These delicate French pastries are both insanely easy to make (which you do not have to disclose to the public) and unbelievably delicious (which the public will see for themselves).
Essential recipe:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (or 180 degrees C).
*Butter small Madeleine moulds (about 1inch or 3cm long).
*Melt:
-1 cup (or 100g) butter
*Once melted, remove the white clouding that has risen.
*Set aside and let cool.
*Heat à bain marie (meaning in a pot over boiling water):
-2 eggs
-1 cup (or 100g) granulated sugar (either white, brown, or a combination of the two)
*Whisk this vigorously and continually until lukewarm.
*Remove from fire and cool it by whisking it in small, short strokes until it has a light consistency.
*Sift gradually into the egg-and-sugar mixture:
-1 cup (or 100g) flour
*Stir vigorously until the mixture is smooth.
*Add the cooled and cleared melted butter.
*Add:
-1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
*Stir for two or three minutes.
--The mixture should be thick and heavy by this time: about halfway between the consistency of cake batter and that of cookie dough.
*Take a teaspoon and fill each individual mould about 3/4 of the way full. (You may use either your finger or another teaspoon to help remove the batter from the utensil.)
*Bake 8 minutes. (Do not bake any longer than this - they may seem a little undercooked, but they harden upon being removed from the oven.)
*Let cool a full 15 minutes before removing from the moulds.
Possible additions:
-Add a tablespoon of cognac (or any other similar liqueur - possibly flavored by fruit) to the mixture at the same time as the vanilla.
-Add two tablespoons of hone to the mixture at the same time as the vanilla.
-Add a teaspoon of lemon zest and a tablespoon of lemon or orange juice to the mixture at the same time as the vanilla.
-Combine (or replace) the vanilla with coconut extract and garnish each cookie with coconut shavings before baking.
-Put chocolate chips in the center of each Madeleine before baking.
-Glaze with caramelized sugar or honey glaze (these are relatively easy to make, you simply boil equal portions of honey and water or sugar and water) once cooled.
-Dribble melted chocolate over the Madeleines as soon as they come out of the oven.
-Create a sort of miniature profiterole by removing a little from the center of the cooked Madeleine while it is still hot and filling it with vanilla custard.
-Replace the vanilla custard of the profiterole procedure with sweetened chesnut purée, or possibly banana purée, if it is to your taste.
--There are countless other editions of Madeleines that can be tried. (Each try is not always successful, but even our mistakes can taste good from time to time upon the occasion of a baking session between friends on a girls' night.) If you find anything particularly spectacular, please let me know!
Serving:
For a dinner, I would advise serving these five to a plate with a side of fresh fruit and a garnish of whipped cream.
For a party, it can be a good idea at parties to make several kinds of Madeleines according to the varying tastes of your guests, and to set them out on separate trays next to each other for tasting.
Enjoy, ladies.
(We all know that the greatest weakness of our sex lies in desserts, so indulge yourselves!)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Champagne and other such things
Hello again, darlings!
As promised, I've prepared some New Year's tips for you. There are so many things that can get you off on a great start for 2010, but doing it in style is the best one.
The ideal thing to do is to have a get-together at your own residence - that way you can arrange everything the way you like it.
Sustenance
Champagne is, of course, a given, but (contrary to popular belief) it alone cannot sustain you all through an evening.
Our ambrosia... White wine should be in supply in your fridge, and red in your pantry. (Place the white in an ice-bucket with a cloth around the neck when you put it on the table, and put the red in a wide pitcher to air it out.) And I suggest having various other types of alcohol set out on a relatively large table.
A word of advice: never doubt the well proved theory of human weakness: fast-flowing liqueur keeps the people happy.
By the way: do not use plastic cups - it's tacky and that will never change. Nice, simple glasses can be bought for cheap sums at any supermarket, and there's no need to publicize the fact that they aren't from the most fabulous designer in the department store. (However, if you can afford this, it's a very good investment.)
