Countdown to Christmas in Provence

It is Countdown to Christmas time! We started ours by visiting Marseille's Old Town just as the Christmas Market opened and beautiful festive illuminations brightened the Old Harbor. Now back home our annual Ghoulash Party needs to be prepared and between cookie baking, shopping for ingredients, and tree decorating I tried out two recipes: David Lebovitz' "Candied Almonds" which turned out absolutely fabulos although halfway through I thought it to be the perfect recipe to ruin my very best skillet. Which it didn't - but it was hard to keep faith....

Recipe No. 2 was very graciously shared by my friend Nana who had just returned from Marrakech where she had charmed it from her hotel's patisserie chef. If you want a chocolatey, not very sweet but oh so good festive treat that takes about 10 minutes to prepare (plus cooling time) let me know and I will post the recipe.

 

Christmas Market at the Vieux Port Marseille

 

 Festive Illumination at Marseille's Old Harbor

 My first batch of  Christmas Cookies

 Remember the Berlin "Ampelmännchen"?

They also come as cookie cutters 

Little Party giveaways

 

David Lebovitz' Candied Almonds -

 start innocently enough: cooking almonds in sugar and water...

 then, when you think "What a mess, this isn't working"....

 

 ...the sugar turns into a golden caramel to which flaky sea salt is added

for an almost decadently sinful taste

 Festive sweets: Moroccan Sesame, Almond and Chocolate Crunch