Sweet Christmas Cookie

Sweet and doughy with chunks of dark chocolate and Toblerone chocolate. 

I am not sure why, but Toblerone is thought of as a Christmas gifting chocolate.

Maybe because the wrapping is shiny Christmas gold...the name is in bold red, or because the chocolate has nougat added to it.

Today we blended two types of chocolate - dark and Toblerone to create these delicious cookie dough-inspired  (a whole lot naughty) cookies for Christmas visitors to enjoy, and another batch to gift.

They last well in a sealed container in the pantry for a week.

But I give you just days...

and then you will have to bake more!

To make these delicious Toberlone and Dark chocolate cookies:

You Will Need:

170 grams (6 Ounces) Butter

1 cup fine white caster sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

One large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla paste or essence

1 cup of Dark chocolate flakes or chips

1/2 cup of ground almonds

2 cups white flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 Toblerone Bar

Method:

Preheat oven to 180 Celcius (350 Farenheight)

Cream butter and sugars until creamy white and fluffy.

Add the egg.

Vanilla essence

Flour and almond

 and finally chocolates.

Add more flour if necessary to be able to mould into large balls,

Press lightly with your hand onto the prepared lined baking trays.

Then add a large chunk of Toblerone to the top of the cookie.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Leave to cool completely.

Store in a sealed container.

This recipe made 20 large cookies.

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Printable Recipe HERE.

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#christmasbaking #christmascookies

DIY Christmas Gift: Coconut Succulent Hanging Planters

There is a certain joy in creating your own gifts for giving.

So here is a little DIY Christmas gift inspiration for you.

Coconut Succulent Hangers are a little bit quirky.

A  little bit cute.

They are fabulous for giving this holiday season.

(Or for birthdays, house warming, Mothers day or Fathers Day)

To make two hangers, you will need:

Two small coconuts that have had top 1/4 sawn off and scraped clean of the coconut flesh.

String

Potting mix

Succulent plants (cuttings will work fine)

Cut six lengths of string about 53 inches (135cm) long.

Gather three together, fold in half and knot at loop for the hanger at the top.

Then knot 3 inches (8cm) down two strings together.

Then again at 4 inches (10cm) down.

Knot again 4 inches (10cm) down, but split the strings. As shown.

This makes the holder shape for the coconut shell.

Then split knot again about 2 1/2 inches (7cm) down.

Place the coconut shell in place.

Knot all the strings together under the coconut.

Trim ends of the string.

Fill each coconut with potting mix and add water until damp.

Place the succulent cuttings into the potting mix.

Hang.

I have hung mine under the candle chandelier over my covered deck mosaic table.

Note: There are no drainage holes in the shell, 

so only water when the soil has dried out.

You might also be interested in:

The DIY Seascape  Pallet Painting

(step by step tutorial)

and

The outdoor candelabra DIY

#homemadegifts #diychristmasgifts #DIY

Lego and Animals Christmas Style Inspiration

I wanted to share with y'all my daughters cute animal tree, 

and her Christmas lego creations.

No one in my family has styled Christmas decor in the usual way this year.

We have all approached it in different ways.

And this is April's Christmas styling.

A simple branch tree in white.

Metal Ball Bells (via Ezibuy)

Fairy lights.

Animal decorations by Ezibuy.

She has built Christmas themed lego over the previous months to compliment her display. 

How cool!

         

I love these Lego Christmas themed buildings.  

             

They even have light up and opening bits.

So much fun even for the 'big' kids.

I think she's aiming for a Lego-themed Christmas table display on a grander scale next holiday season.

This is just the beginning of something fun to come.

#Lego #Christmaslego #simplechristmasdecor

Christmas Table At Mia Bella Passions

 As I said in my Ezibuy online wreath post the other week,

my life is changing.

After 33 years of living here in 'Mia Bella Passions' homestead, I'm going to be moving in 2021.

And a lot of belongings are in storage already.

Life has been exceptionally busy,

as once Covid 19 lockdown and restrictions eased in New Zealand,

I have presented two gallery art exhibitions.

My favourite philosophy has always been the 'KISS' one -

(Keep It Simple Stupid).

And now we are in pre-Christmas mode, and with all that has happened in my life in 2020, this is ever more important.

Thus my very 'KISS' Christmas decor this year.

I adore Christmas.

Christmas decorating.

Christmas baking.

