Herring Salad
Where winter is cold and there is lots of snow, one might expect Christmas Eve dinner to be served hot but the older tradtion was that the hot meal was served at noon and the evening meal was one of bread and cheese, smoked meat and on special occasions, herring salad. Some recipes for herring […]
Continue readingBanketstaaf ( Marzipan filled puff pastry )
In Holland there is a strong tradition connecting letters with this time of the year. Edible letters were used as a teaching aid to help children learn their alphabet in convent school. Today chocolate letters can be found in delicatessens at Christmas time but the tradition goes further back to a time when the letters […]
Continue readingCranberry Sauce with Orange
Cranberry Sauce is a bit like shortbread cookies. Your family recipe is naturally the favourite. The other day though I was invited to a belated American Thanksgiving dinner with two different cranberry condiments. One was a traditional `sauce`made with white wine and curry. The second was a freshly grated uncooked option with oranges and nuts. […]
Continue readingAleo Coconut Lotion tweaked for winter weather
Back in August, when the weather was warm, I posted this recipe for an Aloe Coconut Cream. Now that the mercury has dropped the coconut may feel a little much as it will be firmer, so I have adjusted the ingredient list, adding a few additional optional ingredients and am making this the third treat […]
Continue reading123 Cleanser otherwise known as Lavender Oat
Keeping with the easy homemade gift giving theme, this three ingredient face cleanser is top of the list. I am combining it with an aloe almond coconut lotion and a brown sugar honey sugar scrub (coming Tuesday & Wednesday) and making little stocking stuffers for some of my friends this season. You will need: 1 […]
Continue readingHoney Almond Brown Sugar Scrub
This year I am gifting some of my friends with homemade toiletries; a simple cleanser, an updated version of a moisturizing cream (still to come) and this wonderfully aromatic scrub that I often made in class. Three little tubs of pampering self-care to stuff some stockings! We are all of a perspective that gifting things […]
Continue readingSoy Container Candles
The other day I was shopping for supplies for a candlemaking class and came across some glasses that would make good containers for soy wax candles, so I thought I would share the steps as I had just come across almost the exact same thing ( as a finished product) on a store shelf for […]
Continue readingRum & Egg Nog Bread Pudding
As Christmas turned into New Years last year, I discovered the remains of several things in the fridge. One of them was eggnog and by then most people had had “more than enough thank you very much“. Not wanting to toss it down the sink, I put this bread pudding together and finished up leftover […]
Continue readingCandy Cane Brownies
Sometimes all the old traditions just can’t hold a candle to CHOCOLATE! And if you are not going the warming spice route then what better winter wonderland flavour than peppermint? Ready to perk you up, it also freshens breath when cuddling up around a cozy fire, especially helpful when there is a second cuddler. The […]
Continue readingSpeculaas
Yes! I admit it, I am late, I apologise. The good news is even though these cookies are traditionally eaten in Holland and Belgium last night, they are also enjoyed the whole Yule season. St Nicholas is the patron saint of brewers, sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves and pawnbrokers, just to name a few. But […]
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