I went to oxford circus,covent garden,richmond manor circus and south kensington.Everywhere you go the christmas lights are glittering under the star lit sky. The windows at the shops are stocked with christmas gifts and decorations. The patisserie is flaunting macaroons,cupcakes,tarts and cheesecakes. And all I can say is that Christmas is just round the corner. And it is the right time to start stuffing the blog with christmas ideas and delicacies.
I have decided to have a white christmas this year signifying peace and calm. Which is the need of the hour. The decor and the mood will be lit with purity of white.
I was educated in a convent school so catholic principles were an integral part of my formal education. I cannot thank my parents enough for doing that.The moral science which hurt while answering in yesteryears is now a part of my everyday living. I am not a simpleton but yes a strong believer in ethics and conduct. Ironically lord landed me in the land of manners.
Going back to the earliest memories of christmas gifting. We were always told to get soaps,notebooks and pencils wrapped up in gift wrapping paper. We were asked to get some extra snacks for the christmas picnic. The picnic is a misnomer as it was our school playground which was the venue each year (I say that with a sulk). There was a box which was kept inside every class where we dropped in our gifts.But who were these gifts for ?
Our school every year invited children from the missionary of charity. Missionaries of Charity is Mother Teresa’s vision of taking care of orphaned and mentally challenged children.The children arrived with eyes full of amazement and wonder. Every child was introduced to a group of school mates and we took the girl/boy with us. We shared our food and tried talking to them. We played games with the children. We would definitely have one of our teachers dressed up as Santa who would come out of nowhere and hand over the gifts to the children. For us we had to be satisfied with candy canes and lollies. 🙂
The parting was difficult. They get attached to the love and affection and they find it hard to break the new found friendship. The very moment makes you realise the value of family. We thrive under the care and security of our parents and for that we should be indebted.
Round the year several trips were organised when we visited the charity and we spent time playing and singing with them.
Those were the earliest memories of assorting christmas gifts. Those tiny gifts hardly had any material value to the children but the feeling of being gifted is special. To be cared for and having someone to gift you is priceless.
I have assorted a list of do-it-yourself edible gifts ideas which can be quite easy to prepare and yet be equally tantalising gift for christmas. It is also quite pocket friendly as the gift nowadays can be quite expensive.
I am making a lip smacking apple and cranberry chutney, a spicy asian prawn pickle, an english sweet sour black grape pickle and a middle eastern turnip pickle.
- For the Apple and Cranberry Chutney
- 250g apples, peeled and chopped into small chunks
- 100g onions, sliced
- 10g fresh root ginger, finely chopped
- 4-5 peppercorns
- 100g granulated sugar
- 60ml cider vinegar
- 250g cranberries
- For the Black Grapes Pickle
- 250g black seedless grapes
- 100g granulated sugar
- 100ml white wine vinegar
- 5 peppercorns
- 1 small dried african birds eye chilli
- 1/2 cinnamon stick
- For the Asian Prawn Pickle
- 500g small to medium prawns,peeled and cleaned
- 2 sprigs of curry leaves
- 1 cup sesame oil
- 4-5 garlic cloves
- 1 inch ginger
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 cup malt vinegar
- 2-3 green chillies,sliced
- 1 tbsp red chilli powder
- 1 tbsp turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp salt to taste
- In a heavy bottomed pan, add all the ingredients (except cranberries) and allow the sugar to dissolve by stirring.Then bring it to a boil and then allow it to simmer until all the apple chunks are softened.This might approximately take 1 hour over medium heat.
- Add your cranberries and let it get softened but not burst.Spoon the hot chutney into sterilised jars.The chutney will stay for 6 months and keep in the refrigerator once opened.
- Marinate the prawns in red chilli powder and turmeric powder.Then heat 2 tbsp oil and deep fry the prawns for 5 minutes. Then strain the prawns out.
- In the same pan drain the left over oil. Add fresh oil and let the mustard seeds splutter. The follow by adding garlic,ginger,curry leaves. All the ingredients should be properly fried in the oil and have no traces of moisture. Then add the red chilli powder and vinegar and stir continuously. Bring to a quick boil and stir in the fried prawns.
- Allow the prawns to cool and stir in the salt as per your taste.Fill the prawn pickle into cooled down sterilised jars.Pour over some more hot oil over the prawns.Allow it to cool.Then seal the jars and all the curing process to commence for 2 days.
- This pickle will stay properly for 1 month and refrigerate once opened.
- Pull sprigs of grapes off the main stem.Put everything else into a saucepan and bring it to a boil,stirring to help the sugar dissolve.Boil for 4 minutes and then cool completely.
- Wash and dry the grapes and put them into a warm sterilised jars. Pour over the vinegar and seal it.You can eat this immediately.The longer they are in vinegar the more wrinkled the grapes will become. This will keep for a year.This is a great accompaniment for fatty meat/The acid balances the protein.
Ohhhhhhh my God!!
U r fantastic girl!!
Babes you are truly awesome to support my madness !!