Merry Christmas everyone!

May you have your holidays just the way you like them best!
My thoughts are especially with my dear brother (with you, Armin!) who is spending it in the heat of Australian summer this year.
That must be such a different experience, but I hope a good one. Frohe Weihnachten, Armin!

Christmas present.

You need another Christmas present and have no glue 

what to get for that special person? Here is a last

minute Christmas present that can be made in less than 

15 minutes and does not require some fancy ingredients 

- you probably may have them all at home anyway. 

Chocolate hazelnut creme liqueur:

* 2 spoons of black coffee

* 200ml rum

* 150g chocolate hazelnut spread

* 150g nonperishable creme

* a little bit of cinnamon

* 50g marzipan (or sugar)

* vanilla pulp of a vanilla pod (Alright, that is somehow 

fancy one might not have at home. You can leave it 

though.)

Mix all the ingredients, leave the marzipan, cinnamon 

and vanilla pulp if you prefer. If you are going to use

sugar instead of marzipan it might be good to heat it up

a little for the sugar to dissolve. Bottle it and store it in 

the fridge. You can drink it right away or leave it for at 

least 1 day in the fridge for the liqueur to absorb the 

flavors. Shake it before serving and consume within 

approximately 2 weeks.

Watch out, you might get tipsy adjusting the taste. ;-)

London for Christmas.

I am lucky enough heading to London in only a few hours, trying the catch the British Christmas spirit. Let's see if it feels different
from the continent. Maybe we are even more lucky and even catch that beautiful city snow-covered! Rain would be fine, too, though.
It is more authentic, isn't it? Have a peaceful Advent weekend wherever you are going to spend it.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

It is getting all snowy - finally as well in the part of the world I am living! Hurrayyyy! You guys all have a great
weekend.

Advent.

For me advent just feels right. It is hopefully white and fresh outside and nice and warm in the inside, with
some chocolate and maybe even a cup of mulled wine waiting for you. We, or some of us, start decorating our
houses with Christmas decor we have collected over the years. Sometimes it feels good to keep up traditions.
This time of the year reminds me of my childhood days. Do you also get happy like a child if you set up the
Christmas tree? It is so beautiful to take a walk outside in spite of the cold temperatures as the fairy lights
and the reflecting snow does brighten the night. And yet quite a lot people are starting to get stressed out by
what they are going to give for Christmas presents. Also almost of my beloved ones are indeed lucky and
own all the things they need. This year I decided not to get all crazy about the gifts or even buy something
that might end up at a shelf, never be at looked again. Instead I am taking a day off to create some gifts that
can be enjoyed and eaten, like backed almonds, pralines or a cream liqueur, as well as some small crafts. I
hope you all stay stress-free and get the chance to enjoy the beautiful Advent season. If you don't have a
Christmas market close by a freshly made traditional mulled wine may help. Here is my recipe:
Stir together a bottle of red wine (I prefer to use a dry one, any kind works though),
add apple and orange juice, cloves and cinnamon sticks. You can also add some star anise if you happen to
have them at home. There is no need to add sugar, as the apple juice is sweet enough. Just add as much
juice as you like, there is no limit. Don't let it boil, except if you want to reduce the amount of alcohol.
Otherwise just make sure it is getting hot enough to warm you up. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a
slice of orange or lemon and enjoy!

Fall.

Even though many people don't want summer to come to an end, I believe to recognize fall is gently beginning.
It is not hot anymore, but still comfy outside with mild temperatures and a light breeze that reminds you to
enjoy every last summer moment.
With my summer break is almost over I am packing my stuff again, so is the squirrel which crossed my way
today: while it was rushing through the garden to collect nuts for winter, I picked plums and apples for the cake.
How peacefully that time is.

Karma.

I am a strong believer in karma. 
Being not sure about rewarding good actions I do believe that wrongful acts come back to haunt us. It might not happen as 
soon as we'd expect, and we might not be able to see the tantalizer getting his or her revenge, but eventually those who are 
mean-spirited get theirs. 
I think it is no question of who and how to judge what's right and wrong, but there will be the time when reckless people will 
come to their senses all by themselves. They will question their actions and start thinking about people they have hurt. By
then they might realize the impact of such acts and feel sorry. 
But how to get rid of that feeling, when you start blaming your actions? Imagine, always knowing you have been the one 
behaving like you did it will not be easy to stop worrying and just feel good about yourself again. I think that's fair. The only 
thing that makes those guys getting a peaceful mind is to start living on the good side.

Yes, everything does catch up with us. At least that is want I like to believe in. It is not us who have to bother all the judging 
and taking revenge - at the end people will come to their senses. Let's stay on the good side of life!