Wish I was at home for Christmas

I have to face the truth this time. Though I always claim to be progressive and to reject the bourgeois things of life, I have to admit being very traditional when it comes to Christmas.

I have been looking forward to the 8^th of December, La festa dell´Immacolata Concezione di Maria (Immaculate Conception.. always good for a few discussions).

I really like putting up the Christmas tree and listen to the Weihnachts Oratorium while doing so. As I can not, like my Umbrian friends, have the beautiful medieval colors all around my, I decorate my tree with them.

The best thing is to decorate the Christmas crib. When I was young, my father gave me a very small crib that I still have. A very funny story is, one year, the little Jesus figure was missing from its cradle and I found it under the sofa. I put it back but the next day it was gone again. This went on for three days, until I found my cat Youssef playing with it.

Now I have an Italian handmade nativity set that is very beautiful.

There´s even a huge camel that my Pio was really scared of when he was still a tiny little kitten. He kept hissing and growling at it.

Today, he´s bigger than the camel, so he thinks the crib is his too.

My friend Lucia´s tree (c) Lucia Rufini

But the very best thing about this tradional stuff is the small talk with my Italian friends. I love to see their pics and read their comments. Who thinks that only the English know how to celebrate Christmas has never seen the Italian way of preparing for it.

My friend Lucia is an example of good taste and knows how to make a home.

For more stunning pics you may like to visit her facebookpage 

Sull'albero anche pezzetti di una vecchia collana (c) Lucia Rufini

(c) Hotel Bramante Todi 

And how about the impressive decoration realized by Hotel Bramante? I am certain you will love their blog as much as I do. Click here to enjoy it. No better way to get in the mood.

I am not so traditional that I will cook zampone con lenticchie for Christmas. But the Panettone can not be missed and I always try to make sure that the table matches the colors in the tree.

And next year? I´ll make sure I will be in Umbria. A very merry Christmas to all of you.

Bring it to the table

Fortunately I already told you about my second folly so this can´t come as a surprise. My cupboards (and any place else I can stuff away things) are loaded with tableware. I don´t know if this also is a genetical disorder, my grandmother – the one with all the linens – did not suffer from this one. But at least one aunt does, so maybe it is a family secret.

It don´t think I am to blame completely, because with all the tablecloths I own, it´s hard to escape from getting matching plates. Besides, everyone knows that, for example, an orange dish tastes awful from a red plate. One simply has to accept the inevitable.

And all my crockery has its own history or little legend. That is definitely the best part. My daily plates don´t of course, but it´s funny that they were originally meant for dinners al fresco outside or in the gardenhouse. This means I have to buy new for that purpose. Life is hard.

The brown stuff I really like, for they make autumn meals a pleasure. I bought my first piece at a fair, for the salesman said they were suitable for gas as well. They are not. I found out the first time I used it. They got scorched, my kitchen was full of smoke and if I tell you how it smelled, you will get Chinese take away food for the rest of your life.

I like the mugs very much. My sister saw them somewhere so I asked her to get me six and I was going to pick them up and pay her back and thank you. On my way to her place, I saw two matching bowls, so I used the money for those and had to return the week after to give my sister her share.

My aunt (the one that shares this idiocy) gave my the blue bowls for my birthday. They match the tablerunners I was given by my dearest Italian friends exactly. The two dutch antique jars are a present from my neighbor so, indeed, it´s something old, something new and something blue. If I need more, the borrowed thing will be the money.

My all time favorite is the olive set. I saw them in Belgium, bought six plates and two bowls and found out it was rather stupid to buy things like that abroad. You can´t easily get something new when it breaks. Fortunately, I had very dear friends and we visited each other on a regular basis and they helped me to complete the set. I am really very fond of my olive stuff to lay a party table with.

Only the large bowls I bought in Deruta, Umbria, which is the most famous centre of maiolica. It´s practically all hand-made. You name it, they provide it. I think you could even find a maiolica elephant. I wanted one large bowl and went to one of the thousand stores. I ended up with three, but I still think that was a major achievement, for I left all the rest. It was amazing.

The tomato decorated crockery I discovered in a supermarket in Trevi, Umbria. It was the time for canning tomatoes, but from selling tomatoes only there won´t be much profit. So the supermarket sold yars, bottles, grinders, placemats (yes I did) and this tablewear. I could not resist. It looks so lovely on a white tablecloth – but only before dinner. When you fill up the bowls, you don´t see the decoration anymore. But the feeling you get when you look at the table ...it´s worth it.

Candlelight

Nobody would call my way of making my own candles artisan, and I assure you I don´t pretend. If you want to make candles the traditional way, there will be a lot of directions on the internet. They will certainly be more beautiful than mine.

It´s just a way of saving time and money. Besides, it will keep you from roaming the streets.

Take your time and don´t try this when your mother in law is going to pay you a visit, because your kitchen will be a mess and really will need a cleaning afterwards.

This is not a season bound activity, you can try it whenever you feel like it so you can start collecting the necessities from now.

