MAGIC RULES FOR A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS: Stopping fretting, STOP buying, duck out of the commercialism and start enjoying. I will celebrate the little things. I will kiss my children. I might kiss my husband. I will eat chocolate for breakfast. I will make ham. I will go to lunch with my lovely friends. I might kiss them. I will take a look around. And get a whole lot more grateful. I will put whisky in my coffee in the morning. I will linger in Pimms. I will wear polka dot pj’s I will dance in the sun. I might have to play in the rain.  I will sing on the beaches. I will make it magic just for me.
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MAGIC RULES FOR A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS:

Stopping fretting, STOP buying, duck out of the commercialism and start enjoying.

I will celebrate the little things.

I will kiss my children.

I might kiss my husband.

I will eat chocolate for breakfast.

I will make ham.

I will go to lunch with my lovely friends.

I might kiss them.

I will take a look around.

And get a whole lot more grateful.

I will put whisky in my coffee in the morning.

I will linger in Pimms.

I will wear polka dot pj’s

I will dance in the sun.

I might have to play in the rain.

 I will sing on the beaches.

I will

make

it

magic

just

for

me.

CHRISTMAS COCONUT BALLS The coconut balls are a treat easy to achieve. To be enjoyed anytime over Christmas.Preparation time: 20 min. Cooking time: 10 minutes - Serves 2 people.ingredients100 g of rice flour30 g powdered sugar60 g of shredded coconut2 egg yolks (the blank can be used to make meringues!)2 tablespoons coconut milk1 tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk RecipeIn a small bowl, mix rice flour and sugar.Gradually pour cold water while mixing until a smooth paste and thick.Prepare, with the dough, small balls the size of a walnut.In a bowl, combine egg yolks, coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk. (You can add a few drops of green food coloring or red)Put the mixture into a pastry bag, fine mouth. (A syringe without needle or a cone of stiff paper may do the trick)Make a small hole in the balls of dough and fill with mixture. Recap tightly. (This is the most delicate moment!)In a steamer basket, place the balls on a parchment paper.Place all above the boiling water and cook ten minutes, until the balls are firm and slightly swollen. Roll balls in coconut chopped Bon appetit!
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CHRISTMAS COCONUT BALLS

The coconut balls are a treat easy to achieve. To be enjoyed anytime over Christmas.

Preparation time: 20 min. Cooking time: 10 minutes - Serves 2 people.

ingredients

100 g of rice flour
30 g powdered sugar
60 g of shredded coconut
2 egg yolks (the blank can be used to make meringues!)
2 tablespoons coconut milk
1 tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk

Recipe

In a small bowl, mix rice flour and sugar.
Gradually pour cold water while mixing until a smooth paste and thick.
Prepare, with the dough, small balls the size of a walnut.
In a bowl, combine egg yolks, coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk. (You can add a few drops of green food coloring or red)
Put the mixture into a pastry bag, fine mouth. (A syringe without needle or a cone of stiff paper may do the trick)
Make a small hole in the balls of dough and fill with mixture. Recap tightly. (This is the most delicate moment!)
In a steamer basket, place the balls on a parchment paper.
Place all above the boiling water and cook ten minutes, until the balls are firm and slightly swollen.


Roll balls in coconut chopped


Bon appetit!

Roasted Grapes with Thmye, Fresh Ricotta & Grilled Bread I have never thought about having grapes on toast before, but this dish just looks divine! I am going to try this for afternoon tea and sit outside on the deck with my newly delivered NZ Home & Garden Mag…bliss! grapesolive oilkosher saltfresh thyme sprigs good rustic bread, sliced into 1/2-inch thick piecesolive oil homemade ricotta 1. Preheat oven to 450ºF. Spread grapes onto a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt. Lay thyme leaves over top. Toss all together gently with your hands. Place pan in the oven for 7 to 9 minutes or until grapes just begin to burst. I prefer the shorter roasting time — it’s nice when some of the grapes remain in tact. 2. Meanwhile, heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Brush the bread with olive oil. Grill until nice and toasty. 3. Assemble the open-faced sandwiches: Spread fresh ricotta over bread. Top with roasted grapes. Discard thyme sprigs. (While the thyme sprigs look pretty, it’s a little impractical to serve the sandwiches with the sprigs…they don’t taste so yummy.)
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Roasted Grapes with Thmye, Fresh Ricotta & Grilled Bread

