Christmas Countdown

In My Kitchen, January 2014 »

Christmas Countdown

December 23, 2013 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Only a couple more days to go!

The tree is up, filled with a mixture of bought and homemade decorations. The big glass baubles are a new addition this year, but old favourites, like this wee pig that my friend Annie from New Zealand made me a decade ago, always have a branch…

Last minute chocolate making is underway, although with our hot summer days, the tempering bowl has been cooling in the air-conditioned lounge room. We’ve made feuilletine-filled dark milk chocolate in the shape of dragons…

Twelve Days of Christmas..(the feuilletine often results in a few air bubbles)…

A new Nutella ganache truffle, dipped in a blend of dark and milk chocolate…

I didn’t end up using the Santa bags, but instead packaged the nuts, mini fruit cakes and an assortment of chocolates into small plastic bowls…

Finally, here’s my Christmas drink for the year, the risque sounding “Sex on the Beach” (I didn’t pick the name, it’s a well known cocktail)…

30ml/1 oz vodka
30ml/1 oz peach schnapps
90ml/3 oz each of orange juice and cranberry juice
lots of ice

It’s over 30ºC in Sydney at the moment, and this is perfect sipping as we slide into the silly season…

♥ Wishing you all a joyous, blessed Merry Christmas! We’ll see you in 2014! ♥

Posted in Food & Friends | 60 Comments

60 Responses

on December 23, 2013 at 12:15 am Lury

Merry Christmas and happy New Years to you and your family. Thank you for sharing your world with us.
Lury
on December 23, 2013 at 12:21 am Misky

Happy Christmas! Love the tree ornaments. Very pretty. :)
on December 23, 2013 at 12:25 am niasunset

Thank you dear Celia, Merry Christmas and happy Holiday, love, nia
on December 23, 2013 at 12:52 am Pat Machin

Happy Christmas to you all in the sun. We have had a flurry of snow, some hail, some rain ~ and the sun is out, though it will have set in about an hour!
on December 23, 2013 at 1:03 am Suelle

Happy Christmas to you all!
on December 23, 2013 at 1:11 am Judy @Savoring Today

Merry Christmas, Celia! We’ve been busy with chocolates and tree trimming here too ~ it is a joyous time of gathering family and good flavors. Hope the coming year is healthy and happy for you and yours.
on December 23, 2013 at 1:31 am Sophie33

Merry Christals to you & your loved ones, dear Celia! your Christmas tree is lovely & fab! Great looking home-made chocolates,….Yum Yum yummmm!
on December 23, 2013 at 1:31 am Sophie33

I meant: Merry Christmas, of course. 😉
on December 23, 2013 at 1:32 am Sophie33

I love that tasty looking Christmas drink too,…sip sip sip! 😀
on December 23, 2013 at 2:00 am nutsfortreasure

Merry Christmas!
on December 23, 2013 at 2:07 am Sally

I shall miss you until 2014, as I love starting my days with you. Your joy for your family, friends and life send me on my way with a happy start. Merry Christmas, Celia to you and all those you love!
You are drinking SontB and I am having my morning hot chocolate and waiting for the house to warm up!
on December 23, 2013 at 2:23 am cecilia

Oh the Silly Season, my Dad used to call it that too!! And now to try that cocktail! c
on December 23, 2013 at 2:33 am sallybr

Merry Christmas and a WONDERFUL New Year for you and your whole family, Celia!

it’s been another fantastic year following your blog, and learning so much from you!
on December 23, 2013 at 3:13 am Debby

Did you keep track of how many pounds of chocolate you went thru in your Christmas prep, Celia? ☺️ Everything looks so beautiful! Best wishes for a merry Christmas!
on December 23, 2013 at 3:18 am Manuela

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to you and yours. (I would love to try the nutella ganache truffle!)
on December 23, 2013 at 3:28 am scrambledpreservedfriedcured

Merry merry, Celia!

http://www.emilyfranklin.com

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on December 23, 2013 at 3:42 am Karen

Love your pretty tree…it looks like you are ready for Christmas. Have a happy one with your family.
on December 23, 2013 at 5:22 am Debra Kolkka

Merry Christmas from the Arctic Circle. We went to see Santa today and told him we had all been good. There is deep snow here and it is gorgeous.
on December 23, 2013 at 5:33 am My Kitchen Stories

