Ho!Ho!Ho!

Ho!Ho!Ho!

Its that part of the year when my smile becomes extra wider and heart becomes extra warmer....


Christmas is about ......
Santa Claus who never gave me any gifts ,
Red and greens in gift wrapping sheets to scarves, 
bakes and cakes which gets better every year,
lights and stars which brightens life, 
mistletoe -  i never got kissed under them,
Love and crystals...it never snowed here....
................but Christmas has that magic to it....

An awe inspiring display of multi-hued illuminations and artistic decorations - windows displaying their best work by skillfully weaving the ingredients of the festive spirit and retailers adding value to the mystical aura of  new age Christmas.

As a kid the occasion has been very special other than the fact that exams get over and its holiday time cousins coming over , mum’s cooking, the carols, the christmas tree, mistletoes, santa claus, angels, cookies, the gifts. 

We used to buy handmade christmas cards and sent it to grandparents in the distant natives,carefully jotting down the addresses from the big fat address book and neatly sticking the stamps with the gum.

Frequent visits to taste the cake batter till my mom gives the blender itself to clean the left overs.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in a manger and the birth itself was a message to the world about sacrifice, humility, care, love and understanding.

The crib leaves me confused....the mud statues of all the characters are made out of the same mould but is draped in different color clothes...Joseph and the three wise men all look the same.The midnight mass is a treat for the eyes when the choir girls light candles and sing silent night...and you want that moment to pause forever ....

The Tree from last year is dusted and taken out .....Colored balls,strings of bead,candy sticks,gifts,strawberries are all neatly arranged...The Christmas tree is something which is a character.It stands tall grabbing all the attention with colors and lights on it. The Christmas tree is traditionally brought into the home and decorated with  lights candles ornaments jewels candy canes tinsel and flowers during the days around Christmas.

Wine making Marks the start of the preparations for Christmas by the end of November in big barrels layered with raw wheat,sugar and washed and cleaned grapes.....A paper star pops out of all the homes in all the streets shouting out aloud "it is christmas time"

I swear I don't understand measurements I don't understand cups and grams.I don't understand Temperatures I don't understand celcius and Fahrenheit.but I understand food and will also tell you how it works.shortbread cookies are the best bake any amateur baker can bake. It is rich and buttery tender and crumbly ...
and  i share with you the impress others receipe of all time ; -

when i say cup it could be any sized cup just follow proportions
Use the same cup for all ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour +1/4 cup  rice flour

1/4 cup granulated white sugar is basically our good old sugar powdered

1/2 cup cold salted butter

If it is unsalted butter add salt ....

Yes thats all that u need and u need a blender.....Yes the best traditional blender is ur Fingers......Use them

Scottish Shortbreads are made by hand using just one large bowl. 

1)Mix the flour with the rice flour and sugar.
2)Next, very cold butter is grated over the flour mixture. (use a knife if u dont have a grater)
3)Then,use ur magic finger, take small handfuls of the mixture and gently rub the butter into the flour. 
4)dont be too proactive we are not making dough here....we are just making a mixture till it looks like breadcrumbs 
5) Take ur oven tray Press into an even layer and prick the surface with the tines of a fork. The final step is to take a sharp knife and 'score' the top of the shortbread into wedges.
Do not cut all the way through the pastry or bread.
Bake in a 300 degree F (150 degrees C) for about 40-50 minutes or until biscuit colored (watch carefully).
Understood step number 6 go ahead you are good at it....If you didnt read further...
Higher the temperature lesser the cooking time but make sure that ur cookie is not charred...watch till the sides gets golden..Gets done in 15 mins...

Christmas is a time for giving, a time for sharing your rewards with those are underprivileged and unfortunate, a time for reflection at your inner self. Whilst we can enjoy in the festive spirit, we should spare a thought, a prayer  - the poor who don’t know where their next meal will be coming from, the seniors who have no one to talk to, the children and the people in the war zones getting ready to shelter themselves from the next bomb and many others. This in essence has always been the message of the blessed baby born in the manger. Let us not lose sight of the real meaning

Lets learn from Mr.ebenezer scrooge and not from the Ghosts of the past present and future.