You need:

Remains of candles

Candle wicks (you can get them online)

Molds, but instead of buying expensive ones, you can use empty cans, small glasses (heatproof), empty egg boxes (take plastic, those from cardboard don´t serve), empty tea light cups, whatever.

Toothpicks

A pan

A wooden spoon

Baking paper

I sort the remains of the candles by color, but you could try to mix some, adding white candles will provide a pretty pastel effect.

Put the candle remains in a pan an put it on a very low fire to melt.

In the mean time, prepare the candlewicks by cutting pieces at the same length as the mold you´re using. Stick a toothpick through them so you can make it balance on the edge of the mold.

Put the molds on a piece of baking paper, it may save you a lot of work later. When the candle wax has melted, remove old wicks and dirt with the spoon. Then carefuly pour it into the mold, holding the toothpick. Let the candles harden, it does not take very long. The remove the toothpick.

Scented candles:

Add some scented oil to the liquid before pouring it into the molds. Don´t use too much, a few drops will do. I used rose oil and lavender oil. Click here for the way to make them. 

Add a little cinnamon to the liquid if you aleady planned to make brown candles. You can´t do that with light colors, because it is hard to mix it properly and in that case the cinnamon will leave brown spots.

A very nice effect you can reach by coating the mold with slices of dried fruits like apple or orange. I normally don´t because somehow, they always catch fire at my place, but maybe you are more careful.  

To remove spilled wax:

Put a paper towel on the wax and gently press it with a not too hot iron. Repeat until it´s all gone.

To clean the pan and the spoon, remove as many reamins as you are able to and then use abundant, really hot water and a detergent. Make sure the water is really hot in order to prevent your drain from blocking. Don´t throw it in the toilet, it won´t flush anymore. But everyone can make a mistake.

Change of seasons and the change of mood

I will take the risk that you all think I am a freak, because I myself think this is a good idea and I like to share. I believe everybody feels the need to change now and then. And given the fact that weather and seasons always change, why not use the opportunity? 

Of course I would not think of encouraging anyone to buy new furniture twice a year. But when spring and summer come, wouldn´t you like to see the light and bright colors in your home too? And arriving autumn and winter, I can´t imagine anyone would reject the warm feeling you get from terra and brown colors that will make your home a cosy place to survive the cold.

Let me show you how easily you can adapt your interior to the seasons outside without being ruined at once. Let´s start with the poutpourri we made a few weeks ago. If you have chosen te colors carefully, you could use the lavender and rose in spring and summertime, for they will have faded to a quiet pastel color. Put them on a light colored plate, a simple white one will be beautiful. Add a (scented) candle in a matching color and a matching decorated napkin and it will look very nice.

Comes autumn, use the calendula, change the plate for a darker one, change the napkin and the candle and it will be a completely different view, practically for free.

The same cheap solution can be used for stylish decorations with a small wooden box. In spring and summer fill it with some glass ornaments – or take a nicely shaped glass from your cupboard – , a light napkin and/or candle and ready it is. In autumn and winter you simple change the candle and napkin. I like incense, so when I buy it anyway, I choose the boxes in maching colors. There are many possibilities.

The more serious stuff I create by changing table ornaments. I use my own crockery for it, but maybe you have some nice pottery in your garden. Just try to make combinations. This is a little more expensive, but you can use it a few years after another. Because you change them twice a year, there´s less chance that yo will get tired of them.

I know it´s easy for me, because I own that hilarious amount of linens and crockery, but it is worth collecting towels and ornaments in sales or on markets.

Finally, I create the seasons atmosphere by changing my curtains, cushions and table runners. Of course this is the most expensive part of it, but you don´t have to change the cushions completely, just change the pillow cases. The curtains you can achieve on markets where they are cheaper or make your own if you have more skills than I have.

And after that..depending on the season, you only have to curl up in front of a wood fire with a glass of red wine, or relax at your spring-table with a cold white wine.  

Home made potpourri, part two - the flowers

In case you have missed part one, click here

Let´s continue with the homemade potpourri. If everything went well, the flowers you collected have dried in the meantime. The thing to do now is make a choice about the number of varieties you want to make. It depends a little on how many flowers you´ve collected.

But let´s assume you do exactly as I did.

Sterilize three big jars by putting them in a 200° heated oven for thirty minutes. Put them upside down on an absolutely clean towel and be careful because they´re hot.

Roses

If you are short on rose petals, you can add some lavender and/or malva because their fragrance is similar. In that case, mix well. Put the first half in the jar and sprinkle 4-5 drops of the rose oil you made last week (strain it first) over the petals. Shake a little, but be careful, rose petals are delicate.

Add the other half and sprinkle 4-5 drops of the rose oil again. Close the jar carefully.

Lavendermix

Mix the lavender with the malva, sage, marjoram, borage and comfrey. Be careful not to crush them too hard. Put half of it in a jar, sprinkle 4-5 drops of the lavenderoil and shake slightly. Add the other half, add the same amount of drops and close the jar.

Marigoldmix

Mix the marigold with the santolina and the camomile. Be careful because they fall apart easily. Divide in two parts. Put a layer of half of the alchemilla in the jar.