Hint: create a nice starting configuration with them, such as organizing them in a triangle. Better still, create several triangles with the different types of glasses. (After all, you don't expect your guests to use the same glass for Bordeaux and Perrier!)
A manger...
For a large number of people, it can be difficult (and expensive) to pull together a good sit-down dinner. Now, my policy is if you can't do it well, don't do it at all. What you can to is the classic chic technique: have a stand-up, socializing prioritized party with lots of hors d'oeuvres on platters floating around the place.
What to have: start off by banning party-mix and any other things bought in the super-size section of the supermarket. It's horribly gauche, and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the etiquette of taste. However, some oven-reheatable nibbles can be acceptable, depending on their manufacturing. Bakery-bought are usually the best for pastries, unless you have remarkable skill as a cook. Otherwise, have lots of little toasts with various toppings like tarama, caviar, pate, etc. These will be fun to taste and exude a certain delicacy. (Spring for foie-gras if you have a good source near at hand, and garnish it with fig slices.) Some fresh vegetables in bowls or artfully arranged on a plate can be nice, too, with some sort of spicy dip. (However, avoid the classic chips-and-salsa idea.)
As for us ladies' favorite part of the evening... Dessert is always the most fun. Re-work the vegetable idea with fruit by creating little toothpick-sized treats with several layers of different fruit and possibly some sort of glaze. Otherwise, try having little cakes, either bakery-bought or self-made. (The best possible recommendation I can give you is to make several variations of Madeleines - the recipe is in the next article.)
Also: put a nice tablecloth or piece of simple fabric on the table to create a nice setting for the drinks and hors d'oeuvres. (Unless, of course, you have such a beautifully designed table that it deserves to be displayed to all of the guests.) Have such tables at different points in the house, that was people can circulate.
The big moment
As the countdown (coming from whatever source, be it the television, the radio, or your own watches) nears its end, and everyone is yelling out numbers in the mounting atmosphere, one often has an urge to jump up and down from excitement. By all means, don't prevent yourselves from doing so! The sight of their hostess letting her hair down (often after evenings filled with admonishments concerning the insufficient use of coasters on the coffee table) is one of the the most delightful things your guests can witness.
The moment... Be free with your hugs, kisses and champagne. Show affection to everyone and show them that you're glad that they came. (Unless, of course, you're deliberately snubbing someone, in which case it would be a perfect occasion to show it, but you don't usually want to start off your New Year that way, so refrain from using this tactic as far as possible.) Otherwise, it's the ideal time to share a kiss with a specific person, if you'll pardon the cliché.
The glasses... Have the appropriate glasses ready on a table to the side about a quarter of an hour before midnight. That way, when the one-minute-to-go countdown starts, you can indicate to your guests that they should take their glasses. Have the champagne at a spot conveniently situated near yourself, so that as soon as the flurry of kissing is over, you can pop the cork and start pouring. (Don't hesitate to dramatize this gesture. Do it with the flair that it deserves.)
The content of the glasses... The champagne, though it doesn't have to be the best of quality, should be sufficiently good so as to impress your guests, and should above all be saved for the specific moment in the evening where it is appropriate. A variety might also be nice - have both classical and rosé, if you and/or your guests tend to enjoy both, otherwise stick to conformity and buy several bottles of the same champagne. Otherwise, it's sometimes fun to have a tasting game - buy various bottles from different countries and vineyards and pass them around at different intervals after midnight. But always, always, keep it all on ice. Lukewarm champagne is one of the most awful things that can happen to you.
Music
To put it simply, this really depends on you and what kind of atmosphere you want.
Jazz is usually the best way to go - you can start off with something upbeat like 'Take Five' or 'In the Mood' while people are arriving (this sets the mood) and then continue with something softer (like Billie Holiday) throughout the evening. (Variations and fluctuations in the type of music are always nice.)
Otherwise, for a refined formal event, classical rarely misses, but avoid anything too heavy - stick to things like Mozart and Schubert.
