Be Jolly By Golly Blogfest!

Introducing... AN AFRICAN CHRISTMAS!

(Well, partially, we do have a number of Western-style decorations...)

I'm doing "minimalist"decorations this year since more than half my family has deserted me for the UK. (Well, they're actually currently hanging out in Cape Town, as the big FREEZE overseas has kinda delayed the Northern leg of their holiday :-( )

The wire Christmas tree with beaded (and other random) decorations.

The three angels - wire, metal and beaded. (What's that you say? It's supposed to be three wise men? Ah well, the angels are cool...)

I love this carved nativity scene of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. It's one of my favourite Christmas decoration sets.

(Sorry I didn't photograph the fabulous pottery nativity set I made yonks and yonks ago in art class! You have to really special to see that one ;-) )

And then there's my stocking made for me by my godmother when I was very little :-)

One of my favourite holiday (actually anytime!) treats is chocolate filled shortbread.

210g butter

1 tsp boiling water

4 tsp castor sugar

250g flour

200g slab dark chocolate

Mix the butter, sugar and boiling water. Add the flour and mix well. (Add a little more butter/flour if the mixture seems to dry/moist for handling). Break the chocolate up into its blocks. Cover each piece of chocolate in some shortbread mixture and form into a small ball. Bake at 120 degrees C for 20 minutes. Roll in castor sugar (yeah, I know, the picture has icing sugar, sorry...) while still warm. And if you eat them while they're still warm then the chocolate will be melted in the middle! YUM! But they're rockingly awesome when they've cooled down too.

Okay, so I don't really have a favourite holiday drink, but I have a substitute for this section!

Right. It's mid summer. Super hot. You're in the pool cooling off, and someone brings you a large piece of watermelon. The sun beats down on you and just looking at that cold, juicy, slightly crisp, pink watermelon makes your mouth water. You lean on the edge of the pool and bite into it, refreshing and delicious, juice dripping down your chin. AWESOME!!! One of my favourite parts of summer :-)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

And thanks to Melissa and Jen for hosting this most scrumptious blogfest!