I tought I would like to share a couple of little Chrismas 'tips' from Italy with you all... If you've heard of them already, then just indulge me in my fantasy world!!!

Mandarin Orange Table Lanterns:
Choose a mandarin or satsuma that has what I call a 'loose skin'. I'm sure you know what I mean. Carefully cut a line around it about 1/4 way down from the top with a little 'stalk button' in it. Remove the remaining peel taking great care NOT to break it. Ensure that the white fibrous stalk going up into the bottom of the fruit remains intact!
Place the 'bowl' on a saucer and trickle a little olive oil into it down the centre stalk...this is now the wick. Carefully light the wick and place the Mandarin Lantern on the table. These are spectacular in the dark and give out a wonderful perfume when alight.





Flaming Ice Cream:
Place individual portions of ice cream into small dishes, making sure the dish is NOT full to the brim. Place one or two sugar lumps on top of the ice cream. Pour a little brandy (or liqueur of choice) slowly over the sugar so it dribbles down and over the ice cream too.
Now quickly light the brandy soaked sugar knobs and serve (for best effect) in a darkend room...



Easy to make and a lot of fun. ENJOY!

SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN - WHAT ARE YOUR 'TIPS' FOR CHRISTMAS?

You serve the ice-cream-- I'll eat!!!

Sounds delicious!!
Emmy

Emmy wrote:

;-) You serve the ice-cream-- I'll eat!!! Sounds delicious!! Emmy

You're on.... Mine's coconut ice cream...and yours?

One just like this would go down a treat right now!!



Emmy

Carole wrote:

Emmy wrote: ;-) You serve the ice-cream-- I'll eat!!! Sounds delicious!! Emmy You're on.... Mine's coconut ice cream...and yours?

I like to pour Chambord (raspberry liquor) over Hagen Daas vanilla ice cream. YUM!

Oh..I just came back from a children's Christmas party and had chocolate fudge brownies, 7 different ice creams covered in chocolate, caramel and/or butterscotch syrup whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Man, talk about heaven!

Carole, I'm going to try your idea..looks awesome and I love candles.

Nuccia I'm drooling and I cant even go and treat myself here either!!!

But I am going to try the 'candles'

Hope I do it correctly - if I dont then you'll probably hear a loud clanging noise - that will be the fire engine coming to rescue me
Emmy

Here is the proof of the pudding!! It works - used a lot of matches though -- and so far no fire engine!!;-)








Emmy

I'm not sure Emmy, but it looks like you left the 'innards' inside the peel...(did you?)

The peel shoud be empty with the little 'wick' standing up in the middle all by itself. It's easier to light too generally!

But I'm glad you tried - they are rather nice, I must admit, on a table when you're eating...

They're gorgeous! U can't wait to try it..after I finish cleaning this h*ll hole!

So that's why I had to keep topping up the oil!!
Never mind I had lovely roasted orange in the middle

Emmy