Chocolate cornflake clusters

Cookie
s
Truffles

Marzipan-filled
fruit
Nougat
Gifts

The hungry
hedgehog

Chocolate Yule
Log

Santa Claus
Own French
toast
Banana log

To make top truffles you will need:

7 oz dark extrafine cooking chocolate
2.1 oz thick crme frache
5.3 oz butter
2 egg yolks
a plate sprinkled with cocoa powder

The evening before, break the chocolate up into pieces and ask
an adult to melt it, together with a spoonful of water, using a
bowl over a saucepan of water. Take it off the heat, add the
butter (cut into thinnish slices) and let it melt, then mix with a
whisk until you have a smooth paste. Add the creme
fraiche and the egg yolks (be very careful not to add in any
egg white). Mix until you have a smooth, creamy mixture. To
help the paste harden, place the bowl containing the mixture
into a refrigerator for at least 3 hours. Bring the bowl out, then
scoop out a little paste with a spoon. Roll the paste into little
balls with your hands. Then roll the balls in the cocoa powder.
Keep them in the refrigerator.

Chocolate Yule Log

For this recipe, you will need:
1 large can of 'crme de marrons'
(Chestnut Spread)
1 bar of chocolate
1 small pat of butter
chantilly cream
decorative items

Mix together the chestnut cream and the

softened butter.
Ask an adult to melt the chocolate, together
with a spoonful of water, on a low heat.
Mix the chestnut cream into the melted
chocolate. Pour onto aluminum foil and make a
roll.
Leave to cool for at least 4 hours in the
refrigerator. Decorate the Yule log with chantilly
cream and small, festive decorations.

Mrs. Smith is feeling a little sad. This year, shes

going to be on her own for Christmas. Her
daughter and grandchildren live too far away
from her to come and stay.
Too bad! That wont stop Mrs. Smith from
cooking herself up a fine meal!
But the woods wet and the fire wont light. To
cheer herself up, Mrs. Smith serves herself a
glass of milk. The cat leaps at it and knocks the
glass over. Mrs. Smith trips, falls and twists her
little finger. Just nothing is going right today!
Mrs. Smith feels rather down.

Seated in her armchair, she closes her

eyes and in her imagination, she sees
her daughter again, with her golden,
curly hair. When she was very small, she
used to tickle her ear and whisper: "I love
you mummy!" to her.
Those were such happy times, back
then! Mrs. Smith dozes off, dreaming of
her. She sleeps so soundly that she
doesnt even hear the strange sounds
that suddenly echo around his home.
Theres scurrying and hurrying, slipping
and sliding, creaking... then whispers...

all of a sudden, Mrs. Smith opens her eyes. A delicious

smell wafts round her nose. But even more amazing
things are to come!
All around her, its just like in a fairytale: a fire is
crackling merrily in the hearth, her overcoat has been
mended, the Christmas tree decorated and...
Mrs. Smith hasnt even the time to work out whats
happening, because through the window she sees her
dear, sweet grandchildren:
"Were here! Were all here! We love you, Grandmother!"
THE END
Back to Christmas Stories

The Tradition of Mistletoe at

Christmas

Mistletoe is a plant that grows on willow and apple trees (and in garden centres!). The
tradition of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient Druids. It is
supposed to possess mystical powers which bring good luck to the household and
wards off evil spirits. It was also used as a sign of love and friendship in Norse
mythology and that's where the custom of kissing under Mistletoe comes from.
When the first Christians came to Western Europe, some tried to ban the use of
Mistletoe as a decoration in Churches, but many still continued to use it! York Minster
Church in the UK used to hold a special Mistletoe Service in the winter, where wrong
doers in the city of York could come and be pardoned.
The custom of kissing under Mistletoe comes from England. The original custom was
that a berry was picked from the sprig of Mistletoe before the person could be kissed
and when all the berries had gone, there could be no more kissing!
The name mistletoe comes from two Anglo Saxon words 'Mistel' (which means dung)
and 'tan' (which means) twig or stick! So you could translate Mistletoe as 'poo on a
stick'!!! Not exactly romantic is it!

Mistletoe was also hung on the old English decoration the Kissing Bough.