Christmas, the most magical time of the year - the season of merriment is here again! The season of new beginnings, where forgotten vows are renewed and love fills the air around us that transcends above all. Especially children who wait in much anticipation for their favourite guy - Ole' Santa Claus! Don't you just love the growing merriment and excitement filling the air as the big day draws near? Breathe in...ah, how can you not love the aroma of delicious gingerbread, cakes and cookies baking and other food which are specially prepared only during the Christmas season?
Time for parties and celebrations and you are probably scratching your head for ideas or small little parties for family and friends. This can be a challenge especially if you are looking at coming up with something fresh and new. Some tips here if you plan to hold a party at home:
Dessert
- Firstly, have the right mix of music. Have lively Christmas music to create the right festive mood of party cheer as your guests enjoy the food and laughter. Can you picture your guests having fun with Silent Night playing in the background?
- Next, decorate your house with traditional Christmas decorations to set the right atmosphere. Don't forget Christmas stockings, mistletoes and Christmas ribbons. Have plenty of lightings, especially outdoors. Pay special attention to the Christmas Tree. Make it sparklingly grand!
- Kids will be at your party? Arrange special activities to occupy them and ensure sufficient supervision of them. Leave the tv on with Christmas cartoons or movies.
- And most importantly, some Christmas dessert ideas if you're planning to serve your guests.
- Prepare a wide spread of food and desserts, in other words, something for everyone. Dress desserts up with pretty traditional Christmas colours. Include cream cheese desserts, chocolate desserts and the traditional Christmas cake or puddings and even homemade candies for kids. Prepare great fruit punches so that everyone can enjoy them. Always prepare more than expected. That's the spirit of Christmas - giving and abundance.
Easy chocolate desserts work best as they are a favourite with most folks, so you will almost never go wrong. You can also easily find many favourite Christmas dessert recipes that are available online or from recipe books if you are keen on making your own homemade cakes, cookies or pies. Again, easy is the keyword here, as you will want time to mingle around.
I have a simple recipe for you too - it's called the Delicious Yuletide Fruit Cake which took me less than 30 minutes to prepare so you'll have plenty of time for your guests too.
Ingredients :
1/2 cup Self-raising Flour; sifted
1 can Condensed Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
1 1/2 cups Dessicated Coconut
2 1/2 cups Pecans; coarsely chopped
1 cup Dried Apricots; chopped into small bits
1 1/2 cups Dates; coarsely chopped
300 g Candied Cherries; red and green; chopped
2 tbsp Icing Sugar; for decoration
Method:
Mix chopped pecans, apricots bits, dates and cherries together. Drizzle condensed milk over fruit mixture and keep stirring. Add in vanilla essence. Now add in dessicated coconut. Fold in sifted flour until no more flour lumps.
Spoon cake mixture into greased tube pan. Bake in preheated oven at 150°C for 20 minutes before upping heat to 170°C and bake for another 30 minutes.
Allow cake to cool a little before removing from pan. Dust cake lightly with icing sugar. Keep cake in air-tight container.
Sarah Chew
Website: http://www.best-dessert-recipes.com
Christmas Party Tips and Christmas Dessert Ideas
If you're looking for more Christmas dessert recipes or some chocolate dessert recipes for the coming Christmas, visit http://www.best-dessert-recipes.com and surprise your family and friends.