For dancing, salsa is a sure crowd-pleaser. Something up-beat and giving off a vintage-record aura can also help - for this effect, try Aretha Franklin or even Michael Jackson (the latter would make an appropriate homage to the events of 2009).
What to wear
This is, despite the usual complications of the wardrobe department, actually the simplest part of the evening.
For a formal event: black high heels with either a black or red cocktail dress - if long-sleeved then with a little black sweater or white wrap. As far as makeup and jewelry are concerned, as dramatic as can be. Dark eyes, red lips, and dangling earrings. Play up the '20s look that has been so popular this season to its fullest extent. Don't hide yourself behind a natural look - take advantage of the new year to look your best!
For a more casual evening: black or dark blue jeans jeans or simple little skirt, black flats and a red or white simple top. You might still want to play on the makeup drama (in lesser measures than for a formal occasion, of course) in honor of the New Year.
(I would consider it a personal favor if you would avoid large, gaudy and demonstrative sweaters screaming 2010. Party hats bearing the same message can be quite cute and amusing among friends, but as an acknowledged joke rather than a main dress statement.)
The morning after
Without a doubt the most unpleasant part of the proceedings, but you can easily soften it.
Cleaning up your house... As far as this is concerned, do as much as you can before falling into bed in a happy blur of champagne bubbles and vodka. You will wake up the next morning with a headache, a hangover, and a desire to stay in bed, so the more you finish before getting there, the better. (In fact, finishing everything would be ideal, even though your festivities are likely to extend into the early hours of the morning.) To make this easier for yourself, try straightening up little by little (especially in the kitchen) throughout the evening. Trust me, it makes all the difference.
Cleaning up yourself... I strongly suggest taking off your makeup before collapsing into bed. Otherwise, you'll be sure to wake up with raccoon/panda eyes and lipstick spears all over your pillow. The next day, you may want to spend a long, luxurious day on your own. Have a long soak in the bath, put on a face-mask and leave your conditioner in all day, watch a movie... For this, make sure that you have enough food (basics like fresh bread, soup and the like) and especially an inexhaustable supply of coffee, milk, sugar and asprin.
In case of a differing situation...
If you're invited to celebrate somewhere else: bring yourself, along with your fabulous dessert, champagne and appearance, over to said occasion if it's at a friend's house. If it's an event taking place in a public place with the help of a caterer, just bring yourself, your little black dress, and your jewels.
If you're enjoying a more peaceful evening with your family: keep the same principle as you would with your friends, but simply add some more child-friendly food (if children are to be present) and perhaps arrange to all sit around a table at some point in the evening for a toast.
Voilà, mes amies! Happy New Year to you all!
PS-Remember that it is not in the least unheard of to give presents for New Year's, especially if your Christmas gifts to a certain person were less than satisfactory.
As promised, I've prepared some New Year's tips for you. There are so many things that can get you off on a great start for 2010, but doing it in style is the best one.
The ideal thing to do is to have a get-together at your own residence - that way you can arrange everything the way you like it.
Sustenance
Champagne is, of course, a given, but (contrary to popular belief) it alone cannot sustain you all through an evening.
Our ambrosia... White wine should be in supply in your fridge, and red in your pantry. (Place the white in an ice-bucket with a cloth around the neck when you put it on the table, and put the red in a wide pitcher to air it out.) And I suggest having various other types of alcohol set out on a relatively large table.
A word of advice: never doubt the well proved theory of human weakness: fast-flowing liqueur keeps the people happy.
By the way: do not use plastic cups - it's tacky and that will never change. Nice, simple glasses can be bought for cheap sums at any supermarket, and there's no need to publicize the fact that they aren't from the most fabulous designer in the department store. (However, if you can afford this, it's a very good investment.)
Hint: create a nice starting configuration with them, such as organizing them in a triangle. Better still, create several triangles with the different types of glasses. (After all, you don't expect your guests to use the same glass for Bordeaux and Perrier!)
A manger...
