2012-12-07

December 7th

Our Independence Day (Dec. 6th) really opens the Holiday season around here, and in my family it really is sort of little Christmas (or a rehearse if you may). We gather together for a feast meal, and table is always full of wonderful, Christmassy delicacy. I was in charge of the dessert this year (although my very talented brother-in-law made the most delicious macarons too, my first ever!), and I opted for very, very traditional Finnish things, torttu and pipari. Torttu is a pastry (made mostly from butter *ahem*) with a prune jam filling. You can make the dough yourself or go for a ready-made as I always do as it's tasty and easy. Here's a little how-to, it's not that difficult:


And then pipari! Pipari = a gingerbread man/woman/hattifattener/pig/heart/star any shape or size you wish. There were quite a few years that we didn't eat that much of them, but my nephew loves them and with him we've really discovered them again. Years ago I used to make gingerbread-Christmas-trees for my colleagues in work, the idea for it is from my favorite Christmas-book Christmas Time by  Mads  Moe:


We (me and my sister) have even purchased a special star cutter-set just to make these trees (we have a joint custody), but you could make and use paper/cardboard molds too.


 You need to bake two each of all five different sized stars, and let them cool...


...and then you can get totally crazy with anything you wish! I usually use different sweets, some frosting and melted sugar (hot! be careful with it!) to keep it all together...


And you'll end up most wonderful (yet a bit wonky sometimes like mine here!) and unique gingerbread-tree, which my nephew absolutely loved. I can highly recommend making these trees with your favorite sweets "just because"  - and it's just wonderful not to save them "for some day" but just to nibble bits here and there... Hello Holiday-Spirit!

We had a lovely day, everything was so tasty, and there's  really not that much left but of course I saved some for you still:

Happy December 7th!

Yours,
Mia

10 comments:

Teje Karjalainen said...

Thank you Mia, just a perfect timing, I'm having coffee and missed Finnish Christmas sweets! I haven't done any yet and I'm not sure if I can (find the energy). That tree is adorable and better when wonky!
Yesterday I was watching the celebration in the castle but I din't pick any 'Wow' dress - did I miss something? But I do enjoyed seeing Finnish people! x Teje

Mia said...

Hello dear Teje,

I'm happy to be able to offer :) you some our traditional sweets!

And Linnanjuhlat-dresses were great, but as you said, not that many WOW-ones. I liked Maria Ylipää's red best, I think: http://static.iltalehti.fi/linnanjuhlat/toppifloppi_ylipaa0612in_lj.jpg - what did you think of Jenni Haukio's dress: http://www.iltalehti.fi/linnanjuhlat/2012120616417568_lj.shtml - it's by Paola Suhonen and all but... I'm not too impressed!

Happy weekend, we're off to Ikea-Kuopio tomorrow!

Yoursm,
Mia

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your how-to's Mia and very delicious they all look too! So glad you all had a lovely day yesterday and wishing you a great weekend too!
Vivienne x

Anne said...

Looks delicious, Mia -----enjoy your trees, macaroons and pinwheels.
Sounds like you all had a great celebration!!
Have fun shopping soon,

Counting the days,
Anne
PlumCreek

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Oh Mia, you are such a tease with all the lovely sweets! I'm hungry and they all look so delicious and amazingly
Beautiful. I'm so happy you all had a great celebration on your country's birthday!
Happy weekend to you, xoRobin❤

Jane said...

Oh yummy Mia, what a feast you had. Glad it was a happy day for you all,
Jane x

Mia said...

Hello Vivienne,

Happiest weekend to you too! I wish you've been baking something yummy too!

Yours,
Mia

Mia said...

Hello Anne,

We had great day yesterday! I wish you the most wonderful 2nd Advent!

Yours,
Mia

Mia said...

Have a lovely weekend too, Robin, and lovely 2nd Advent! Christmas is really getting near!

Yours,
Mia

Mia said...

Hello Jane,

Lovely Sunday (and it's the 2nd Advent too!) to you! Please kiss Billy-boy for me!

Yours,
Mia

This time of the year...

Usually around this time, when children go back to school, and you can just about to smell the autumn, I start to dig deeper in my fabric...