I have never thought about having grapes on toast before, but this dish just looks divine! I am going to try this for afternoon tea and sit outside on the deck with my newly delivered NZ Home & Garden Mag…bliss!

grapes
olive oil
kosher salt
fresh thyme sprigs

good rustic bread, sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces
olive oil

homemade ricotta

1. Preheat oven to 450ºF. Spread grapes onto a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt. Lay thyme leaves over top. Toss all together gently with your hands. Place pan in the oven for 7 to 9 minutes or until grapes just begin to burst. I prefer the shorter roasting time — it’s nice when some of the grapes remain in tact.

2. Meanwhile, heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Brush the bread with olive oil. Grill until nice and toasty.

3. Assemble the open-faced sandwiches: Spread fresh ricotta over bread. Top with roasted grapes. Discard thyme sprigs. (While the thyme sprigs look pretty, it’s a little impractical to serve the sandwiches with the sprigs…they don’t taste so yummy.)

Tomorrow is the beginning of December, so today is the time to panic that you don’t have an advent calendar! It’s ok, here’s a few ideas of  what you can whip up at home that will also look a million dollars better than a store bought chocolate one!

Pop in age appropriate small gifts like ornaments for the tree, a beautifully wrapped chocolate, a christmas task (like go collect the christmas tree with dad), or simply a little christmas wish.

Anything is possible, start this wonderful tradition today and each day leading up to the 25th will be lot’s of fun.

Mug Cake to the rescue!  Salted caramel chocolate mug cake that takes JUST 2 minutes to make. It’s rich decadent and oh yes delicious. The recipe makes 1 mug cake in a regular sized coffee mug. It will take you 5 minutes top to bottom. How’s that for quick and easy.  If you can’t find salted caramels you can sprinkle a little fleur de sel salt into the mixture as you’re dropping in the caramels. I like a little sprinkling of it on top of my cake too. I can’t get enough of sweet and salty together. Salted Caramel Mug CakeWhat you’ll need: {makes 1 mug cake}4 tablespoons all purpose flour4 tablespoons sugar3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder1/4 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt1 egg – beaten3 tablespoons skim milk1 tablespoon vegetable oil2 salted caramels What to do: 1. Into a small bowl add: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt, egg, milk, and vegetable oil. Mix to combine. 2. Pour mixture into a regular sized coffee mug. Drop caramels into center of mixture one at a time. 3. Microwave on high for one minute and 30 seconds. If needed {if cake batter is still gooey}, microwave on high for up to an additional 30 seconds.
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Mug Cake to the rescue! 

Salted caramel chocolate mug cake that takes JUST 2 minutes to make. It’s rich decadent and oh yes delicious. The recipe makes 1 mug cake in a regular sized coffee mug. It will take you 5 minutes top to bottom. How’s that for quick and easy.  If you can’t find salted caramels you can sprinkle a little fleur de sel salt into the mixture as you’re dropping in the caramels. I like a little sprinkling of it on top of my cake too. I can’t get enough of sweet and salty together.

Salted Caramel Mug Cake
What you’ll need: {makes 1 mug cake}
4 tablespoons all purpose flour
4 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg – beaten
3 tablespoons skim milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 salted caramels

What to do: 
1. Into a small bowl add: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt, egg, milk, and vegetable oil. Mix to combine.

2. Pour mixture into a regular sized coffee mug. Drop caramels into center of mixture one at a time.

3. Microwave on high for one minute and 30 seconds. If needed {if cake batter is still gooey}, microwave on high for up to an additional 30 seconds.

Stylish Work Stations

If you have to work, you might as well make the area you work at look fantastic. A few little additions to a simple space can make your work area stylish and boost productivity due to an inspirational space. Sometimes the simplest of additions can make a difference, some prints, storage and stationary, or just good lighting. Whether you have a little nook or your entire garage to work with here are some fabulous workspaces to get you thinking. Whether its a space for you to type, sew, or even a space for children to get creative. Make the space an enjoyable place to be.

Images via: style-files.com & style-files.com

Images via:  houzz.com & birchandbird.com  

Images via: apartmenttherapy.com & designismine.blogspot.com

Images via: decor8blog.com & itshardtofindafriend.tumblr.com

Image via: brightbazaar.blogspot.com