A Christmas Wish!

A time of year to think of love and sharing
A time of peace for the whole world to cherish
A time to be with all your friends and family
And wish them all a Merry Christmas!

Making angels in the snow or sliding down the hill
Roasting chestnuts on the fire takes away the chill
Candy canes and mistletoe and grandma's home-made pie
Gingerbread and hot cocoa, you know its Christmas time

Seasons come and seasons pass, but we still remember

The joy we shared on Christmas last and looking forward to next December
Flowers bloom, then pumpkins grow, then suddenly it starts to snow

Then our hearts are young again and we know its Christmas time

On Christmas eve Santa will soon be coming

With lots of toys for girls and boys

To see their eyes sparkle like above

Is all we need for a Merry Christmas...........
So live your life with kindness and love in your heart

And you'll always have a Merry Christmas!

- Philippe Brisebois

Wishing you all a happy and healthy and peaceful holidays and hope all of you have a wonderful time with all your family and friends. Merry Christmas!

Mita.

p.s: The pattern for the cute mini stockings is by the very talented Julie Williams and you can find it here .

"Sweet" Survivors!

A couple of years back, while browsing through some magazines in the library around christmas time, I came across a Christmas tablescape featuring various kinds of red and white candy. It looked really nice and everything but being so hopelessly sweet-toothed as we are around here, I dont think the decorations had a chance of surviving Christmas. Somehow the idea stuck in my head and this year when I saw the scraps of red and white yarn left over from another project, I just had to try.

I used scraps of red and white worsted weight cotton yarn and a G crochet hook. Being a self-taught crocheteer, I have tried to explain the pattern as best as I could. Please let me know of any errors.

Peppermint Roll Lollipop:

Outer layer: With red yarn, chain 43.

1) Sc in second chain from hook. Sc in each ch across.

2) Ch-1, turn. Sc in each sc across. Finish.

Inner layer: With white yarn, chain 32.

1)Sc in second chain from hook. Sc in each ch across.

2)Ch-1, turn. Sc in each sc across. Finish.

Place inner layer over the outer layer.

Roll up in jelly roll style.

Sew to hold in place.

Insert a lollipop stick.

Peppermint Swirl Lollipop:

This pattern is done using both red and white yarns together and worked in rounds. Do not turn.

Red sc means sc with the red yarn pulled up. Similarly, white sc means sc with the white yarn pulled up on hook.

With white, ch-4, join to form a ring.

1) ch-1, (white sc in ring, red sc in ring) 4 times. Join to beg sc. (8 stitches)

2)ch-1,1 red sc and 1white sc in first sc, 1 white sc and 1 red sc in next sc, (1 red sc and 1 white sc in next sc; 1 white sc and 1 red sc in next sc) 3 times. Join to beg. sc. (16 stitches)

3)ch-1, 1 red sc each in the first 2 sc, 1 white sc each in the next 2 sc, ( 1 red sc each in next 2 sc, 1 white sc each in next 2 sc) 3 times. Join to beg. sc. (16 stitches)

Finish.

Make 2 of the above. At the end of row 3 of 2nd one, do not finish.

Place both motifs wrong sides together, aligning similar colors.

Slip stitch the 2 motifs together using the red yarn while working over the red area and using the white yarn over the white area.

Make sure that the yarn you are not using is carried between the two motifs and not outside.

Finish. Tuck ends in.

Insert lollipop stick. Voila!

I really can't say if these "sweeties" are going to survive Christmas because I did chance upon a pair of tiny hands pick up the lollipops and give it some pretend licks!!

Mita.

Merry Christmas !!!

This probably is my last post for this year as I'm off for my christmas vaction in a couple of days.

Looking back, the past year had some happy moments but a very very sad and shocking one too.

- We finally got the chance to live in our own house, something that we never imagined and we feel truly blest.

- Sis & me took up a resolution to start a blog. I'm happy that we have been able to keep our resolution for 2009 and kept the blog rolling. So cheers to us !!! Well we started with lots of doubt but kept going and then we had long discussions on the blog name, blog template, font, image sizes and even the 'about us' section. We did take long breaks, but we've kept it alive somehow.

- A nice long happy summer holiday at mita's place. The fun started right from when we started filling the visa forms, going for the interviews, the journey itself, the half day break at frankfurt (with SIL) was real fun ;), and a nice relaxed vacation at mita's. Also a trip to our unlce's place at Fredrick and Atlantic city was fun too. I would like to thank my uncle &family and mita & family for making it so memorable and also for the loads of pocket money ;);). The ONLY sad part was the teary farewell at the airport. I still remember my squirming elder niece RM's face at her mum and aunt's public display of emotions.

- A cousin got engaged, and we are looking forward to the wedding. Soon after the engagement, we all sat around our ailing cousin and joked and laughed, and his mother said that she had not seen him that happy in so many months.

- But it was followed by some really sad news as we lost our dear dear cousin, and since we are still in the 40 day mourning period, there won't be any christmas for our family this time. His 40th day being December 30th.

For me the last year just zoomed off and it was crazy at times, but I look forward to a bright and happy 2010.

