Advent Calendar

Thursday, 11th December 2008

Little presents keep a friendship alive

One of the most important question these days is: which kind of presents do I choose for Christmas? Should it be a book, a CD,
a perfume, something to dress, some kind of furniture stuff or should it go in direction of jewellery? It´s really difficult. The time goes by and the pressure grows. Especially complicated is to find a present for somebody who has either everything or does not want anything.
To solve this problem I have my own system.
During the year I listen carefully to people who I want to include into my donator obsession on Christmas, if they disclose anything of their wishes. If I get something useful I note it down and try to get just before Christmas a confirmation of their desire by a careful interrogation of that candidate.
When I am lucky, it works.

In my donator mood on Christmas I include closer friends, not so close friends and even neighbours. They get smaller gifts. Most things which I produce myself.

A small selection of that I am going to note down for you. They are easy to make and very delicious:  

Figs with Cassis Liqueur

Ingredients for one jar (250 ml):

Directions:

1. First sterilize the jar by boiling it some minutes.
2.  Peel figs and cut them into quarters, sixth parts or eighth (it depends on the size).
3. Put figs into jar.
4. Add vanilla bean or cinnamon stick.
5. Fill jar up with cassis liqueur.

*****

Candied sugar with rum

Ingredients for one jar (250ml)

Directions:

1. Sterilize the jar by boiling it some minutes.
2. Fill jar up with candied sugar.
3. Add vanilla bean.
4. Fill jar up with rum (only 2/3 of the jar).
5. Close the jar with a clean cover.
6. Shake jar every day – the sugar will dissolve.
7. After one or two week open the jar again and fill again up with candied sugar.
8. Fill up with rum until jar is full.
9. Close the jar with cover.