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Christmas: recipes and decorations

Come and read us often, we have still a lot of ideas for your Christmastime.

Christmas decorations according Italian taste

Our last idea for a cheap Christmas gift:
the bookmark-calendar in two versions
A perfect place card too!

This year we have based our Christmas planning thinking highly of global warming and all environmental damages. "Green Christmas" has been our underlying theme.
We have used LED lights or have made decorations with no lights. We propose you decorations with artificial flowers or pine so you can preserve them for the following years but the best solution would be to use real flowers or pine.

• - A little Christmas tree with red berries
• - A traditional Christmas centrepiece
• - Christmas decoration for the balcony
• - Christmas decoration for window sill
• - A little Christmas tree made with pot pourri
• - A Christmas decoration in kitchen
• - Christmas wreath in gold and green

The following Christmas decorations are really special. The lantern is in fashion this year and we realized three different decorations with a white lantern. You can also use them to decorate your shop window.
Another traditional decoration is the Christmas wreath but we propose you very refined, unusual versions suitable for the shop window too. The most beautiful shop windows are those in which you can see only a Christmas trace rather than a lot of ornaments; so people look at the goods and not only Christmas decorations.
The rustic basket is an effective alternative to the traditional Christmas tree.

• - A rustic basket decorated for Christmas (only members area)
• - Ideas for Christmas wreaths (only members area)
• - The lantern, old-style: the spell of Christmas (only members area)
• - A new Christmas cards, desktop wallpaper and badge template for geetings party (only members area)

Special recipes and menus

We propose you some simple recipes; if you choose good ingredients you make an impression with your guests. Besides we suggest a complete menu for Christmastime around these dishes according to Italian style and love of Italians for good kitchen.
The first recipes are based on fish and are ideal for Christmas Eve. First of all some recipes with oysters

Raw oysters
Fried oysters
Grilled oysters

• - King prawns salad with black truffle (members-only area)
• - Tuna steaks with grapes (members-only area)
• - Turbot fillet stuffed with salmon slices and broccoli

The following recipes are really very good; impresse your guests with them!

• - Risotto with potatoes, chicken and black truffles (members-only area)
• - Stuffed capon with Cointreau-flavoured chestnuts a tasty dish that you can prepare the day before.

But we remember you we have a long list of Christmas menus according to the Italian style. Consult it.

Your handmade Christmas gifts

• - Thermos holder What about a thermos bag to give your friend that drinks only tea or coffee prepared at home as Christmas gift?
• - A polar fleece muff Does your friend feel the cold? No problem! Sew a practical, easy-to-do muff and give it to her at Christmas or sew it for you!
• - The handmade shopping bag a very nice shopping bag made with felt; so original to impress the person whom you want to give a present to
• - The muff-bag so warm, nice and clever bag that you can give it to a friend of yours or to yourself!
• - The Double pouch a doubled cosmetic bag joined with Velcro
• - The besom-amulet the perfect gift for the new year
• - A good-luck besom It's nice and easy to do. It's perfect to close your gift parcel or as a place card or favour for your wedding.

Plan Christmas with us!

• - Preserved mushrooms in oil In these months you can find a lot of fresh mushrooms; why don't you preserve them under oil? At Christmas you can serve them as appetizer or side dish.
• - Cointreau-flavoured chestnuts It's the season of chestnusts: preserve them to serve after dinner or fill your Christmas turkey!

Christmas table setting

• - Fur and lace doily on your Christmas table according to Italian style (members-only area)
• - Consult the other ideas of ours for Christmas setting!