Christmas cookies.... MMM

This year I decided to make bake my gifts.

Nigella inspired me, and once I started... I really couldn't stop.

This is her Nigella Christmas edition. *LOVE* love, love!

 
So, I took it all the way, right down to the hand made labels, boxes, tissue paper and christmas tins.
I made Nigella's chritsmas cookies (below) and added crushed peppermint on top.
The traditional sugar cookies, some vintage lavender shortbread (recipe given to me from the lady at "The Vintage Gardener" in the distillary), Nigella's cream cheese brownies (p. 194 "How to be a Domestic Goddess" and you will be if you make these, they are to die for), the most amazing Christmas Granola ever (Nigella's recipe again, of course), the lovely Nigella's "Peanut Brittle with Art and Soul" (I substituted maple syrup for golden syrup and I added almonds and cranberries at the end), and for Christmas Eve I made my first triffle. It was naturally, Nigella Lawson's "Boozy British Triffle" and it was quite lovely!

Would I do it again? Yes... despite the appearence of a bomb blowing up in my flour bag and creating a man-made quake in my tiny kitchen, with a bit more planning and some more recipes under my belt I will forge ahead. It was fun and people seemed to genuinely appreciate and enjoy the treats. So, I will bravely attempt this again... next year.

The grand finale!

Triffle, boozy baby!

Ti's the season... show a little HEART.

No, it's not a joke... it's a tradition.
"Honest Ed's" is giving away free Turkey's this weekend! (Click on the link) Isn't that nice. Heck, just the thought says a lot. Sharing is caring.
They say Ti's the season to be giving but how many of us really do it?
That's a lot of love for a world that needs a little warmth.

I saw a homeless man pay for his own coffee the other day .
For a split second I thought he was begging but he reached into his pocket and poured the coins on the counter. I was in my own world, consumed by my own personal crisis and it wasn't until after I walked out that it "clicked"... I could have helped him out. My eyes welled up with tears. I wonder how many times something like that happens and no one even thinks twice. We all have busy lives and our own concerns and issues, don't we? But what's it to really GIVE?

To Give: To present voluntarily and without expecting compensation.

I realize that when people hear the word "give" they assume that it means "money" but that's not true. Believe it or not a SMILE can go a long way for someone having a rough day. Or just an "I LOVE YOU" to someone you care about. Our HEARTS are bigger than we think.

my book "heart" from me to you!

There are many things we can do FOR FREE that can brighten someones day: just lend a helping hand, a hug to a loved one, volunteer an afternoon or lunch hour to help out a charity, offer to shovel snow for the little lady next door or rake the leaves, or just offer your seat to someone else on the subway/bus/streetcar. Your time is the greatest gift, why not give a little? Make the time, to give the time of day to someone.

I guess you don't need a season to actually do this. It's much easier than we think.

Just open your HEART. :)