The Christmas and holiday season.

And I will return to it all next year once I am in my new home.

For my display, I used gold and white mistletoe fabric to make my dining table runner.

It is a very quick and easy whip-up even for a beginner sewer who can straight stitch using a machine.

You'll find a tutorial on how to make one HERE.

I love these table runners...

You can creatively add tassels, buttons, braid, rope or beading details if you want to.

With the table runner made and placed on the tabletop, 

A tray with small baubles in gold, rose gold and silver were scattered at the feet of the regal white stag wearing a Christmas star on his neck.

A pretty white and gold tealight candleholder was the final touch.

Everything used to create this display was purchased at Spotlight via their online store. 

(I popped the gold faux glitter flower stems shown in a large glass bottle for the sideboard).

#Christmastable #spotlight

Mango Orange Smoothie

This smoothie is:

Super 'good' for you.

Super 'yummy'.

A great start the day, 

 lunchtime or afternoon tea thick shake style drink.

You will need:

A Magic Bullet or a blender:

425g can mango slices (drained)

2 oranges peeled and diced.

1/2 cup soya milk

(1 cup if you prefer a thinner consistency).

1 Tablespoon liquid honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence

1/2 cup crushed ice or coconut icecream.

BLEND until smooth.

Pour in a glass and devour.  

Or into your 'on the go' drink vessel.

Printable Recipe HERE

Note: An ingredient conversion chart can be found HERE

GRAB A COFFEE AND POP OVER TO MY GIFT STORES AT

FINE ART AMERICA

REDBUBBLE

SAATCHI ART

#smoothierecipe #smoothie #healthydrinks

Christmas Door Wreath

 It's going to be a funny (but not the haha sort) weird kinda Christmas for me this year...

But 2020 has been just that, hasn't it?

There will be no tree this year.

I'll tell you more about the reason why in a while...

But I am doing a door wreath.

And a table feature.

But in superbly 'KISS' (keep it simple stupid) style!

This is why I love Online Christmas stores.

Because when you have no time to craft it, create it or DIY make it,

their ready-made is just right!

Plus it's delivered to your home directly.

So for the front door this year I chose a pretty metal and faux pine and greenery wreath.

Noel is considered a French word but it actually dates back to the  Latin word Nasci, which means to be born.

In the middle ages, Noel described the Christmas period.

'Joyeux Noël is Merry Christmas in French'.

#noel #christmas #christmaswreath

Lemon Meringue Mousse

Deliciously tart, tangy and OH SO CREAMY!

The lemon lovers will LOVE this light and airy dessert.

Lemon meringue pie inspired it's super simple to put together, and ready to eat in a few hours.

The yield is about 8 larger size ramekins.

Use smaller ramekins to treat more people.

Step 1:  Make the lemon base and cool.

Step 2: Make the meringue.

Step 3:  Fold the cream Fraiche into the cooled lemon base.

Step 4:  Use a whisk to whip the lemon mixture into the meringue.

Step 5: Spoon into ramekins.

Top with some finely grated lemon rind.

Chill for 2 hours before serving.  

Lemon Meringue Mousse is best made and eaten on the same day.

Adaption: Orange or mandarin can be used instead of lemon.

Lemon Meringue Mousse

• Makes 8 large-size ramekin servings

• Ingredients
• 3 Tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch)
• 3/4 cup fine white caster sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup of water.
• 3 medium size eggs
• 1/4 cup extra sugar
• 350 grams (1 and 1/2 cups) of Cream Fraiche (store bought)

• Instructions
• Mix the cornflour to a paste in a pot with some of the water. Add the rest of the water, the lemon juice and the caster sugar. Stir on heat until thick.
• Remove from heat, cool and whisk in the 3 egg yolks saving the whites. Set aside to cool.

• Make the meringue.
• Whip the egg whites until stiff. Add the sugar.
• Mix to a smooth meringue.
• Set aside.

• The next step is to fold the Cream Fraiche into the cooled lemon base.
• Use a whisk to whip the lemon mixture into the meringue.
• Spoon into ramekins. Top with some finely grated lemon rind. Chill for 2 hours before serving.

• Tips
• Can be adapted to orange, lime or mandarin instead of lemon.
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• The printable recipe is HERE
• Note: An ingredient conversion chart can be found HERE
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• #lemondesserts #lemonmeringue #lemonmousse