The chocolates look fantastic and ready for all those lucky people you know. I was thinking about you this ,morning and how you are getting on in this heat. The tree looks beautiful ( tell small man) and I wish you and Pete and the boys a lovely time with family and friends xx
on December 23, 2013 at 5:56 am Jo

Merry Christmas to you all as well. Enjoy the break and I’m looking forward to another great year of Fig Jam and Lime Cordial in 2014.
on December 23, 2013 at 6:10 am Promenade Claire

Ha I could slide into the silly season with a cocktail or maybe two…
Love the decorations, aren’t the old ones just the best. Wishing you and your family a super gorgeous silly season and a fab New Year. Claire x
on December 23, 2013 at 6:25 am Melissa

Thank you for another year of joy and interest Celia. I feel as though I know you and your lovely family and it’s a real honour to be able to share insights into your life. Have a lovely holiday time, and keep up the cool cocktails in this heat!
on December 23, 2013 at 6:26 am saucygander

Mmm cocktails, isn’t the heart in Sydney crazy at the moment? We’re about to escape to the south coast! One thing we are doing this year is freezing edible flowers in ice cubes, so even the water jug will look festive! :-D
on December 23, 2013 at 6:35 am Jane @ Shady Baker

Cheers Celia, that cocktail looks perfect for this weather! x
on December 23, 2013 at 6:38 am teawithhazel

cherry mistmas celia..x
on December 23, 2013 at 7:26 am lizzygoodthings

Merry Christmas, Celia, Pete and the boys… have a lovely one! Thank you for your inspired recipes and friendship throughout the year. Look forward to seeing you sometime in January xox
on December 23, 2013 at 7:31 am hotlyspiced

Your chocolates are stunning and make the most perfect gift. I have decorations old and new on my tree too – just can’t discard the old! Happy birthday to your big boy too – 21! And your instagram image of The Strand was so pretty xx
on December 23, 2013 at 7:32 am Stefanie

Hi Celia, it’s been such a joy discovering and reading your blog thank you for sharing. Your tree is just lovely, homemade decorations are a treasure. My mother in law sends us some every year and it’s nice to have them mixed in with the bought ones, nice sentimentality about it. Wishing you all a food filled Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :)
on December 23, 2013 at 7:54 am Rose

I love your tree Celia but I love the bookshelves behind it even more. A very merry Christmas and a happy 2014 to you, Pete, Big Boy and Small Boy — and the girls from all of us here. x
on December 23, 2013 at 8:15 am somersetkennelsMeg

Merry Xmas to you and your family, Celia. I really enjoy reading your blogs. They are so full of kindness.
on December 23, 2013 at 8:47 am andreamynard

Love your decorations and chocolate Celia and you’ve given me lots of fun & inspiration this year, thanks so much. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
on December 23, 2013 at 9:21 am InTolerant Chef

Looks like you’re all set for Wednesday Celia! Your tree looks so pretty- very festive indeed. We’ve had 38* days so sipping a cool cocktail like that sounds very enticing for sure Xox
on December 23, 2013 at 9:36 am Eha

The biggest and best Yuletide wishes to you and all your family ~ and may the year to come bring health, happiness and good fortune . . . Love the tree and see Celi has already found her sexy cocktail :) !
on December 23, 2013 at 10:03 am heidiannie

Everything looks bright and festive. I love the cocktail- even the name- and would like just a tiny sip- a summertime Christmas seems odd- but then it was almost 70 degrees F here today- so actually it seems rather nice!
on December 23, 2013 at 10:49 am Joanne T Ferguson (@mickeydownunder)

G’day and Merry Christmas! Hope you and your family enjoy a healthy New Year! Cheers! Joanne
on December 23, 2013 at 11:35 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

Merry Christmas Celia!
As always your chocolates look wonderful. My hampers this year have some little dark chocolate shapes and dark choc feuilletine in baby cupcake cases. Thank you for teaching me yet another wonderful new skill!
Have a fantastic break. Here’s to 2014! xx
on December 23, 2013 at 1:37 pm Jan

Merry Christletoe to you and yours Celia and thank you for all the pleasure I have had from your blog. I remember gazing at one of your chocolate hippos a few posts ago and thinking she and I could have some deep and meaningful conversations, but – here be dragons…they look wonderful.
on December 23, 2013 at 2:22 pm Fig & Quince

The tree is so pretty and my goodness your chocolates always take my breath away.

