Italia...Christmas time

We have moved to Italy...specifically to the Tuscany.....why....scenery change....and to start a new venture...what exactly that is...well...keep reading...and i promise i will keep you posted....once we arrived in Italy the priority was to organise a Christmas tree....get to know the shops where we could buy our necessities...find a nail salon, check the closest vet...etc etc....so, please once again, accept my aplogies for not writing earlier.....

This blog i would like to dedicate to Christmas in Tuscany...the entire family together...truly special....my sister was here from the Philippines, with her husband and their daughter, my Mutti is with us, mom and dad, Ben, Sofia, Kim and I....so yes, all together.....

Christmas festives started with us making our traditional Swiss Christmas cookies....we made Mailaederli, Spitzbube, Basler Brunsli and Zimtsterne.....now you might be like...what the hell are those....so let me share a bit...

Mailaenderli...simple, butter, sugar and flour biscuits....topped with egg yellow...and then we normally decorate them with some sprinkles or some nuts or the candied cherries.....you can also make some of the dough with chocolate powder and thus get the choc flavour as well as the vanilla flavour....and...you can even combine the choc with vanilla to get marble....this year...we were traditional and went with only vanilla....the recipe and pic is below....

Mailaederli

Spitzbube....those are also a butter biscuit...stuffed with jam...we normally do a berry jam...such as rasperry or blackberry....not an easy dough to roll out...but well worth the effort.....

Spitzbube
Zimtsterne....like the name says....cinnamon stars....glazed with some sugar.....yummie...need some patience as you need to dry them overnight....
Zimtsterne
Basler Brunsli.....sugary, gooey, crunchy choc biscuit...yes, gooey and crunchy at the same time...very delicious and always a firm favourite in the family.....
Basler Brunsli
The funny thing is...baking them...really puts me into the Christmas atmosphere....which biscuits were the favourite...hard to say...cause it really varied....
Kim loved the Zimsterne and Basler Brunsli...
Dad loved the Spitzbube and Mailaenderli
Ben loved the Zimsterne and Mailaenderli
Fabienne the Zimtsterne and Mailaenderli
Mom Spitzbube and Mailaenderli
Sandro Basler Brunsli and Zimsterne
Mutti Spitzbube and Zimsterne
And me.....Basler Brunsli and Zimsterne and Spitzbube...yes,i could not choose 2....so you see, a large variation...so it was worth making them all...and yes, i would make them all again...truly puts one into the christmas mood....
Of course the other part of making a home feel like Christmas is decorating the Christmas tree....this year was again a year where we had the honour of having a real Christmas tree, we went to choose it at a nursery....and i even managed it in Italian...i must say i was quite proud of myself....albero di natale....let me share a pic...
Un-decorated Christmas tree
Have you noticed...the tree is in a pot....wel...the main reason is so that after Christmas you can take the tree and plant it...it does not have to die...i think that is a wonderful tradition, in fact our tree is standing in the pot outside again...who knows...maybe we can use is next year....
Now...let me share a pic of the decorated tree....we always decorate in red....and in fact, i have been collecting Christmas decoration in all the countries that i have been to....i always think it is so nice and special to have all different ones....
Decorated Christmas tree
Cookies...tick.....decoration of the tree....tick....well...one thing missing...the Christmas markets and drinking hot wine at the Christmas market...this year...we chose the Montepulciano Christmas market...and it was quaint but beautiful....what a wonderful atmosphere. Some small stalls selling food goodies, others selling various things....christmas present ideas....and of course hot wine...vin brule....(in Italian) or Gluehwein (in German) or Glogg (in Swedish)...and not a bad price...€2 for a cup.....and man....so damn delicious...and of course i did take some pics that i can share with you....
Christmas lights entering the market
Me in front of the main Christmas tree
Sofia, Ben, Kim and me in front of the main Christmas tree
Sofia cosy in her pram
Now...all this Christmas atmosphere....time to chat about our actual Christmas....we celebrate Christmas eve more than Christmas day, meaning that opening presents is done on the 24th in the evening...followed by our Christmas dinner...this year...Fondue Bourguignon (oil) and Fondue Chinoise (broth)....with the oil we had beef and with the broth we had fish, served with it...Rice, tinned fruits and vegetables like mushrooms and asparagus, gherkins and various sauces that complement the fish and meat.....it is so damn good...and i must say....everyone loved it....it was yummie....let me share some pics of Christmas with you....
Ben, Sofia, Kim and mE
Ben, Mutti, dad, mom, Fabienne, Sandro, Siena, Sofia, Kim and me
A truly special Christmas spent with the entire family....i loved it so much......hope you enjoyed my blog and im sure you will hear from me soon.....next one...New Year in Italy...specifically the Tuscany...
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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