Twelve Christmas Favourites #11

#11 Christmas Favourite – Giving

I adore giving gifts to loved ones. I love finding that special something, wrapping it up and keeping it safe until Christmas day. I have difficulty waiting until Christmas to give people their presents. I just get a little excited.

This year I also thought it was important for Ben to experience giving gifts and not just receiving. This year Ben gave some gifts to World Vision. Online we looked through the gifts you can give children that aren’t as fortunate as Ben. We explained to him that these children don’t have Christmas trees with presents, special treats to eat or maybe even toys to play with. He had trouble believing that this could be possible. He chose pencils, a chicken and feed and a fruit tree – small gifts really that can make such a difference. I am not sure how much Ben understood but hopefully we have planted a seed.

Twelve Christmas Favourties #10

#10 Christmas Favourites – Family and Friends

This is just the most fabulous time of the year because it is filled with family and friends visiting, Christmas get togethers and family dinners. This year it is the ‘Wood’ family Christmas. We will spend Christmas day with my Mum, Dad, Brother and Sister-In-Law (I have the small family). We will catch up with Andrew’s family in the week after Christmas.

We have spent the last few days at the beach celebrating with our friends. We have just loved eating our dinner on the beach watching the kids fly kites, chase seaguls and run themselves silly.

Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without family and friends – feeling very blessed xo

Twelve Christmas Favourites #9

#9 Christmas Favourite – Wrapping

I love wrapping presents. I always have. I think it has something to do with building the excitement of giving the present.

This year I am keeping it simple – brown paper, twine, bells and stamping the name on the present. SO EASY!

Twelve Christmas Favourites #8

#8 Christmas Favourite – SNOW

Yeah yeah I know there is no snow in Queensland ……….. like ever!!! But it is ok to dream of snow, isn’t it? I have had one white Christmas and I do dream of taking Andrew and Ben off to the snow for another.

In 2005 my Mum and I booked a last minute holiday to America for Christmas. We went to visit our dear dear friend Kathy and her family – Hi Kathy xo. I had the most amazing time. I loved every minute of the snow – the jackets, the gloves, scarves, hats, freezing toes, cold nose – everything! But I do realise I have rather a romantic notion of snow. I was on a holiday! Here are some holiday snaps.

I love snowmen. We didn’t actually build this one. We just borrowed it for the photo!

It was freezing the night we went to pick the Christmas Tree. But it was snowing…… I loved it!!!!

There was always somewhere to go and warm up. I can’t remember what I use to order from Starbucks but it was YUM! I am so glad I got to blog about this holiday. It was way before my blogging days.

Here’s hoping for another white Christmas…… some day.

Twelve Christmas Favourites #5

#5 Christmas Favourite – Christmas Trees

Photo by Tapio

We made the trip into the big city (heheh Brisbane) to see the Christmas Tree in King George Square. It’s always lovely! The lights, the decorations….. oh I love them. It is just missing one thing – Snow. But that is not likely to occur in Brisbane! I’m dreaming of snow this year!!

Hope you have your tree up – spreading Christmas cheer xoxo

Twelve Christmas Favourites #4

#4 Christmas Favourite – Rum Balls

I know I have already talked about how good Rum Balls are but they are my very favourite Christmas treat. Here is the recipe:

Traditional (no bake) Rum Balls Recipe

by Clair from The Cookbook.com. au

These traditional rum balls are very easy and quick to make (no baking required!), make great Christmas gifts and are perfect for when friends drop round during the silly season.

Recipe makes approximately 30-40 balls (depending on size of balls). I usually make double (or triple) quantities, as they go so quickly!

Rum Ball Recipe Ingredients

1 packet plain sweet biscuits (Nice, Arrowroot, Marie or Wheatmeal Biscuits)
3 tblspns cocoa powder, sifted to remove lumps
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2-3 tblspns rum (Bundaberg rum works best)
1 cup extra coconut (for rolling finished balls in)

Rum Ball Recipe Method

Finely crush biscuits in a food processor (or you could put them into a zip lock bag and crush with a rolling pin). Add cocoa power, coconut, sweetened condensed milk and rum to crushed biscuits. Combine all ingredients well (you should end up with a stiff mixture). If it is a particularly hot day, or your mixture isn’t quite stiff enough for the balls to hold their shape, put the mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes or so before rolling.

Take large teaspoons of mixture and roll into balls using your hands, then roll balls in extra coconut to coat. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet or shallow plastic container and put in freezer. Once frozen, put into a container and keep in the freezer until ready to use.

Rum balls will last for weeks in the freezer, so you might want to make a couple of batches, well in advance of Christmas

If you are going to make them double or triple the recipe…… they go fast!! Happy Rolling!!