For a large number of people, it can be difficult (and expensive) to pull together a good sit-down dinner. Now, my policy is if you can't do it well, don't do it at all. What you can to is the classic chic technique: have a stand-up, socializing prioritized party with lots of hors d'oeuvres on platters floating around the place.
What to have: start off by banning party-mix and any other things bought in the super-size section of the supermarket. It's horribly gauche, and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the etiquette of taste. However, some oven-reheatable nibbles can be acceptable, depending on their manufacturing. Bakery-bought are usually the best for pastries, unless you have remarkable skill as a cook. Otherwise, have lots of little toasts with various toppings like tarama, caviar, pate, etc. These will be fun to taste and exude a certain delicacy. (Spring for foie-gras if you have a good source near at hand, and garnish it with fig slices.) Some fresh vegetables in bowls or artfully arranged on a plate can be nice, too, with some sort of spicy dip. (However, avoid the classic chips-and-salsa idea.)
As for us ladies' favorite part of the evening... Dessert is always the most fun. Re-work the vegetable idea with fruit by creating little toothpick-sized treats with several layers of different fruit and possibly some sort of glaze. Otherwise, try having little cakes, either bakery-bought or self-made. (The best possible recommendation I can give you is to make several variations of Madeleines - the recipe is in the next article.)
Also: put a nice tablecloth or piece of simple fabric on the table to create a nice setting for the drinks and hors d'oeuvres. (Unless, of course, you have such a beautifully designed table that it deserves to be displayed to all of the guests.) Have such tables at different points in the house, that was people can circulate.
The big moment
As the countdown (coming from whatever source, be it the television, the radio, or your own watches) nears its end, and everyone is yelling out numbers in the mounting atmosphere, one often has an urge to jump up and down from excitement. By all means, don't prevent yourselves from doing so! The sight of their hostess letting her hair down (often after evenings filled with admonishments concerning the insufficient use of coasters on the coffee table) is one of the the most delightful things your guests can witness.
The moment... Be free with your hugs, kisses and champagne. Show affection to everyone and show them that you're glad that they came. (Unless, of course, you're deliberately snubbing someone, in which case it would be a perfect occasion to show it, but you don't usually want to start off your New Year that way, so refrain from using this tactic as far as possible.) Otherwise, it's the ideal time to share a kiss with a specific person, if you'll pardon the cliché.
The glasses... Have the appropriate glasses ready on a table to the side about a quarter of an hour before midnight. That way, when the one-minute-to-go countdown starts, you can indicate to your guests that they should take their glasses. Have the champagne at a spot conveniently situated near yourself, so that as soon as the flurry of kissing is over, you can pop the cork and start pouring. (Don't hesitate to dramatize this gesture. Do it with the flair that it deserves.)
The content of the glasses... The champagne, though it doesn't have to be the best of quality, should be sufficiently good so as to impress your guests, and should above all be saved for the specific moment in the evening where it is appropriate. A variety might also be nice - have both classical and rosé, if you and/or your guests tend to enjoy both, otherwise stick to conformity and buy several bottles of the same champagne. Otherwise, it's sometimes fun to have a tasting game - buy various bottles from different countries and vineyards and pass them around at different intervals after midnight. But always, always, keep it all on ice. Lukewarm champagne is one of the most awful things that can happen to you.
Music
To put it simply, this really depends on you and what kind of atmosphere you want.
Jazz is usually the best way to go - you can start off with something upbeat like 'Take Five' or 'In the Mood' while people are arriving (this sets the mood) and then continue with something softer (like Billie Holiday) throughout the evening. (Variations and fluctuations in the type of music are always nice.)
Otherwise, for a refined formal event, classical rarely misses, but avoid anything too heavy - stick to things like Mozart and Schubert.
For dancing, salsa is a sure crowd-pleaser. Something up-beat and giving off a vintage-record aura can also help - for this effect, try Aretha Franklin or even Michael Jackson (the latter would make an appropriate homage to the events of 2009).
What to wear
This is, despite the usual complications of the wardrobe department, actually the simplest part of the evening.
