I made vanilla sugar yesterday as Christmas gifts for friends. It's a tradition among my friends to make food and share it around as a small gesture of love and this year I wanted to make something useful too!
So this year I made Bourbon Vanilla Sugar. It is SO easy it's not funny but is SUCH a lovely gift and so appreciated.
1 vanilla bean
1kg caster sugar
1 food processor or blender
jars to store in
double sided tape and another vanilla bean, if you're feeling adventurous
labels
Put the caster sugar in the blender. Slit open the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds/caviar. If you're like me, get vanilla goo on your hands and wipe it unstrategically on yourself so you smell like vanilla for the rest of the day and have random black dots on you. Put the scrapings on top of the sugar. Add the bean in as well.
Blend until you can see that the bean has been cut up finely, and that the little black spots are distributed well throughout the mix.
Seive the sugar to get the big bits of bean out (keep these in a jar for yourself for next time you want to infuse!). Pack into jars and pat down densely. Slice up the other bean into however many jars you have, and use double sided tape to stick a piece on the inside of the jar lid.
Label.
It gets better with time and age - 6 months or more is best, if stored in a cool dark place. But who can resist?
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
What giftmas means around here...
Christmas is one of those things that we don't really get in to around Chateau Archer - mostly because it's so commercial and because we are not Christian so it's strange to celebrate a festival such as that.
However, we are both Aussies and it is such a core part of our culture that it's hard not to enjoy bits of it and to be caught up in it. For example, I love singing carols because I'm a soprano, and I love the descants, and it's fun. But some of the words are annoying, and some of the themes/stories go against my grain, but in the end it's part of my culture still.
So we kind of have a hybrid celebration of the end of the year. We do gifts, but it is minimal and not hugely over the top, and limited to close family and friends. Not-so-close family and friends get a card, or something small and foodie. This year I'm planning on making vanilla sugar, and some gingerbread people, and maybe more lemon butter if I can get my hands on lots of jars.
I also like to craft for Christmas - this year I'm planning on making modern paper ornaments from Design Sponge, and decorating some pine cones for wall art, and scenting some for a centrepiece. I also want to make a wreath, and put it on our door. I don't want snow-themed goodies, or snowflakes etc as it doesn't snow here, and it is hot during summer so it's not true to form - but I do want some colour and theme around here! Maybe something like a puzzle piece wreath, or else a pine cone one, or a ribbon one?
We actually celebrate the summer solstice more than Christmas anyway. The solstice is also someone's birthday this year, and the day after the Carols by Candlelight that I'm arranging people to attend because it's fun. It's about the longest day of the year and the turning of the seasons and the celebrations that should surround that. It's about eating food that is in season (oh cherries, how I love thee!) and being with people who've made the year what it was.
Part of thinking about this is because next Christmas, we'll have a Puggle to bring into this. We are leaning towards a toy-free giftmas approach, and a focus on what we are celebrating rather than what others are celebrating. It's also about family and friends and what makes us part of a community.
Traditionally for us, we go to the Adelaide Rowing Club on Christmas morning and carol to raise money for our choir. Then we go home, pop a roast in the crock pot, veges in another, and then relax on the couch with "Love, Actually". Then we open the house from about 2pm for any waifs, visitors, travellers, Christmas orphans or those that are between functions (after lunch and before dinner). That carries on into the night when we fire up the bbq and have a progressive dinner, and my sister provides dessert, and we celebrate the end of the year together. Then we'll pack the dishwasher and go to bed.
This year we are doing that but are going to the SIL's place for lunch. Which is fine but by that stage I'll be 30 weeks pregnant and will not be up for cooking, cleaning, dish washing, child wrangling or other activities, especially if it is Hot. I will try to be cheery when spending time with extended family that annoy me, and I will try to enjoy being pregnant through summer.
