the Christmas month of December sharing with you one of my all time favourite Christmas ‘sweet’ recipes. Of course this can be made anytime of the year as walnuts are available all year round now. However, it’s our family tradition to make it over the Christmas month. Torta di Noce (Italian Walnut Cake). This was our third platter made up of Torta di Noce and Florentines for our mixed ‘sweet’ platters of Chocolate Rum Balls and Christmas Sugar Cheer. I’m also sharing photo’s of our family Christmas celebration – A Christmas Summertime in the southern hemisphere.

Chocolate Rum Balls

Published by

Sugar and spice make these Chocolate Rum Balls a decadent ultimate Christmas treat. Aromatic spices of cinnamon and mixed spice, rolled in chocolate sprinkles and coconut.  One bite size of pure bliss. During Module 1 of The Art and Business of Surface Design course, we created moodboards and colourboards that we shared with all the other participants. It was four weeks of creative works and wonderful new friendships and energy, and I look forward to modules 2 and 3 in 2012. One of my boards I created was chocolate brown and red, and it’s somehow has influenced also this post. Just a little romantic touch also in my moodboard! Read on for this delicious recipe for Chocolate Rum Balls and a little more festive red and chocolate brown.

Cool or Warm

Published by

This quote was placed in front of my eyes, only this week and thought I’d share it with you. If you want to see the Sunshine, you have to weather the storm.  – Frank Lane This quote rings in my ears, how true… I’ve been celebrating the 12 days of textures with Kim Klassen and looking at my photo’s today, there’s the strong contrast of cool and warm colours,     Cool or warm which appeals to you… Winter wonderland for Christmas, or Summer warming sunshine rays? Not long to go… Yvette…x              

Festive Favourites

Published by

The list is long, of all the special sweet treats that you might write on your wish list of baking for this festive season. My niece wanted to bake something and one of her all time favourites is fudge…you bet chocolate, cocoa, coconut fudge brownies. So her eyes went bounding through many of our cookbooks, which were scattered over the kitchen table and she found this easy delicious recipe.   Looking almost in every kitchen shop, I finally found some snowflake cookie cutters, so I decided to cut snowflake shapes of this choc fudge. I think they look great, it does take a little extra time however, but you know me anything for a little more loving detail. Recipe: Peppermint Candy Cane Slice 125 grams butter, melted 1 cup (220grams) brown sugar ( we didn’t have quite a cup full so I added fine caster sugar) 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon peppermint essence 1/2 cup desiccated coconut 1 cup (150grams) self raising flour, sifted 2 tablespoons cocoa 3 or 4 candy canes, roughly chopped/crushed 375 gram …

Joyful Shopping

Published by

Saturday saw the family taking a quick trip for a shopping spree…a quick three hour drive to the Sydney’s IKEA Store…what a blast, there were so many wonderful things to see and so many extra things I could have bought…lots of colours, textures and unique Christmas decorations. With courage I walked out of the shop, (not to say I didn’t buy from other shops..LOL!)with only my gifted lead pencil to write items on my long,long wish list. However one of the items my sister purchased for her living room were these magnificent paper stars…they beam such beautiful light. I so love the reflection of the tiny stars in the windows. Another wonderful texture from Kim Klassen – KKzuzu. I’m been working with Photoshop, learning and developing new skills and this one my friends is challenging. So much to understand and learn. I’m happy with today’s textured photo. Well, my friends we’re counting down..one week to go. I hope to now proceed to the kitchen, and with apron and Christmas spirit make some Christmas clatter of …

See the smiles…

Published by

Today was the last Children’s Liturgy lesson for twentyeleven. A day where we had so many smiles, laughing, joy and twinkling eyes. Singing jingle bells, hitting the high notes and counting down to that special day. The children were even more happy when we told them that all their hard work of painting and gluing had seen us reaching success as the winners in the local Red Cross Christmas Competition. This is our Advent wreath, bright purple ,pink and white candles, painted fingerprint baubles of our class students lots of tulle and ribbon. A wonderful achievement and one I’m very proud of. Looking forward to next years lessons and seeing those little faces and smiles…that make my day so much lighter! Yvette…x

Christmas Decor

Published by

Is that right…eleven days till Christmas!…Is everyone else organized? Your trees are decorated, your wreath has prime spot on your door, presents wrapped, baubles are shiny and ribbon is curled! I’m not quite there yet!…how about you? Today’s texture KK –Annabelle from Kim Klassen is part of our 12 days of Textures series, leading up to Christmas, each day it’s a lovely surprise what inspiration arrives from this very talented and creative artist. Have a great day everyone Yvette…x Source: Twas the Night before Christmas Poem, Clement Moore; Etching The Graphic Fairy

Silence

Published by

‘Twas the Write before Christmas #7 I’ve been alone when I’m surrounded by friends How could the silence be so loud? The value of silence for prayer… ‘Silence requires the discipline to recognize the urge to get up and go again as a temptation to look elsewhere for what is close at hand. It offers the freedom to stroll in your own inner yard, and to rake up the leaves there and clear the paths so you can easily find the way to your heart. Perhaps there will be much fear and uncertainty when you first come upon ‘unfamiliar terrain’., but slowly and surely you will discover an order and familiarity which deepens your longing to stay home….whenever you come upon this silence it seems as though you have received a gift, one which is ‘promising’ in the true sense of the word. It promises new life. It is the silence of peace and prayer, because it brings you back to the One who is leading you.’ – Henri Nouwen “The friend who can be …

Christmas Tree.

Published by

‘Twas the write before Christmas #4 ‘This one will do fine, this one is perfect!.’ The tree I have happy memories of. It’s the tree that took me on an adventure with Daddy. The forest was filled with trees, but to find the perfect one, wasn’t my choice at all, it was Daddy’s choice. He knew which one was best to take home, he knew which one would make Mummy smile. Riding in the rusty pick-up was always the adventure I looked forward to every year, I’d stretch my neck to see the road, but Daddy knew the way, he always found the way. I was content to ride in that rusty truck, it was my time with Daddy to go on our special trip to find our special tree. Not too small, and not too big…the perfect tree. Our Christmas tree. I knew that scent, the perfume of pines. I love the smell of the pines, the undercroft bed of pointed needles, just like a prickly porcupine, and the intriguing shape of the pine …