For a formal event: black high heels with either a black or red cocktail dress - if long-sleeved then with a little black sweater or white wrap. As far as makeup and jewelry are concerned, as dramatic as can be. Dark eyes, red lips, and dangling earrings. Play up the '20s look that has been so popular this season to its fullest extent. Don't hide yourself behind a natural look - take advantage of the new year to look your best!
For a more casual evening: black or dark blue jeans jeans or simple little skirt, black flats and a red or white simple top. You might still want to play on the makeup drama (in lesser measures than for a formal occasion, of course) in honor of the New Year.
(I would consider it a personal favor if you would avoid large, gaudy and demonstrative sweaters screaming 2010. Party hats bearing the same message can be quite cute and amusing among friends, but as an acknowledged joke rather than a main dress statement.)
The morning after
Without a doubt the most unpleasant part of the proceedings, but you can easily soften it.
Cleaning up your house... As far as this is concerned, do as much as you can before falling into bed in a happy blur of champagne bubbles and vodka. You will wake up the next morning with a headache, a hangover, and a desire to stay in bed, so the more you finish before getting there, the better. (In fact, finishing everything would be ideal, even though your festivities are likely to extend into the early hours of the morning.) To make this easier for yourself, try straightening up little by little (especially in the kitchen) throughout the evening. Trust me, it makes all the difference.
Cleaning up yourself... I strongly suggest taking off your makeup before collapsing into bed. Otherwise, you'll be sure to wake up with raccoon/panda eyes and lipstick spears all over your pillow. The next day, you may want to spend a long, luxurious day on your own. Have a long soak in the bath, put on a face-mask and leave your conditioner in all day, watch a movie... For this, make sure that you have enough food (basics like fresh bread, soup and the like) and especially an inexhaustable supply of coffee, milk, sugar and asprin.
In case of a differing situation...
If you're invited to celebrate somewhere else: bring yourself, along with your fabulous dessert, champagne and appearance, over to said occasion if it's at a friend's house. If it's an event taking place in a public place with the help of a caterer, just bring yourself, your little black dress, and your jewels.
If you're enjoying a more peaceful evening with your family: keep the same principle as you would with your friends, but simply add some more child-friendly food (if children are to be present) and perhaps arrange to all sit around a table at some point in the evening for a toast.
Voilà, mes amies! Happy New Year to you all!
PS-Remember that it is not in the least unheard of to give presents for New Year's, especially if your Christmas gifts to a certain person were less than satisfactory.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Around that time of year...
Bonjour, mes amies!
I've been insanely busy lately, I'm afraid... no time to write little posts for you. :(
But I thought I would give you a Christmas present.
1. Style this time of year
Depending on where you are in the world, it's more or less cold. But if you (like me) are sitting looking out of the window at piles and piles of snow, you're going to need something warm to put over that little black dress when you go out.
Here in France, doudoune (or down jackets) are very frequently encountered in the street. Despite the popular theory that they make one resemble a snowman (which is what I thought until I tried one on in a store a couple of weeks ago and realized that it looks fabulous) they're actually quite flattering. The trick is not to get one that is over-stuffed, lest you end up looking like the turkey that you'll be preparing for Christmas dinner. If you get a slightly thinner one, it's just as warm, and makes you look seasonally gorgeous, with a hint of that just-off-the-ski-slope looks that's so appreciated this season. Top it off with some sunglasses in the right weather (yes, I always fall back on my sunglass trick) and voilà!
Otherwise, fur (either fake or real) keeps one amazingly warm. But if you feel that a fur coat is too ostentatious (which it often is in any daytime event, depending on the type of fur) then go with a furry scarf with the staple black wool coat. It adds a true touch of class to any outfit.
Then there's the timeless and beautiful cashmere sweater and scarf. No need for elaboration here. It speaks for itself in any color. (And you can always add a loosely knotted silk scarf with such a sweater. Elégance absolue.)
Bear in mind that all of this extends into January and February until March, when the weather gets warmer, so it's a good investment. Besides, these are things that don't go out of style, so they're re-usable from year to year.
