Christmas in July 2016 day 25 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 25

CIJ day 25 / jour 25

Merry Christmas in July!!!  Only 6 more months until Christmas J

Have a cup of hot cocoa and work on your Christmas tradition list.

Thank you all for joining me in CIJ 2016. 

Christmas in July 2016 day 24 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 24

CIJ day 24 / jour 24

Angel wings.

There is no tutorial but it can be easily drawn freehand and made into a Chrismtas ornament for the tree. You could even add a name-tage if you have a special angel in your family.

Christmas in July 2016 day 23 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 23

CIJ day 23 / jour 23

Cranberry – orange muffins

(Source : http://momsneedtoknow.com/best-cranberry-orange-muffins-ever-2/#_a5y_p=3209059 )

NGREDIENTS

·         2 cups Flour

·         ¾ cup Light Brown Sugar

·         2 tsp Baking Powder

·         2 Eggs

·         ¾ cup Orange Juice

·         1 Tbsp Orange Zest

·         ⅓ cup Vegetable Oil

·         1 cup chopped Fresh Cranberries (or 1 cup dried, if you can't find fresh cranberries)

INSTRUCTIONS

1.    Preheat oven to 375.

2.    Line muffin pan with paper liners (if you want to skip the liners, you can - just spray the muffin tins with non-stick spray)

3.    Mix together flour, brown sugar and baking powder. Set aside.

4.    Beat together eggs. orange juice, zest and oil.

5.    Add wet ingredients into the dry ingredients just until moistened.

6.    Fold in cranberries.

7.    Spoon into prepared muffin pan.

8.    Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

9.    Cool on a wire rack.

Christmas in July 2016 day 22 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 22

CIJ day 22 / jour 22

Friday night at the movies.  It’s a Wonderful Life

A movie with James Stuart about an angel that helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed.

It’s a 1946 movie in black and white but it’s got a lovely Christmas spirit.

Christmas in July 2016 day 21 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 21

CIJ day 21 / jour 21

Large reusable Christmas gift bag.

This one is great but I don’t have the tutorial.  However you could use one of the tutorials on here to make it http://so-sew-easy.com/fabric-gift-bags/

A tutorial can also be found here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znHJYV2yagk

Christmas in July 2016 day 20 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 20

CIJ day 20 / jour 20

Gifts for men.  

They are so hard to buy for!  I know mine is as is also my son.

Got lots of ideas from here http://heavy.com/social/2015/06/best-gifts-for-men-guys-gift-ideas-him-fathers-husband-boyfriend-guide-presents/

Slim wallet

Wi-fi speaker

Wireless headphones (oh WE love that he wears those! Haha)

Cool cufflinks – these can be found really cheap on AllieExpress and added to the stockings

Tools!

A telescope ($$)

Sports cap (as if they didn’t already own tons of these!)

Smart home wall controller ($$) – this would be awesome

Perfume – I like Aqua de Gio de Armani

Portable phone charger… hummmm I think I’ll look up this one for my son

Faux book safe

Go pro camera

Turntable – I know dh would like that

A drone

Hammock

Hot-dog toaster

DVD – James Bond collection

Breakfast maker machine (bought that last year and the boys use it!)

Go see that link, really great ideas on there.  I usually buy a sweater, a dvd or a  GC for tools.

Christmas in July 2016 day 19 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 19

CIJ day 19 / jour 19

A healthier Christmas dessert today.

Dark chocolate sea-salt almonds

Source : http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2015/08/24/healthier-treat-dark-chocolate-sea-salt-almonds/

Ingredients:

·         6 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet high quality chocolate

·         1 and 1/2 cups Diamond of California whole almonds (raw and unsalted)

·         sea salt

·         turbinado sugar (or any coarse/raw sugar)

 Directions:

1.      Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.

2.      Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or (carefully!) use the microwave. For the microwave, place the chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl. Melt in 30 second increments, stirring after each increment until completely melted and smooth. Alternatively, you can temper the chocolate. If tempering, do not store finished nuts in the refrigerator.

3.      Stir the almonds into the chocolate, making sure to coat each one. Using a dipping tool or a fork, lift the almonds out of the chocolate one by one or only a couple at a time (you don't want them all sticking together!), gently tap the tool/fork against the side of the bowl to release excess chocolate, and place onto prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining almonds.

4.      Sprinkle almonds with a little sea salt and turbinado sugar, then allow chocolate to completely set. I placed the baking sheet in the refrigerator to speed it up!

5.      Store chocolate covered almonds in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

Additional Notes:

For extra flavor, try toasting the almonds first! Simply spread them out onto a large baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes at 300°F (149°C). Allow to slightly cool before coating with chocolate.

Enjoy!