Merry Christmas Celia!
on December 23, 2013 at 2:27 pm Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

Merry Christmas to you and Pete and the boys. I hope it’s the best day ever. I look forward to learning chocolate making in 2014!
on December 23, 2013 at 4:16 pm ChgoJohn

Your tree looks just as I thought it would : gorgeous! You’re sure to make a bunch of people happy with your fantastic chocolates. I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas, Celia, and wishing you all things wonderful in the New Year.
on December 23, 2013 at 6:46 pm Kari @ bite-sized thoughts

Happy Christmas Celia! Your tree and chocolates look gorgeous, as does the drink :)
on December 23, 2013 at 7:14 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

Hehe you’re too funny “I didn’t make up the name”. I think if you were to make up a name for a cocktail it would be even naughtier! ;) Merry Christmas darling!
on December 23, 2013 at 7:54 pm Anne @ Life in Mud Spattered Boots

I agree with Lorraine about the naming!
Just off to finish a batch of Christmas Pudding Truffles. Is this a sensible time to try tempering chocolate? Hope your instructions work.
Have a fabulous Christmas. x
on December 24, 2013 at 1:49 am Joanna

Happy Christmas to you and Pete and Big and Small and Chooks and as for those bubble filled dragons! They look fab! xxx
on December 24, 2013 at 8:23 am sue marquis bishop

Your chocolates are beautiful! Lucky recipients. Merry Christmas. Sue
Womenlivinglifeafter50.com
on December 24, 2013 at 11:53 am Norma Chang

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2014.
on December 24, 2013 at 1:04 pm cityhippyfarmgirl

Merry Christmas dear Celia. I hope you and your family get to have a lovely little break over the holly jolly time. A break filled with much deliciousness, and basketfuls of love.
*clink* to your Sex on the Beach :-)
on December 24, 2013 at 1:14 pm Emilie@TheCleverCarrot

Merry Christmas Celia! Everything looks wonderful & festive- sspecially the size of that drink! xoxoxox E
on December 24, 2013 at 2:26 pm Tandy | Lavender and Lime

Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas :) we’ve been sipping on sangria!
on December 25, 2013 at 9:46 am stacigirl

Merry Christmas Celia. Thank you for sharing. I always find inspiration, comfort and laughs in your posts. Have a good one! Hope your enjoying the cooler weather.
on December 26, 2013 at 10:32 pm The Jolly Beetroot

Your Christmas tree looks beautiful (and the chocolate truffles as well of course!). The nutella ganache truffle sounds especially yummy! Hope you had a great Christmas! – Niki x
on December 28, 2013 at 7:17 am dianeskitchentable

I hope you had a very merry Christmas & best wishes for a terrific New Year. Your tree is beautiful. I have a separate box of very special ornaments & every year explain where they came from to my daughter so that she’ll appreciate the sentiment & use them on her future trees.
on December 29, 2013 at 4:14 pm GourmetGetaways (@GourmetGetaway)

LOL! I chose the Mojito as my Christmas drink this year. Love your tree an the special decorations… the chocolates look amazing too :)
on December 29, 2013 at 6:20 pm Sally

Belated Happy Christmas Celia and wishing you all the best for 2014. Sorry my comments haven’t been as regular but always love reading (and admiring) everything you cook, produce, write, serve up or create.
on December 30, 2013 at 12:17 pm milkteaxx

happy new year, love a good cocktail to bring in the new year!
on December 30, 2013 at 11:55 pm Danielle

Just catching up on blog posts, so a belated Happy Christmas to you Celia and a huge thank you for your wonderful, inspiring and uplifting posts in 2013. Discovering your blog earlier this year was one of my best ‘feelgood’ moments of the year :-) Wishing you and your family all the best for 2014!
on December 31, 2013 at 3:49 am Choclette

Your chocolate look spectacular as always Celia. Those dragons are particularly cute. Hope you have been enjoying the festivities and I wish you a very Happy New Year.
on December 31, 2013 at 4:45 am kristenmhm

Your chocolates look gorgeous!
on December 31, 2013 at 3:03 pm Jason Dingley

I love homemade gifts. This year we made bath fizzes, a couple of different types of biscuit, and numerous things rolled in coconut. But the best part was when I received homemade cherry jam from my eldest daughter. I bet there is not too many 19 year olds that make jam.
on January 1, 2014 at 10:37 am Misky

Here’s mine! http://wp.me/p1AEg4-24K