2. Food
My sympathies to those who say that they don't have time and just buy some sort of frozen turkey at the supermarket, add some mashed potatoes and call it a Christmas dinner. Maybe that would fly at Thanksgiving (for some people, at least) but this is Christmas! The season of all of those clichés that we pretend to disregard but really love deep down. So make a little effort, people!
If a whole goose, duck, turkey, etc. seems a little too ambitious, or a little too much if you have a small family, then go with parts of the animal! Turkey breasts are delicious, and so are the wings and legs. Get a few of each (with the bones still in) and bake them in the oven with some white wine for about 45 minutes (adding the wine around 10 minutes before the end) and you have your dinner. It's really that simple. You can even bake the potatoes in there with them.
As far as dessert is concerned (ah, my specialty) you can employ the same principle as for Thanksgiving. A couple of apple, chocolate or pumpkin pies really do that trick. If you feel like having diversity but not like making too much dessert (we must, after all, watch the figure) then why not make mini-pies? They look a lot more complicated and intricate to make, so you have a better chance of impressing guests without a lot of effort. Otherwise, there's the timeless ginger-bread. It really isn't that difficult to make - any Joy of Cooking recipe would easily do the trick, and you can serve it with warm cider or mulled wine. (Which just involves cinnamon, crushed cloves, and a little bit of ginger in both cases.)
Tip: Serve dessert and drinks in the living room next to the tree. That way people will be a lot more comfortable (a sofa is better than a dining-room chair any day) and can enjoy the glow of the decorations. Turn off the over-head lights for extra atmosphere.
3. Presents
Late in getting your gifts? I always am. In fact, it's four days before Christmas and mine still haven't been purchased! Here are a couple of last minute ideas for important people in your life that you can later elaborate on.
(Warning: do not have these be the only gifts you get these people. That may be a little insulting, especially if they get you something really dramatic and big.)
Father - deluxe Swiss army knife (sounds a little odd, but trust me, they love it), scarf (ever noticed how they never have any but always think that they look nice?), nice bottle of red wine (red is better than white when it comes to men), cuff links (classy yet simple)
Mother - first edition book of poetry (preferably 19th century - Baudelaire is always a good idea), nice bottle of white wine (go into the plural with this one - women tend to go a little crazy with this, as you all know), sweet liqueur (such as raspberry-flavored Absolut Vodka or eau de vie), box of chocolates (make sure they're good quality), set for learning a new language (they always say they wished they had - show them it's never too late to learn French or Italian and then take a vacation there!)
Boyfriend - a very nice watch (classic), a bottle of Bordeaux or some champagne (that you will, of course, help him with), a designer shirt (why waste the opportunity to tell men how to dress?)
Best friend - jewelry (earrings, bracelet, etc. from a Joallier such as Thomas Sabo or Swarovski - great quality but not obscenely expensive), champagne (as she often shares your taste), chocolate (that you will help her with), designer accessories (like that purse she's been eyeing forever or that little scarf that would work with so many of her favorite clothes)
Yourself - everything you've been putting off buying, like the new face-products, the the clothes, the liqueur, etc. You deserve it!
Merry Christmas, mes amies! I'll be back before the New Year with tips on how to celebrate!
I've been insanely busy lately, I'm afraid... no time to write little posts for you. :(
But I thought I would give you a Christmas present.
1. Style this time of year
Depending on where you are in the world, it's more or less cold. But if you (like me) are sitting looking out of the window at piles and piles of snow, you're going to need something warm to put over that little black dress when you go out.
Here in France, doudoune (or down jackets) are very frequently encountered in the street. Despite the popular theory that they make one resemble a snowman (which is what I thought until I tried one on in a store a couple of weeks ago and realized that it looks fabulous) they're actually quite flattering. The trick is not to get one that is over-stuffed, lest you end up looking like the turkey that you'll be preparing for Christmas dinner. If you get a slightly thinner one, it's just as warm, and makes you look seasonally gorgeous, with a hint of that just-off-the-ski-slope looks that's so appreciated this season. Top it off with some sunglasses in the right weather (yes, I always fall back on my sunglass trick) and voilà!
