Christmas pudding!

Joanna brought me a surprising present today: a miniature christmas pudding!
It is of the brand Matthew Walker (the pudding experts since 1899) and it is a Classic Christmas Pudding, Traditionally steamed with juicy sultanas & raisins, cider & sherry... mmm

Where she bought it? In the British Shop in Nijmegen. If you want one too and you do not have a British Shop nearby, I suggest you visit the Matthew Walker online store.

Illustration courtesy: Matthew Walker christmas puddings

Comfort eating

I was complaining to Philip (again) about the frustration of not being finished with my current project before christmas. At this point it would be overly optimistic to think that I could leave for the christmas break with a clean table - which is what I always aim for before a holiday. Philip told me that there is a very easy solution: If I don't like to leave for christmas without finishing this project first - just do not leave for christmas. Isn't he fantastic? Philip can solve all the problems in the world without doing anything. :o)

Let me just have a piece of bread with my tea to cheer me up.

PS. Nola, Philip and Joanna were discussing how many times they each are mentioned on my blog. Click their names to find out.

Cooking weekend

A relaxing weekend with lots of cooking. Yesterday I prepared the marinated herring that I will bring for the department christmas dinner on Friday. I made two types of herring, a plain 'white herring' and a special christmas herring marinade. After a short break I went in the kitchen again to make a winter vegetable soup for dinner.
Today I will be cooking again. I have planned a toetjes-avond with Ingrid and Rinaldo this evening. I will make a dessert of the apple mash that my sister brought for me, and I wonder what dessert Ingrid and Rinaldo have in store for me...

Illustration courtesy: Kompaskurs.dk

Seasonal tea

The cold and wet weather invites to drink more tea than usual, not only to stay warm, but also to maintain the cosy atmosphere of the seasonal preparations. I like to try out the different seasonal teas that are currently available in the shops, not only mass-produce like the nice 'Autumn Storm' from Pickwick, but also different christmas blends and the 'Spicy chocolate chai' from Simon Levelt.

Speculaas

There is a traditional Dutch type of cake or cookie called Speculaas. It is usually served and eaten by old and young around the festivities of Sinterklaas (Dec 5th). However, the supermarkets start promoting and selling speculaas along with all of the traditional Sinterklaas and christmas candy already now - in September!
I understand that Sinterklaas is earlier than christmas, and the real enthusiasts would like to start preparations and celebrations early, but three months of eating Speculaas???

Photo courtesy: Wikipedia

Walk around the christmas tree

For some reason it is custom in Denmark, but not in the Netherlands, to walk around the christmas tree while singing the christmas songs. My Dutch colleagues hardly believed me when I told them, so I made sure to get some proof using the camera on my phone to both take pictures and record a video of people walking round the tree while singing.

Cloves in oranges

I never knew that it was a special Danish christmas tradition until I presented the idea for my Dutch housemates: In Denmark we put cloves in oranges for christmas for the scent and decoration. Often the oranges are also decorated or hung up by red silk ribbons.

My housemates now think Danes are crazy as far as christmas traditions goes...

Illustration and step-by-step instructions from Ask-Alex.dk

Danish christmas decorations

I am glad the Dutch are not as crazy as the danes as far as christmas decorations on the house is concerned (decorating the house for the World Football Championships is a completely different story). The Danish television channel TV2 have made a collection of the most decorated houses they could find all over Denmark. Most of them I find quite ugly, over-decorated. In the Netherlands you mostly find houses decorated with lights around the 'edges' of the house, like a cake-house decorated with white icing. That is more to my taste.

Photo courtesy: Wereldpagina.nl by Jørgen Schytte