Cranberry and Pistachio Cookies ~ Eggless

Eggless christmas treats is always a thing of worry for me when I pack the christmas treats for friends who don't consume eggs esp. because I believe that eggs is an unavoidable ingredient in cakes and cookies. Their absence is always felt in terms of quality of a baked goodie. But this cookie proves it all wrong to me. Its eggless and I can't tell you how many I ate at one go and so did my two boys. They are so good with the bite of cranberry and pistachio as a bonus. They hardly last at our place.

I have a recent crush on these cranberries. I didn't like them earlier but since last year I am kind of hooked. I can't get enough of them, either in the form of fresh or dried ones. They have been impressive every single form that I have tried it. These cookies are just one of them. The recipe for these awesome cookies is as below.

Chocolate and Cashew Biscotti

Anything chocolate goes so well for the festive season. I have been packing up edible treats to give away to family and friends and apart from the fruit cake, these chocolate biscotti is making into every treat bag. I don't know when will I succeed cutting down all those extra pounds already added and to be added this month. By the time I would exercise and diet to bring it down, it will be Christmas again .. he he.. But I must say it is just the happiest time of the year for me and I would just put away the worry of shedding down the gained pounds.

These chocolate biscotti's are good for any time of the year. Just dunk it into you coffee and enjoy or have it as is. They are super yum. And that extra crunch from those cashews is just a bonus, so don't miss out on that part. You could try walnuts or pecans or pistachios for a change.

Homemade Wine

Making wine at home, is a tradition that I have seen my grandmother and mother follow without fail. Its just the perfect thing to be served with Christmas fruit cakes. It is also something that is first served for the newly weds when they visit our home. The joy of christmas gets doubled when little things involved in the celebration has that personal touch of love. This wine is just the perfect example of that.

Last christmas, I tried making my mom's wine recipe for the first time. I went wrong with the schedules of stirring, and made a wine that would just make you high in just few sips. Wine making is not at all difficult, but ya remembering and sticking to the schedules is. So the second time I made it, I kept reminders and kept the calendars marked to follow it accurately and WHOLA! We were sipping on a wine that was just THE PERFECT. 

Kerala Paalappam / Appam

Weddings/ special occasions , Xmas / Easter ..... Or even a normal Sunday breakfast gets so special when you have these Appams paired with a stew. We usually make a large batch of it and have it for breakfast and tea. I sometimes have it for lunch/ dinner too :) . I just don't mind having it at anytime of the day because my craving for Appam is that strong :).

One wouldn't go wrong in its making, if the fermentation is done properly. If you happen to make it, you could try combining it with Chicken Curry, Fish Molly, Motta curry (Egg Curry), Green Peas curry , Mutton stew , Mutton curry, Beef curry etc. as a side. They taste so yumm that you would never want to put a full stop to having it.

Biscotti and Christmas memories!

How does your Christmas look like this year? Have you put up a tree and decorations? We did put up a tree late November. Even though its been days we have had the decorated tree in the living room, I still like to go sit by its side and admire each bell, balls etc. hanging on it.... with the Xmas songs in the background. Ahhh.... I have always loved this season.

As kids, my brother and me used to put up a Xmas crib and a tree. The planning and preparations start by beginning of December - growing wheat in small boxes, making of small huts, bullock carts, rocks for the waterfalls, collecting the dry hay from fruit vendors to make the manger, hunting for sand to make the roads in the crib, etc... These then formed the little details that go in to making a Xmas crib. In the middle of all these we would have to bare a test series in school ( I always though it to be killing the Xmas spirit for us kids :( ). But we would be done with it by the 22nd. Then we would have Xmas carols that go all through midnight....go help to put up the decorations at church... the midnight mass...It all gets nostalgic and these memories do come back to me every Xmas.

X'mas special - Fruit cake

It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be parties for hosting

Marshmallows for toasting

And caroling out in the snow

There'll be scary ghost stories

And tales of the glories of 

Christmases long, long ago....

                               - Andy Williams

Ho ho ho...it's X'mas time :).

Who doesn't love X'mas season? Its the most happiest time in the entire year, having got time-off from work, vacations, getting together for feasts, lights and decorations all around you etc. This time we are having a white christmas and so the best activity to indulge in, is to arrange feasts. But any feast would be incomplete without a fruit cake, accompanied with wine.