Oh and lastly - I always buy myself a Christmas present. I pick something I really want, and I buy it and enjoy it. This year I am buying myself some Birkis because I am starting to struggle to do my shoes up, and they are SO damn cute that I will be very happy with them:
However, we are both Aussies and it is such a core part of our culture that it's hard not to enjoy bits of it and to be caught up in it. For example, I love singing carols because I'm a soprano, and I love the descants, and it's fun. But some of the words are annoying, and some of the themes/stories go against my grain, but in the end it's part of my culture still.
So we kind of have a hybrid celebration of the end of the year. We do gifts, but it is minimal and not hugely over the top, and limited to close family and friends. Not-so-close family and friends get a card, or something small and foodie. This year I'm planning on making vanilla sugar, and some gingerbread people, and maybe more lemon butter if I can get my hands on lots of jars.
I also like to craft for Christmas - this year I'm planning on making modern paper ornaments from Design Sponge, and decorating some pine cones for wall art, and scenting some for a centrepiece. I also want to make a wreath, and put it on our door. I don't want snow-themed goodies, or snowflakes etc as it doesn't snow here, and it is hot during summer so it's not true to form - but I do want some colour and theme around here! Maybe something like a puzzle piece wreath, or else a pine cone one, or a ribbon one?
We actually celebrate the summer solstice more than Christmas anyway. The solstice is also someone's birthday this year, and the day after the Carols by Candlelight that I'm arranging people to attend because it's fun. It's about the longest day of the year and the turning of the seasons and the celebrations that should surround that. It's about eating food that is in season (oh cherries, how I love thee!) and being with people who've made the year what it was.
Part of thinking about this is because next Christmas, we'll have a Puggle to bring into this. We are leaning towards a toy-free giftmas approach, and a focus on what we are celebrating rather than what others are celebrating. It's also about family and friends and what makes us part of a community.
Traditionally for us, we go to the Adelaide Rowing Club on Christmas morning and carol to raise money for our choir. Then we go home, pop a roast in the crock pot, veges in another, and then relax on the couch with "Love, Actually". Then we open the house from about 2pm for any waifs, visitors, travellers, Christmas orphans or those that are between functions (after lunch and before dinner). That carries on into the night when we fire up the bbq and have a progressive dinner, and my sister provides dessert, and we celebrate the end of the year together. Then we'll pack the dishwasher and go to bed.
This year we are doing that but are going to the SIL's place for lunch. Which is fine but by that stage I'll be 30 weeks pregnant and will not be up for cooking, cleaning, dish washing, child wrangling or other activities, especially if it is Hot. I will try to be cheery when spending time with extended family that annoy me, and I will try to enjoy being pregnant through summer.
Oh and lastly - I always buy myself a Christmas present. I pick something I really want, and I buy it and enjoy it. This year I am buying myself some Birkis because I am starting to struggle to do my shoes up, and they are SO damn cute that I will be very happy with them:
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas is on its way!
A meme - nothing much exciting going on here this week. We had our engagement party on the weekend, and it was a FUN time! Photos to come.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper - I love using recycled or repurposed paper though. I can't remember the last time I bought paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial, bordering on "none". Ours is about 30cm high and is silver. We have a 1.5m tall green artificial one but have nowhere to put it and no urge to. We're not big on Christmas. I like the holiday and the thought but it gets so swamped by the retail reality of it that it loses a lot of its gloss. I'm much more of the Pagan leaning than a Christian one as well, so midsummer is my preferred celebration.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Friday. We got it off the shelf and put it on the table.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Um - usually pretty quickly after Christmas. I prefer to have it down before New Years. By "down" I mean back on its shelf.
5. Do you like eggnog?
I've never had it to be honest.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
A baking set with a rolling pin and a plastic rolling sheet. Loved it to pieces.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
My nephews - we give money into an account instead.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
My Dad - two polo shirts and a bag of jersey caramels, year after year. He loves it too as they're his favourite sweet, and he then gets two new shirts for the year. Or so he says.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
No - see #2
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail if I send any at all.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Scented soaps which gave me such a bad migraine I had to be hospitalised.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Love Actually.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
All year round.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not directly - I have given some to charity though.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cranberry sauce and turkey; cherry pie and custard
16. What decorations are on your tree?
Little bud lights as it's a tiny tree
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Deck the hall - a good pagan song ;)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?