Add the first part of the marigoldmix, close the jar and quickly turn it upside down and back. Open the jar, add 4-5 drops of you marigoldoil and shake a bit.

Put the second h alf of the alchemilla in and add the other marigoldmix. Sprinkle with a few drops of marigoldoil, close the jar. Turn it upside down and back.

Leave the jars unopened for two weeks in a not too bright spot.

Potpourri is always a nice gift, especially with a little bottle of your home made oil. You can use it to decorate scented candles or -sachets that make your home smell fine. Also very decorative is a large plate with an ample potpourri filling and some (scented) candles in similar colors. Be careful that the potpourri doesn´t catch fire.

When you´ve flowers left:

Roses can be used to make rosewater. Just leave them be in boiled water for half an hour to prepare an extract. Strain it and keep it in a clean bottle. It´s a great skin tonic.

A mixture of rosewater and honey can serve as a facial mask. Mix well but don´t leave it too long, one or two minutes will do.

Put a little rosewater in the reservoir of the iron and all your clothes will smell deliciously they say (I don´t know for I haven´t ironed for a long long time but it sounds logical)

Lavender is very suitable for sweet desserts. Put two or three branches in a cupful of sugar, cover it and leave it for two weeks, then remove the branches. This sugar tastes very nice in whipped cream.

Put the flowers in a sachet for your linen closet and everything will smell fresh.

Or. like the roses, use them for an extract. Lavender has a relaxing effect in a warm bath, but you can also use the extract for a facial tonic for an oily skin.

The marigold is, as an extract, very suitable to make a compress in case of inflammation as long as the skin is undamaged.

The petal leafs can be used, like saffron, to color risotto (use only two or three).

And you can of course use most of the flowers to make your own medicines, but never do that without consulting a doctor. Therefore, I will not mention any of them in this blog.

Home made potpourri, part I - the oil

This blog consists of two parts: making the herb-oil this week, and making the actual potpourri next week.

It is not to difficult to make your own potpourri, but it takes time, you will for the major part spend waiting, and so it takes patience too. Now that means, that if I can do it, you can do it.

You start collecting flowers. You can find them everywhere, in your own garden, in the neigbors´ garden (maybe you should ask him first), along the road, you can buy them, or use the ones given to you by an admiror.

For mine, I used roses for the first, marjoramflowers, lavender, sageflowers, malva, comfrey and borage for the second and marigold, chamomile, alchemilla and santolina for the third.

Put aside a cupful of rose, lavender and marigold.

Spread the rest of the flowers -sorted out- on a clean tablecloth and let them dry for one or two weeks in a (warm) well ventilated spot. Next week, I am going to tell you what to do with them.

The oil

Start cleaning 3 little bottles or jars and sterilize them for half an hour in an oven heated to 200°C.

Then put them upside down on an absolutely clean towel. Careful not to burn your hands.

Rose: rose petals are very delicate so it is best to use the so called cold method to get the oil. Put the petals in a sealable jar, press them a little and pour vegetable oil all over them. The petals should be covered completely. Close the jar and leave them on a sunny spot like your windowsill for one or two weeks.

It will be ready at the same time as the flowers.

Lavender: put half of the flowers in a heat resistant jar. Put it in a pan with hot water and let them simmer `au bain marie` for two hours at very low heat. Strain the oil, put it back into the jar and add the other half of the flowers. Let simmer for another, strain again and pour the oil into one of the bottles.

Marigold: follow the directions for lavender.

Don´t make too much oil, you´ll only use a few drops for the potpourri.

If you accidentally or deliberately made too much oil:¹

But if you like, there are a lot of purposes you can use your oil for: NB use these only if you are very certain that you are not suffering from any allergy. I don´t accept any responsibility.

Rose oil:

• Make an ointment from 40 ml. rose oil and 4 gr. beeswax (melted au bain marie), put in a sterilized jar. Smells deliciously.
• Make an air refreshener by mixing 5 drops of oil and half a liter water.
• Use it as a bath oil.

Lavender oil:

• Make a footbalm from 6 spoons of lanolin, 3 spoons of almond oil, 3 spoons of glycerin and 1 spoon of lavender oil. Melt it au bain marie, beat until cold and put in a sterilized jar.
• Make a bodylotion from 2 spoons of almond oil, two spoons of lavender oil, 1 dl. rosewater. Put it in a sterilized bottle.
• Make a deodorant from 5 dl. sterilized water, 1 spoon of lavender oil, 1 spoon of sugar. Leave it for two weeks and put it in a clean vaporizer.

Marigold oil:

• Make a hand jelly against dry hands from vaseline and marigold oil: melt the vaseline a bain marie and mix it at a 5:1 ratio with the marigold oil.
• Make a balm against myalgia from tincture and marigold oil: mix 50 gr. dried marigold petals, 75 ml. wodka, 150 ml. water and leave it in a sterilized jar for two weeks in a cool spot. Shake it every now and then.
  After two weeks, mix 60 ml. tincture with 60 ml. marigold oil. Only for external use!!

1I tried out my own recipes, but based them on The New Herb Bible (Foley,Nice&Webb 2002)