DIY * Modern Christmas Tree

Modern Wooden Christmas Tree

From http://www.curbly.com

While I tend to gravitate towards more traditional Christmas decorations, I wouldn't pass up this modern wooden Christmas tree decoration. I probably would add more color though. and maybe even some glitter, but this is a great tree template for doing all sorts of fun festive patterns!

Click here for the steps.  

P/S If you don't know where to get balsa wood or craft stuff in general, check out Art Friend in Gardens Midvalley. 

DIY * Printables

Holiday Printables and DIYs

It has been a while since I last blogged, but with the snow falling outside, i've resorted to the touristy thing and taken a hundred and one pictures of trees with snow. So yes, i have been neglecting my blogging but better late then never!

On the Poppytalk page, they have listed 15 beautiful holiday printables and DIYs that are easy and fun to do. Since I hear it's raining almost every day in Malaysia, why not try some of them out over a warm cup of milo? If you don't celebrate Christmas, you can also use some of these ideas for New Years!

Click here to see the slide show.

Eat * Bake

Christmas Pudding

It is a tradition of my mother and my mothers mother to bake the Christmas pudding way in advance. I'm talking about two months before serving. The reason this is done is to give the pudding time to mature. the taste is more intense and that is what makes up a great Christmas pudding. However, this recipe itself does not need to be made early, in fact two days before Christmas should be just fine, but I do recommend that next year, you at least give it a month to mature for that added zing! Warning in advance, this is a boozy dish and I firmly believe that it can't be made any other way. It's tradition after all!

Ingredients:

225g dark molasses sugar
400g fresh white breadcrumbs
225 shredded butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mixed spice
350g sultanas
350g raisins
225g currants
100g candied peel, chopped
50g blanched almond, finely chopped
2 large apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
Finely grated rind and juice of 1/2 lemon
2 eggs, beaten
300ml Guinness
Approx 150ml milk

1. Put the dry ingredients, dried fruit, candied peel and chopped almonds in a large mixing bowl and stir well to mix. Add the apples with the lemon rind and juice, eggs and Guinness. Stir well to mix. Stir in enough milk to make a soft dropping consistency.
2. Pour the mixture into two greased pudding basins. Cover the tops of the pudding with circles of greased grease-proof paper, then with foil. Fold a pleat in the center and tie string around the rim. Leave overnight.
3. Place the basins in the top of a steamer or a large pan of gently bubbling water and steam for 4 to 5 hours, topping up water level from time to time during cooking.
4. Remove the basins carefully from the pan and leave until quite cold. Discard the foil and grease-proof paper and replace with fresh grease-proof paper and foil before storing the the fridge.
5. Steam again for about 2 hours before serving, with brand butter or warm custard.

Eat * Bake

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Ho! Ho! Ho! It's December and that means it is time to put on your elastic waist pants and eat eat away! Okay, i'm kidding. Really, please don't listen to me because I don't want to be the source of the amount of sugar that's in your blood. But these cookies might just do it!

I spent basically a day filled with baking and icing these babies and let me tell you, I had a ball. Nothing quite as soothing as getting lost in a creative process. So if you have the desire to try your hand at icing some sugar cookies for Christmas, or really, any other festive holiday, the Royal Icing recipe I used was brilliant, especially for a first timer like myself.

Ingredients for Sugar Cookies (1 batch):

90g soft unsalted butter
100g caster sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract
200g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Ingredients for Royal Icing (makes enough icing for 3 - 4 batches of the sugar cookie recipe)

3/4 cup of warm water
5 tablespoons meringue powder
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 kg powdered icing sugar
Food colouring of choice

1. Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and moving towards mousiness, then beat in the egg and vanilla. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and eggs, mix gently. If you think the finished mixture is too sticky to be rolled out, add flour sparingly. Form into a ball, press down into a fat disc and wrap in clingfilm, rest in the fridge for at least an hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 180C. Sprinkle a suitable surface with flour, place dough on it and sprinkle a little more flour on top of that. Then roll it out to a thickness of about 1/2cm. Cut into shapes, dipping the cutter into flour as you go, and place the biscuits a little apart on a lined baking tin.
3. Bake for 8 - 12 minutes. When they are ready, expect them to be tinged a pronounced gold around the edges. They'll be soft still in the middle, but will set while they cool on a wire rack.
4. Meanwhile, in a mixer bowl, pour in warm water and meringue powder. Mix it with a whisk by hand until it is frothy and thickened for about 30 seconds.
5. Add cream of tartar and mix for another 30seconds. Pour in all the icing sugar at once and place the bowl on the mixer. Using the paddle attachment on the lowest speed, mix slowly for a full 10 minutes till the icing gets thick and creamy.
6. Cover the bowl with a dampened tea towel to prevent crusting or drying. Tint with food colouring.
7. Use the 10 second rule to test if the icing is too thin or thick. Simply draw a knife through the icing and count till ten. If the icing smooths out the line before 10 seconds, it is too runny and you will need to add extra icing sugar. If it fills in within the 10 seconds, it should be good enough to ice. Remember, if the icing is too runny, you will end up having a messy cookie. If it is too thick, you can add warm water to reach the desired consistency. Have fun!

Click here to see a cool method of icing cookies.

DIY * Christmas Craft

Top 10 Advent Calenders

Huseby Living and Little Package Advent Calender

Bored of the advent calenders they sell at the grocery stores? I don't blame you as they are pretty boring, especially after looking at these stunning and creative calenders which I have carefully selected to be on my top 10 list. Sadly, this year I wont be able to make one since i'll be travelling abroad. But i'll most definitely keep it for next year. My favourite one is the cone calender below.

From Top Right: Cone Advent Calender, Baby Sock Advent Calender, Christmas Ornament  Calender, Big Box Advent Calender.

Eat * Bake

Ginger Spice Biscuits

When November reaches and Christmas is fast approaching, I can't help but get into the festive spirit. I think its rather excusable since everywhere I go, decorations are up and the scent of spice is in the air. And when I mean spice, i'm not talking about what we put in curry. No, i'm talking about ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg; which is prevalent in the best Christmas recipes.

Ingredients:

1 cup (225g) flour
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp group cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
60g butter (chopped)
1/4 cup honey
2 1/2 tbsp golden syrup (warmed)

1. Heat oven to 180C. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl except butter, honey and syrup.
2. Rub butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture feels like breadcrumbs.
3. Stir in honey and syrup. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead until soft and mixed well.
4. Grease baking tray. Roll the dough into small round balls and place 3cm apart on the baking tray. Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Leave to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a rack. Enjoy!

Decor * Buy

A Very Etsy Christmas

From Top Left: 1. Christmas Stockings by Quillowpatch, 2. Berries Tree Christmas Tags by whimsywhimsical, 3.Christmas Tree Skirt by Quillowpatch, 4. Christmas Owl Pillow by Fong Studio, 5. Christmas Snoman Gift bag by Jinjerup, 6. Holiday Card by Lonelypeopleart

Design * Buy

Christmas for Home

I usually withhold doing anything for Christmas until December arrives but it's impossible to not notice the upcoming holiday season. So while I wont decorate my house till next month, that wont stop me from shopping for Christmas home decor!

Renai, a local designer homeware brand that is available at Living Quarters here in Malaysia has come out with a lovely Christmas collection that is already available to us! Those cushions above make me feel all warm and cosy inside!

LifeShop, a homeware store in Kota Damansara is also selling their holiday collection for this season of giving. I frequent that shop quite often and I swear you can find interesting items there. Click here for their Facebook page.

Happy Shopping!