I had some leftover chocolate cookie dough, so this is my cookie wreath for christmas.
May you have a Blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year !!!
Gita

The Colourful Crostini

My search for a vegetarian snack this lenten season ended with this...the very italian Crostini. The best part of this is that you can experiment with your topping and add whatever you like. My DH suggested minced meat, but since we're vegetarian for a couple of days, this is my version of the Crostini.


Recipe :

Baguette (sliced diagonally) - 1 loaf
Salted Butter - 2 Tblsp
Garlic (finely chopped) - 6
Oregano - as taste

- Mix butter with garlic and oregano.
- Smear the baguette slices with the garlic-oregano butter.
- Bake in an oven for 5 minutes at 350F.

Topping:

Diced Onion - 1/4 cup
Diced Red capsicum - 1/4 cup
Diced Yellow Capsicum - 1/4 cup
Diced Tomatoes - 1 medium (Pulp discarded)
Corn - Half a cob
Celery - 1 stem
Chopped Garlic - 6
Olive oil - 1 tsp
Grated Cheese - as required

- Mix all the above except the grated cheese.
- Place a spoonful of this mixture on the toasted slice.
- Garnish with Grated cheese.

As the aroma of the freshly baked garlic bread lingers on, I'm sure "no one can eat just one" !!!

love,
Gita

In Memoriam.

I'd like to dedicate this post in memory of my little cousin, Sachin, who lost his 7 month long battle with astrocytoma on the 21st. He was just 14. His passing has left a big vacuum in our family which is going to be real hard to fill. When he was little, we used to envy his beautiful, long eyelashes and tease him about it. His quick wit caught almost anybody off-guard and if there was anybody who could make his mom laugh whole-heartedly, it was him. I still remember the smile on his face when I told him that he was an uncle when my older daughter was born! While his siblings are rather on the shy side and just had their mom do their shopping, he was always outspoken and very particular about what he wore. I don't think I've ever come across any kid who has said he wants to go to a boarding school, beacuse he thought it was a better school. He did. In the long months that he suffered, not once did he complain, though he was confined to his bed and also lost his vision. He even assured his mom on the day he left that everything was going to be okay and that she shouldn't be sad. Typical him! I think he was an angel sent down by God.

Sachin had a big sweet-tooth and loved all those sweets from the bakery. This cake was made as the finale cake of my Wilton course 2 on the day before he passed.

Sachin, this one's for you! You have spread so much happiness in all of our lives and though you are in a much better place now, you will be greatly missed !

Mita.

Tiny Temptations - Chocolate Cups filled with sweet whipped cream!

Ever since I saw them in a magazine, I've wanted to try to make these chocolate cups. Somehow, after my not so good experience with chocolate last Christmas, trying to dip gingerbread men in chocolate, these cuties had to take a back seat. Anyway, they are fairly easy to make and more than any skill you need, you just need to be patient and take things slow!

Its a good idea to get all your stuff together before you start working with the chocolate.

You will need:

Cupcake liners

Cupcake tin or pan

Basting brush or a food-safe paint brush.

Chocolate chips - 3/4 cup

Shortening - 1 tsp.

Place both in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Be sure that all the utensils are absolutely dry as any trace of water will just mess up the chocolate. When the chocolate is melted, use the brush to paint the inside of the cupcake liners with the melted chocolate. Make sure that the chocolate covers every nook of the cupcake liner. Work quickly because the cupcake liner will start to get heavy and lose its shape. Immediately place chocolate-painted liner in a cavity in the cupcake pan. This helps keep the shape. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. In case the melted chocolate starts hardening while working, microwave for a few seconds and continue with the other cups.

After refrigerating, its time to peel off the liners. Be very careful while doing this and peel a little paper at a time. Place back in the refrigerator till ready to use.

Sweetened whipped cream:

Heavy cream - 1 cup

Confectioner's sugar - 1/4 cup

Vanilla essence - 1 tsp.

Place metal bowl and whisk or beaters in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Place the above ingredients in the chilled bowl and beat till soft peaks form. Do not overbeat. Pipe the whipped cream into the chocolate cups and refrigerate till ready to serve.

Any kind of filling can be used with the chocolate cups. It can even serve as an edible bowl for ice-cream or pudding. They can be made in any size also. I used the tiny chocolate liners or bonbon cups here as I've always had a soft spot for cute tiny things. I guess it doesn't make me feel that guilty when I have a tiny second helping!!!!

Mita.

African Art

Africa, the worlds second largest continent with as many as 61 territories represents a great diversity in its art and culture. Some of the poorest people live here but I feel some of the most talented too, be it sports, music, art (though lesser own).

This is inspired from an african painting I found while browsing. I did it on pre-washed cotton fabric using synthetic dyes.

African art is very colurful with lots of yellows, oranges, reds and browns. It is also very vibrant and attractive. Human figures and animals have been the primary subject for most african art. Check out Martin Bulinya's Tinga Tinga (Tanzanian art) at http://www.insideafricanart.com/default.htm

I love Africa and wildlife and is definitely on my "places I must see before I die" list.

love,

Gita