Otherwise, fur (either fake or real) keeps one amazingly warm. But if you feel that a fur coat is too ostentatious (which it often is in any daytime event, depending on the type of fur) then go with a furry scarf with the staple black wool coat. It adds a true touch of class to any outfit.
Then there's the timeless and beautiful cashmere sweater and scarf. No need for elaboration here. It speaks for itself in any color. (And you can always add a loosely knotted silk scarf with such a sweater. Elégance absolue.)
Bear in mind that all of this extends into January and February until March, when the weather gets warmer, so it's a good investment. Besides, these are things that don't go out of style, so they're re-usable from year to year.
2. Food
My sympathies to those who say that they don't have time and just buy some sort of frozen turkey at the supermarket, add some mashed potatoes and call it a Christmas dinner. Maybe that would fly at Thanksgiving (for some people, at least) but this is Christmas! The season of all of those clichés that we pretend to disregard but really love deep down. So make a little effort, people!
If a whole goose, duck, turkey, etc. seems a little too ambitious, or a little too much if you have a small family, then go with parts of the animal! Turkey breasts are delicious, and so are the wings and legs. Get a few of each (with the bones still in) and bake them in the oven with some white wine for about 45 minutes (adding the wine around 10 minutes before the end) and you have your dinner. It's really that simple. You can even bake the potatoes in there with them.
As far as dessert is concerned (ah, my specialty) you can employ the same principle as for Thanksgiving. A couple of apple, chocolate or pumpkin pies really do that trick. If you feel like having diversity but not like making too much dessert (we must, after all, watch the figure) then why not make mini-pies? They look a lot more complicated and intricate to make, so you have a better chance of impressing guests without a lot of effort. Otherwise, there's the timeless ginger-bread. It really isn't that difficult to make - any Joy of Cooking recipe would easily do the trick, and you can serve it with warm cider or mulled wine. (Which just involves cinnamon, crushed cloves, and a little bit of ginger in both cases.)
Tip: Serve dessert and drinks in the living room next to the tree. That way people will be a lot more comfortable (a sofa is better than a dining-room chair any day) and can enjoy the glow of the decorations. Turn off the over-head lights for extra atmosphere.
3. Presents
Late in getting your gifts? I always am. In fact, it's four days before Christmas and mine still haven't been purchased! Here are a couple of last minute ideas for important people in your life that you can later elaborate on.
(Warning: do not have these be the only gifts you get these people. That may be a little insulting, especially if they get you something really dramatic and big.)
Father - deluxe Swiss army knife (sounds a little odd, but trust me, they love it), scarf (ever noticed how they never have any but always think that they look nice?), nice bottle of red wine (red is better than white when it comes to men), cuff links (classy yet simple)
Mother - first edition book of poetry (preferably 19th century - Baudelaire is always a good idea), nice bottle of white wine (go into the plural with this one - women tend to go a little crazy with this, as you all know), sweet liqueur (such as raspberry-flavored Absolut Vodka or eau de vie), box of chocolates (make sure they're good quality), set for learning a new language (they always say they wished they had - show them it's never too late to learn French or Italian and then take a vacation there!)
Boyfriend - a very nice watch (classic), a bottle of Bordeaux or some champagne (that you will, of course, help him with), a designer shirt (why waste the opportunity to tell men how to dress?)
Best friend - jewelry (earrings, bracelet, etc. from a Joallier such as Thomas Sabo or Swarovski - great quality but not obscenely expensive), champagne (as she often shares your taste), chocolate (that you will help her with), designer accessories (like that purse she's been eyeing forever or that little scarf that would work with so many of her favorite clothes)
Yourself - everything you've been putting off buying, like the new face-products, the the clothes, the liqueur, etc. You deserve it!
Merry Christmas, mes amies! I'll be back before the New Year with tips on how to celebrate!
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