Single Xmas Menu

This Xmas is the first that I will be passing on my own. I don't really mind because Xmas to me is the time you spend with family, so not having one of my own and not having the possibility to travel to mine, it is okay this way. Also, I wouldn't like to spend Xmas day with people I don't really intimately know. I like a familiar Xmas and familiarity means you can be yourself with people who love you and care for you. The last years have been testing many of my relationships, enduring some of them and hindering others. Xmas is also food time, everywhere. And everywhere there are different food traditions. I'll keep close to those I grew up with- as they remind me of my grandma and my family. We used to spend Xmas eve (the 24th) at my grandma's place. All my mum's family would be there that evening: adults and children reunited to wait midnight together. That dinner was a big event, lots of food had to be cooked so I remember my aunts going earlier to help my grandma cook. The menu was every year the same, for you can't eat meat (or shouldn't according to Catholic traditions) the night before Jesus is born. Finding fresh fish in December was certainly a challenge, lucky one of the aunts lived on the sea-coast and she could get fresh fish the very same morning. Only now, that I am an adult and I go shopping on my own, I can understand the exaggerated Xmas shopping hysteria and think "poor aunt!".  So the menu was quite simple. I like to write in in a old fashion menu way so here it is.


As you can see no meat on the menu.
Lobsters were not served to children who usually don't like them because they are alive when they come in the house.
So simple code fish for the little ones.
This was the main menu, of course next to it there would me many appetizers, little finger food that would change every year and that usually has no space on menus. Finger food is one of my favourite type of food.
As tradition my grandma used to make a sweet cornucopia to represent and wish the family abundance.

This was the dinner presented to the whole family (we used to sit approximately with 10-15 people).

Midnight came and Xmas days brought me and my family to the village where my dad's family resided. We used to pack the car on the 25th and drive 2 hours to my dad's village. The village was in the mountain, so we used to always have a white Christmas. I used to love it there, outside of the city, we children could play with the snow and fires were on in the houses. Fireplaces leave such a peculiar odour in the city, I love it very much. It's a cosy scent.
Xmas day at the village was another food-de-force. The menu was much richer in meat, as from the 25th on meat is allowed on the table.

Here it is, I did not include potatoes and veggies and bread... In Italy bread comes by default on the table and potatoes usually as well. No need to mention them on menus. I love the way some cultures, like the Italian one, truly enjoy food.

Both grandmas made the pasta from scratch and both dinners were for min. 10 to max of 20 people. This means a lot of hand and hard work. But the result was worth the job. I think I rarely had such great Xmas dinner and lunch as those respectively proposed by each grandmother.

It was clear they both were family women whose main job was to take care of the family. Traditions like this are gone, women cook less and less. Maybe Xmas and some other holiday's spirit allow women to explore their kitchen capabilities as usually great food is expected on those occasions. I myself didn't wait to have my own family to start the great cooking. I love eating so much that if I don't experiment and learn to cook for myself the way I want it I'd end up spending all my money eating deliciously prepared food. I can learn. Years ago, when I had a boyfriend, I started making food according to the Italian tradition (24th no meat, 25th meat) - challenging myself to some of the best dishes. Since some years though I am alone and I have usually been flying home for the holidays. This year, due to some house renovation, I can't. I'll spend Xmas alone and because some of my friends are busy with other people and some are too lazy to move or think of cooking I decided I will celebrate Xmas on my own in the way I want it; with lots of good food. It isn't true that cooking for one is not fun. It is actually nice because even if you fail no-one except you will know. Good room for improvement and actually to serve the delicious newly learned dishes when guests are/will be around. So since a couple of days I am around looking and buying food so tomorrow I can start cooking without further research.
I also made menus, both for the 24th and the 25th. I even have some food spared for the 26th - you never know!! Now I am going to make you jealous and some may think: why haven't you invited no-body to eat the deliciousness?! ... moving from this thought, let me introduce you to MY FIRST CHRISTMAS MENUs.
As you can see I do not keep the tradition of NOT eating any meat the 24th. I don't like fish so much, so I opt for "white" meat.... the meat factor is because no blood should be eaten, ok I'll clean the chicken. Fish has blood too. The biggest challenge will be the mini Wellington's and the stuffed chicken - both dishes I have never made before. They don't look terribly difficult thou.
The ravioli are already made and I will prepare fresh pesto to go with them. Here's a simple Genovese Pesto recipe. I'd say use only one garlic and no more. I suggest you making your own- it's way more delicious that any you can buy. I will not say cheaper because pine-nuts are freaking expensive! Slavinken are a typical Dutch meat dish consisting usually of ground meat wrapped in bacon or beef. I prefer them wrapped in beef, they're a little less fatty. 
Just to mention: I make the brownies myself (I have made some and for sure will have them tomorrow eve too) but the chocolate cake is pre-made. I am not a huge fan of sweet-dishes. If I could choose between having a chocolate cake or another piece of lasagne for dessert, I'll go with the lasagne. I love savoury food so so much!!! I made this post so tomorrow morning I have NO excuses but to wake up and COOK!!!

