Crafting for the Holidays

[Guest guest]

Hi Chris (and everyone) I am making batches of facial goodies tied

up in little organza bags with a swing tag on the outside. Inside

is a facial cream soap, a Neroli Hydrosol face spritzer and a facial

milk (lotion). Then for the foot bags (called them Minty Toes) - a

melting foot sugar scrub, a foot butter and a Spearmint & Lavender

Hydrosol spritzer (with MSM) to spray on tootsies afterwards (or

through the day). This Saturday will be my final craft show just

before Christmas so am hoping things will " fly " !

 

We are having family from afar (not abroad, just scattered around

the country) to visit and I usually do a big Christmas Eve affair

(because its too hot during the day to do much other than eat the

Christmas Eve leftovers, cold, with some salads and laze around the

swimming pool). For Christmas Eve, I like to de-bone my turkey

(yes, even the wings) takes about 2 hours the day before and a whole

bottle of sparkling wine to keep me mellow (heh heh). Then I make a

stuffing with breadcrumbs, sautéed onions, chipped fresh sage,

chicken sausage meat, salt and pepper and spread that all over the

bird, which by now looks like its taken off its pyjamas. All the

bones and carcass I simmer gently and reduce to make gravy. Then I

use either apricots or tinned chestnuts or panfried sweet potatoes

(yams) which have been softened in a butter and orange juice

reduction, spread that over the stuffing on the bird and pin the

bird together as best I can with trussing pins. Rub my hands in

salted butter and rub all over the outside skin and place in a giant

oven roasting bag to be roasted about 2 hours before dinnertime.

Yes, its a lot of work beforehand but so worth it on the night when

DH carves it and says appreciatively that its as simple as cutting a

loaf of bread. Everyone gets a bit of white, bit of brown meat and

stuffing as well in one neat slice! Glazed tropical ham, golden

roast potatoes stuffed with a sweet potato/butter/orange puree,

minted green peas and.... yum...Old fashioned English trifle with

raspberries to follow and maybe (I said maybe,, depending how much

work..)home-made French chocolate ice-cream.

 

Ps – how was the response to the Hathor Hot Chick hair goody box go?

 

Hugs and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to you and all

your families in case I don't get to comment again until after the

holidays!

Nadine in South Africa

[Guest guest]

where do you find kumquats ?? Either I am looking in the wrong places/stores or

they aren't sold around here

Paula .......... in Michigan

coming soon - Farm Fresh Soaps and Candles.com !!!

 

It isn't cold enough this year, but usually my daughter and I spend an

afternoon stringing cranberries and kumquats with sliced apples, oranges,

lemons,

and limes. We add some popped corn and wind it around the pine roping on the

lamp post. We've done it since she was little, and it reminded us both of

Candyland.

 

Every year we make clove studded pomanders to give away. The kumquats were

perfect for a small child with a short attention span, and now I just love

them because when they're dried, they can go right into a holiday potpourri.

Lemons and limes are nice too, and dry better than oranges.

 

My favorite craft this year is just for family. We live on a Christmas Tree

farm, so I clipped and snipped about 100 balsam firs (small un-noticeable

tips) and distilled them. The hydrosol is heavenly. They'll each get a

spray

bottle in their stockings.

 

Tina

 

 

[Guest guest]

where do you find kumquats ?? Either I am looking in the wrong places/stores

or they aren't sold around here

 

They are only sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas here. Same as

chestnuts. Usually they are in quart fiber boxes, and not every grocery

carries

them. I have to look sometimes at a couple different (larger) stores.

 

Tina

_The Essential Herbal Magazine_ (http://www.essentialherbal.com/)

_Essential Herbal Blog_ (http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/)

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I get chestnuts from a local farmer who has trees. I've heard so much about the

flavor of kumquats, even got a kumquat scented soap in an exchange once, and

have been wanting to try them but can't find them anywhere !!

Paula .......... in Michigan

coming soon - Farm Fresh Soaps and Candles.com !!!

 

 

 

where do you find kumquats ?? Either I am looking in the wrong places/stores

or they aren't sold around here

 

They are only sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas here. Same as

chestnuts. Usually they are in quart fiber boxes, and not every grocery

carries

them. I have to look sometimes at a couple different (larger) stores.

 

Tina

_The Essential Herbal Magazine_ (http://www.essentialherbal.com/)

_Essential Herbal Blog_ (http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/)