Merry Christmas to all...
Too early to wish? But do you know Christmas Preparations have already started....
Amidst Jingle Bells...Candles n Holy Water... Santa's Gifts... Wishful Christmas Tree... Chocolate n Cakes... Wine n Rum... Music n Dance... Merriness all around... I share with you my excitement of participating in FOOD ADVENT CALENDAR "Spice It Up" organised by Jenny Rojas.
Yes, I am participating in the Food Advent Calendar along with 23 other enthusiastic participants. It is a Global event wherein food bloggers from different parts of the world are participating. All 24 of us would be sharing our delicacies with our readers and of course with each other. It will provide us an opportunity to present for 24 days a wide variety of delicacies which we can try out this Christmas. This year, Jenny's focus is on spices and she wanted us to use any one (or more) spice, preferably belonging to our respective countries, prominently in our respective recipes for this advent. The good thing about this food advent is that you get to know how even spices can add a twist to the desserts. This is my first time and I am super excited about this Advent. I am already having goosebumps thinking about it.
The use of spices in cooking is well known from times immemorial. They add not only aroma and taste to our dishes but many of these are known for their medicinal and curative properties also. A judicious use of spices can make any dish live.
But what is an Advent? Honestly speaking even I had no idea about it until a few months back. When Jenny posted about it seeking participation from bloggers who would be interested in it, I found it pretty interesting and submitted my name for the same. Luckily I was selected. All I knew then was that for 24 days prior to Christmas, 24 bloggers would be posting their respective recipes on the date allotted to them. So, here I am and don't forget to check my delicious recipe on 6th December 2017.
Coming back to what an Advent is. In simple terms Advent means preparation. Advent is a season or time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Advent comes from the Latin word, Adventus, which means 'coming' or 'arrival' of a notable person/thing. So we prepare to celebrate the arrival of Lord Jesus. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas. Advent is the sober yet joyful time of preparation for the Lord's nativity.
Advent ensures full one month long celebrations of Christmas rather than just celebrating it on a single day. It makes the waiting period enjoyable.
The tradition of Advent dates to the mid-19th century when German Protestants made chalk marks on doors or lit candles to count the days leading up to Christmas. Gerhard Lang is widely considered the producer of the first printed Advent calendar in the early 1900s.Dec 1, 2010
There are lot many themes which one can choose for this wonderful Advent period. For example, food, gifts, dresses, wine, decor ideas, candles etc.
Here, Jenny, being a food blogger, has chosen the 'food' theme and that too with spices. Really, a good choice and initiative.
I am sharing here the details of Jenny Rojas's Food Advent Calendar, showing what all will be presented to you....
December 1, Jenny, initiator and from Jenny Is Baking will feature tonka bean in a sweet bread
December 2, Rachel from Dishing Up Dinner will feature nutmeg in a cookie
December 3, Jyoti from The Hungry Belly will feature saffron in a dessert
December 4, Natalie from Natalie Journeys will feature nutmeg in a drink
December 5, Renea from Inspire A Creation will feature peppermint in a dessert
December 6, Samira from Samira's Recipe Diary will feature cardamom in a dessert
December 7, Markus from Earth Food and Fire will feature cloves in a side dish
December 8, Candi from Make Ahead Meal Mom will feature nutmeg in a dessert
December 9, Rachael from Coloured Plates will feature star anise in a condiment
December 10, Kori from I Rok the Kitchen will feature ginger in a cookie
December 11, Megan from Life on Paradise Drive will feature pumpkin pie spice in a dessert
December 12, Leslie from Deliciously Plated will feature cardamom in a beverage
December 13, Tanya from Food Forage will feature ginger in a dessert
December 14, Ali from Fix Me a Little Lunch will feature bay leaves in a cocktail
December 15, Daniela from Dani's Cookings will feature cinnamon in a cake
December 16, Neha from Witty Mushroom will feature cardamom in a dessert
December 17, Lizet from Chipa by the Dozen will feature aniseed in a cookie
December 18, Jillian from Simple Sassy Scrumptious will feature cinnamon and cloves in a cookie
December 19, Jennifer from Jennifer Bakes will feature cayenne pepper in a snack
December 20, Angela from Bake It with Love will feature nutmeg in a dessert
December 21, Kaveri from Pretty Little Things will feature ginger in a dessert
December 22, Nataliya from The Friendly Gourmand will feature clove in a side dish
December 23, Myriam from Milly's Melting Pot will feature vanilla in a cookie
December 24, Jenny, initiator and from Jenny Is Baking will make a roundup
I am sure we will get to learn many interesting and innovative recipes during this period.
My heartfelt thanks to Jenny because of whom I got to know about this wonderful holy period. Also, I extend my gratitude to the following links for providing me with an insight into Advent.
http://mentalfloss.com/article/26522/brief-history-advent-calendars
Samira, I am very happy that you are taking part in this! Looking forward to your recipe!
So am I Jenny… its looking like a Gala event and i am very excited about it… kudos to your initiative…👍🏼