Not this year but usually
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
No
20. Angel on top of tree or star?
Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
Morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
People angsting about everything - money, presents, food, entertaining... it's exhausting to watch.
23 What theme or color are you using when you decorate?
Red and silver usually
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Seafood
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Jewellry if anything - silver, white gold, platinum with a clear colourless stone.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper - I love using recycled or repurposed paper though. I can't remember the last time I bought paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial, bordering on "none". Ours is about 30cm high and is silver. We have a 1.5m tall green artificial one but have nowhere to put it and no urge to. We're not big on Christmas. I like the holiday and the thought but it gets so swamped by the retail reality of it that it loses a lot of its gloss. I'm much more of the Pagan leaning than a Christian one as well, so midsummer is my preferred celebration.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Friday. We got it off the shelf and put it on the table.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Um - usually pretty quickly after Christmas. I prefer to have it down before New Years. By "down" I mean back on its shelf.
5. Do you like eggnog?
I've never had it to be honest.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
A baking set with a rolling pin and a plastic rolling sheet. Loved it to pieces.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
My nephews - we give money into an account instead.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
My Dad - two polo shirts and a bag of jersey caramels, year after year. He loves it too as they're his favourite sweet, and he then gets two new shirts for the year. Or so he says.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
No - see #2
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail if I send any at all.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Scented soaps which gave me such a bad migraine I had to be hospitalised.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Love Actually.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
All year round.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not directly - I have given some to charity though.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cranberry sauce and turkey; cherry pie and custard
16. What decorations are on your tree?
Little bud lights as it's a tiny tree
17. Favorite Christmas song?
Deck the hall - a good pagan song ;)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?
Not this year but usually
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
No
20. Angel on top of tree or star?
Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
Morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
People angsting about everything - money, presents, food, entertaining... it's exhausting to watch.
23 What theme or color are you using when you decorate?
Red and silver usually
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Seafood
25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Jewellry if anything - silver, white gold, platinum with a clear colourless stone.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Christmas, wedding, surgery...
* Christmas may be interesting this year. Surgery is on 10/12 and I'll have 2 weeks of being unable to move my arm, so it'll still be a case of "help me get dressed please" by that stage. I've politely suggested to the family that I'm not up for traveling 2 hours to celebrate Christmas (as much as I do anyway, which is minimally) and will be having a quiet time at home.
* Wedding plans are on hold at the moment or are going on in so much that we are still talking about it when we get the chance. Money comes into it a lot, and I am waiting until I see my dad in December to pick his brains about the trip we want to make. Well, I want to make - it's hard to get ManFriend to make any moves on this, whereas I desperately need something other than school and my injuries to think about.
* Shoulder surgery is set for 1 month, 1 week and 1 day away. That's kind of poignant. And look I did what any good blogger would do and put up a ticker for it. I have exams x2 between now and then as well. I am wondering how to prepare for the recovery period. I'm a bad patient - I don't rest, I do too much, I fret about things that need doing but not by mem and I am going to struggle to feed and entertain myself for at least 2 weeks if not more. I found a great website on recovery from a broken leg but nothing similar for a shoulder; there are lots of similar things to take away!
* Wedding plans are on hold at the moment or are going on in so much that we are still talking about it when we get the chance. Money comes into it a lot, and I am waiting until I see my dad in December to pick his brains about the trip we want to make. Well, I want to make - it's hard to get ManFriend to make any moves on this, whereas I desperately need something other than school and my injuries to think about.
* Shoulder surgery is set for 1 month, 1 week and 1 day away. That's kind of poignant. And look I did what any good blogger would do and put up a ticker for it. I have exams x2 between now and then as well. I am wondering how to prepare for the recovery period. I'm a bad patient - I don't rest, I do too much, I fret about things that need doing but not by mem and I am going to struggle to feed and entertain myself for at least 2 weeks if not more. I found a great website on recovery from a broken leg but nothing similar for a shoulder; there are lots of similar things to take away!
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