Christmas is almost here, and the season celebrating light, good food and sliding into credit card debt is in full swing – definitely my favourite time of the year! Start planning Christmas but take the stress out of this year’s festivities, with these three hand-crafted Christmas treats – recipe and tips included, courtesy of Mademoiselle Slimalicious!
THREE HAND-CRAFTED CHRISTMAS TREATS
An old friend you haven’t seen since college decides to pay you an unannounced surprise visit this Christmas? Your fridge is empty but you want to impress her/him. Don’t panic. I’ve got you covered with this easy to make DIY Christmas Cocktail. It’s simple, use any ‘white’ liquor you have in your alcohol cabinet (Vodka, Gin or Rum). Now to add a touch of Christmas and turn this boring beverage into a sumptuous Christmas Cocktail, all you need is some fresh mint and a bottle of cranberry juice! Just make sure you keep these in the fridge this summer and you’re sorted! But be warned, old friends might keep visiting…for more!
Now, if you run out of gift ideas, or if you’re in need of a last-minute gift for a neighbour, think of home-made Christmas biscuits. They can be made in advance and keep well in a tin. Those people who dream of a white Christmas, browsing through the Christmas markets of Germany, with a glass of mulled wine in one hand, and a warm pretzel in the other, will be delighted to receive a tin of Dutch Speculoos as a hand-crafted Christmas gift. The thin, crisp biscuits are made from a brown-sugar-based dough enriched with butter. The best part with baking Dutch Speculoos is your kitchen will smell like the inside of a gingerbread house!
Another lovely idea for the Christmas season is to bring delicious home-made treats to the office for all to enjoy. Share these Fig and Pecan Biscotti with your team and colleagues to thank them for their continuous support and friendship throughout the year and they’ll love you even more next year! These crunchy treats are an easy crowd-pleaser, and even the office fitness gurus will enjoy them as they are adapted from a Weight Watchers recipe, and contain only 2 pro-points per biscuit.
For more Christmas gift inspiration, check out my 2015 Christmas Shopping Guide.