Christmas is a magical time of year, and it’s also the perfect time to try new projects with family and friends. The new Advent book by Kerstin Niehoff and Laura Fleiter celebrates the season with recipes and crafts for the countdown to Christmas, with delicious dishes, fun seasonal projects, handmade gifts and simple yet stunning decorations. Take time to slow things down during the busy pre-Christmas period with these three projects from Advent, which are giving us all of the warm, fuzzy, festive vibes.
1. Advent Candles
These nature-inspired candles sum up minimalist beauty, and prove that creating an Advent mood needn't take much time or effort. If you already have a wreath, or just want to try something different, this project is perfect, and will add a unique, modern touch to your Christmas decorations.
2. Orange & Cinnamon Syrup
Combining two of our favourite seasonal flavours, this sweet and fruity concoction is a divine little dream that makes everything a bit more delicious. It’s perfect for flavouring your favourite hot beverage, as a sauce for desserts, as a spread for toast and much more. Stirred into hot milk, it makes an amazing night cap for cold winter evenings. It also makes a wonderful handmade Christmas gift for your loved ones, packaged in a vintage glass bottle.
3. Salt Dough Christmas Decorations
Salt dough Christmas decorations, which were all the rage in the 1980s, deserve to be updated for the 21st century. This dough is very quick and easy to make, and is a great Christmas activity for kids. Best of all, they'll last for years to come!
Projects and recipes extracted from Advent by Kerstin Niehoff and Laura Fleiter. Murdoch Books, £12.99. Photography by Laura Fleiter.
More from Vegetarian blog
Tomatoes you grow yourself are gorgeous things, rich, sweet-yettart, and as they come in an array of hues, from orange, yellow and gold to bright green, your summer salad will be awash with vibrant colours. Plus, the odd shapes they grow into (think pear-shaped, finger length and as fat a lemon) add a little character too. Here’s how to grow your own
Herb butters are fabulous for quick-and-easy garlic bread, or jazzing up roasted veggies in an instant. plus, they're very simple to make
We all enjoy the finer things in life, but there are some people willing to pay a small fortune to chow down on a real treat! We track down some of the world’s poshest, and priciest, nosh.
Feel like a calamity in the kitchen? You might just be on track to inventing a world famous recipe Read on for some favourite ‘mistoveries’ over the centuries, and the weird and wonderful stories behind them.
Bulbous, mild and fleshy; these purple gems are versatile and add depth to many dishes. However, if you get it wrong they can be bitter, soggy or chewy. Do them justice with these failsafe tips.
