On The 5 Days of Advent…: Daily Art Practice
Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls
Couch Talk
For those of you that celebrate Christmas, I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable time celebrating with family and friends.
I mentioned last week that our Advent plans were getting a late start. Well, it turned out for the best because it was an exhausting week. We were in the kitchen most of the day, preparing for our meals. It wasn’t that we had an elaborate spread, but more that we chose involved dishes that we had never made before. Before each meal, we watched a short video about the Christmas customs of each country.
I won’t bore you with details so I will share just a few pictures so you can get the idea of the foods we tried. If you are interested in making the dish, it is linked and will take you to the recipe if you click on it.
Day 1: Germany
The almonds were a favorite. The beef was good too, but it was a lot of work.
Day 2: Philippines
The Pancit Canton was our favorite main dish of the entire week! I will be making this again for sure!
Day 3: Great Britian
Shepard’s Pie and Christmas Crackers
Mary Berry’s Bakewell Tart
I loved the Bakewell Tart. It reminded me of my favorite Pepperidge Farm Verona cookies that I ate growing up.
Day 4: France
Chicken and Mushroom Pie (Tourte) filling
Tourte after baking
Buche de Noel (Yule Log) with Mushroom Meringues
The Tourte was another favorite of the week. It was very flavorful, but again, this dish took hours to make!
Day 5: Japan
KFC, Mashed Potatoes
I am glad I saved this one for the end of the week. After all those labor-intensive dishes, ordering out to KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) was a welcome rest.
3d Star Ornaments
One of our Advent activities was to create a 3d star ornament. Everyone in our house participated. It was a fun activity to plan our designs and then execute them. My designs were taken from the ideas in the book, Imagine Forest. I received this book a while ago and have tried several of the designs. When trying to think up a design for my star, I started flipping through this book and knew I needed to try the animals. It was a very relaxing activity and I wish I had tried this sooner.
My husband is an engineer, so he is good at drawing and design work. He came up with these patterns and I just love how it turned out, using colored pencils.
Tea Day
I am joining the Tea Day ladies, hosted by Elizabeth and Bleubeard. My tea is Ginger Orange with Vanilla from my German Yogi Tea Advent Calendar. I really enjoyed the flavors in this tea, particularly the orange.
Happy Tea Day,
Kate
Good evening Kate, I enjoyed reading about the some of the foods your family created-allot of work but sounds like allot of fun and memories in the kitchen. Your handmade ornaments are so lovely too
Happy T Kathy
Rouladen is one of my husband;s favorite foods and I used to make them for his birthday. As you said, it is a lot of work and it is hard to get the right meat for it. I eventually refused to make them anymore. Gebrannt Mandeln are wonderful, always a favorite! You did a lot of different cooking in that week, you must have been exhausted. The 3D stars look amazing and very beautiful! Happy New Year to you, Kate.
Wow – the food all looks and sound fab. The pie and the desserts are my favorite.
I totally love the star ornaments – what a fun family project. You come up with the best ideas!
Happy T-day and Happy New Year!
Hugz
Your food looks great Kate, but I bet it was a lot of work. Especially all the baking . I had to laugh at the Japanese Christmas meal. I knew about this when I visited Japan and all the lessons we had about Japan at our school before the trip, but it was funny you actually had it. It does taste good every now and again to have though. Good timing since it came at the end of the week. Have a great T day and Happy New Year too. hugs-Erika
If I could eat I would love to join you! Looks yummy 🙂
And you 3d star ornament are… wonderful!
The first one reminds of “Le Petite Prince”!
Oh, and ginger, hmmm… Happy T-Day!!
Your Christmas around the world was quite the adventure, I was feeling I hadn’t done enough for Christmas and then the cheer-up you ordering take out from KFC. The 3D stars are awesome. You always think of fun things to involve your family. Happy T Day
Ohhh my neighbor from across the street is German and she brought me some Pfeffernusse and Mandeln. ohh so good. What fun to make all of these foods. Beautiful ornaments too. Have a lovely day today.
I love your ornaments and that all the family joined in to make them Cinnamon rolls for breakfast would be lovely, I do love a good bakewell tart and I haven’t had a yule log for years. We used to make them at school and my mum always made one every Christmas. Happy Holidays and Happy T Day! Elle/EOTC xx
Wow, what a fabulous way to celebrate with all those world foods – perfect! They look so delicious, you are such an accomplished cook 🙂. Loving the star tree ornaments that you made, especially the fox and bear ones! Happy T Day wishes, enjoy the rest of the holidays and all the very best for 2023! Hugs Jo x
Oh my Kate, you have cooked so many fabulous meals and cakes etc, I am really impressed. Happy T Day! Happy New Year to you and your family. I wish you health and happiness! Valerie
Oh what a lot of work! But I bet it was fun and interesting to try new things. I love rouladen and the gebrannte Mandeln we have here in Spain too and they are delicious..
I love your stars in the tree. Especially the animal ones. Did the paper come out of the book?
That looks absolutely delicious! I have never eaten Polish food. I have heard of borscht but not of the other dishes.
I’m sorry to be late but happy T-Day and a happy New Year!,
Hugs,
Lisca
Kate i just love how you enjoy learning new things with trying new food! You are amazing! As are your Christmas ornaments! They are to be cherished i’m sure!!! Happy T day! Hugs! deb
I apologize that I am late visiting. I can’t get my blog POST to load, but I got my blog to load once and now I am afraid to refresh it in case I won’t be able to see it at all. Please be aware I am truly honored and sincerely delighted you shared your drink with Bleubeard and me for T this Tuesday. I am so grateful for your friendship and fellowship over a drink. Thank you for joining us for T today. I love all those different meals you tried, I look forward to more next T. Cute decorations, too,
Bleubeard and I also want to wish you a very happy holiday and a safe, healthy, joyous 2023.
Hi, stopping in to wish you and your family the very best for 2023.
Those 3 d stars are amazing. Kate, your patience is amazing to try all those foreign dishes. Happy belated t day.
Hi I am back to say it is a joy to have you as part of my blogging world. Wishing you and your family the very best for 2023