{Magnolia Blossoms on December 30}

Let's try if my FeedBurner will pick this post up again.

We saw at breakfast that our Japanese Magnolia, Magnolia x soulangeana blooming!
CRAZY... end of December and usually they bloom on my Mom's Birthday, February 12...

It has been raining on and off today and most petals were on the ground already...
This is done with my iPhone 6 Plus, not a quality photo but showing the blossoms!

To the left, most petals had rained off...

So much rain and still the sky looking very pregnant!

Blessings to all people that suffered from this extreme weather!
We can't complain too much here.

Wishing my Readers a Happy New Year!

{Our Christmas Eve Dinner at Ristorante da Maria}

Sorry for posting this late but since December 20, my FeedBurner was not working.

Rather annoying but nothing what I tried, pinging or whatever, worked...
Suddenly it was just back!
And off again after posting this... Arrrgggh.

So a belated post about our Christmas Eve Dinner at Dublin Farm Come Home To The Country at Ristorante da Maria.

Here we are in front of the Christmas tree with a Hot Punch.
There was a pianist who played during the 5-course dinner.

We have had heavy rain with flood warnings and unusual warm weather for Christmas.
Pieter's suit got a bit wet from getting out of the car to the restaurant...

My coat is on the coat rack...
Wearing my new cropped top in caviar from Neiman Marcus Last Call but to me it just is black color.

On the driveway before we left for Christmas Eve Mass.
We had donated a Poinsettia in loving memory of Mom and my Angel Sister Mariet

First Christmas without Mom... but it feels special for having one more Angel that we know by name!

My skirt is from Escada, printed hair calf and I've cut it shorter as it was below the knee and rather frumpy looking that way.
Panty hose are DIM PARIS which I bought in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Pumps are Chanel from Last Call at Sawgrass Mills, Florida.

Pieter's suit is from Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH in Woodbury Common Premium Outlet.

We both opted for the Fish; Red Snapper Fillet.

Appetizer: Potatoes au gratin with smoked salmon...

This was SO YUMMY!
First dish: Ravioli stuffed with Porcini mushrooms, topped with a 4-cheese sauce, white truffle oil, Parmesan and fresh herbs.

Our Fish Entrée: Red Snapper Fillet cooked in foil with a Puttanesca sauce.

Lime Sorbet

Strawberry Ice Cream Bomb with fresh berries and starfruit on strawberry coulis.
That was really heavenly!
Lady Chef Maria is the best in our region and she makes everything fresh and from scratch!
Don't you love Pieter's Espresso cup?!
We had a very joyful Christmas Eve, just the two of us.
Hope yours was likewise pleasant, or your Christmas Brunch, Dinner whatever your way of celebrating was.

{Making Healthy Chocolates}

If you have to follow a strict diet, most store bought chocolates are either too sweet or contain cream or other things you try avoid eating.

Well, that makes you have to make your own Healthy Chocolates!

So here we go, with two pound tablets of 72% dark chocolate from Trader Joe's, placed in a double boiler, Au Bain Marie. The lowest part is filled with some water and remember; only melting the chocolate NOT boiling it!

It is a messy job so I always make large batches at once.

This time I'd boiled some fresh cranberries first and set them aside.

Later I will blend in this flaked unsweetened coconut, again from Trader Joe's. 

To sweeten it up a bit I use Agave Nectar and also add some healthy Chia seeds and Lecithin Granules.

In the batch above, I added Pomegranate Seeds that I bought at Costco.

You just have to feel for yourself, depending on what you are using, if you also want to add some Almond Meal to give it some body. It should however be rather smooth!

Next I will scoop the chocolate into these Flexipan molds.

For the USA this link to Demarle at Home will show you some items.

I've bought mine mostly in France...

Also they have a FB Page: Demarle at Home

 This is slightly smaller in diameter and I filled another tray in heart shapes.

Each such Flexipan mold is being placed on an aluminum tray.

Using my Rösle spatula for filling the molds.

Covering up with a sheet of Press'n Seal that doesn't stick.

That way you kind of smooth them out.

This is the one I use...

After they have hardened up inside the refrigerator, this is how they look like...

For gift giving you can use some special cellophane bags with a gold fastener.

This is the end product and it tastes good with a coffee or tea!

All healthy ingredients but rather messy for creating...

Do you make your own chocolates as well?