I believe everyone should spend one Christmas alone because it does truly make you think a lot.
Maybe good intentions for Next Year will be a bit more coherent and close to what I truly need.
I wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS ♥ lots of love to everyone who come to read this.

Goodmorning World!

Hi all ~ so the blog is still under the same background, without banner, looking half ready, but I keep on updating because I am realy not sure when I'll be able to fix it graphically. I am even thinking to ask a friend for a customized backgroud... the blog speaks non-sense and it should appear as such. In this blog we talk about nature, psychology, the mind, beauty and femininity. We talk about crafts, cute creations, cooking and poetry. When you think about it, I have no clue what this blog is about. The more I surf the web, the more I notice one topic blogs / website. It is the only way to commercialize your ideas: channel them. True. I can't channel anything... I am the floating! So, one of the "must-do" of the new look is to give it a topic sense... mmmmm I'll see if I can manage that. For now, I share with you my latest creations, something I know how to do.
Following the Youtube channel of Carlita Dolce - also listed in my fav links on the left - I made some homemade body butters:

Body Scrub
60gr Shea butter
10gr Bur de Sal
Grinded amandels and rice
E.O. Lavander (5 gtts) and Orange blossoms (8 gtts)


Body Muffins x5
16gr Shea butter
10gr Beewax
30gr Coconut paste
Vanilla aroma
4 gtts Lavander

I also made some flaxseed hair gel, for the very first time in my life, it is great on my hair! They really needed it, and it is sooo much cheaper to make it at home than buying it! I advise it to anyone who has frizzy and curlyish hairs.

I am also keeping on felting soaps, my aim is to make really cute ones, the one I am felting now still look like wool-stones, but still. I found some mini-soaps so I can practice without too much waste. I'll give them together with my little creations... they should look nice together ^^

I wish the world a good morning and day and week.... ♥

Cheap, eco, tasty remedies for quinsy

One evening was warm, the night was colder, I felt sick had high fever and a terrible throat ache, the next day I had quinsy. Bad for me because in Holland the doctors won't prescribe you anything more than ibuprofen. Not very helpful when you have quinsy. I have been a fan of herbal cures since ever, my mum used to cure me with homeopathy when I was little, so I know a few tricks on my own. Immediately start spraying and taking propolis (both in spray and tablets) that helps a lot with throat infections and is considered a natural antibiotic. Then I reccomend you doing throat wash with water and calendula tincture (20 drops in half glass water), also put some drops on a cotton swab and try touch your throat directly with calendula.. if you even manage to remove some pus with it then you're a winner (pardon for this gross description but it's really helpful!). I have now done propolis and calendula since it started and it is already better, 5 / 6 days max the big pain should be gone. Of course, I reccomend you seeing your doctor for any throat infection, but the above are always reccomended and don't hurt.
Now the other problem (for me at least) when having quinsy: how to eat properly without hurting your throat... I have made myself ice cubes in all flavors and ate ice-creams, but I am not a sweet tooth and I prefer savory food when I am hungry. Oh.. by the way, I have the "luck" to be allergic to red/orange fruit, so no fresh fruit possible for me :( that could save you some time reading on. So cold, tasty and liquid... what?!

• Gazpacho! That's a nice one, I made it today.. to my taste, awesome!

• Potato puree with melted cheese - you don't have to eat it super cold, but room temperature is still tasty.

• Pasta fredda - small pasta with meat sauce (or four cheeses sauce) and melted mozzarella, a bit cream. grill it in the oven. when cold it still tastes nice (if you like cold lasagna, you'll love this!)
• Tuna cream - blend tuna, mayo and some olives like to make a bread spread, refrigerate.
  

• Cesar salade or any salade containing meat, fish, or if your vegetarian some beans, lentils and granes. Also cold grilled veggies, like courgettes and peppers add a nice touch.
• Baby food or any veggie / fruit puree's.
• Mini-meatballs - prepare the minced meat with one egg, parmisan, parsley, bread crums, salt and the spices you like, make very small meatball and fry them in hot olive oil (not too much, 1mm), let them cool.. they'll be super tasty and you can use the oil for some rice or so (also nice at room temperature).
  

I should have mentioned that some of those cold recipes may not be to your taste, but the meaning of this post is: try out your fav food cold, it may not be sooo bad as you think. If you have quinsy you need to eat small, liquidish and cold. The main point is not to stress your throat. Eat in small doses and often. Use ice blocks instead of water in between meals. It will really easen up the pain. This of course when a doctor will only prescribe you paracetamol for the fever.....
Peace up ladies, I wish you a lovely night ♥