We spend the time before Christmas rushing, looking for things, cleaning and cooking. Sometimes, even though we really don't want it to be, it can be irritating and unpleasant. But when the emotions subside, we just need to relax, rest and drink in the Christmas atmosphere. We like then to light up the fireplace and some candles and drink spicy mulled wine. It is so nice to sit back in an armchair and warm our hands with a warm, aromatic cup of wine. Mulled wine is an obligatory element of our Christmas menu. Sometimes we prepare it also when the autumn-winter weather takes its toll.

Ingredients
750l of dry red wine
a piece of cinnamon
a couple of cardamoms
a couple of cloves
2 star anises
50ml of ginger syrup
50ml or raspberry syrup
a couple of orange slices
2-3 tablespoons of maple syrup (optional)

Today I would like to share with you the recipe for something that is mega easy but extraordinary at the same time. I prepared this Christmas tree with French pastry for my children on 6 December. Santa Claus provided the presents and I prepared something sweet for afternoon tea. I'm sure that before Christmas I will make it more than once. If you decide to prepare it for Christmas, your guests will be delighted.

You really only need a few common ingredients and after half an hour you can enjoy a yummy and fairly sweet Christmas dessert. You may prepare the stuffing with chocolate and nuts, and this is the version I chose. Poppy seed or fruit stuffing would also be excellent.

Ingredients
2 packs of chilled French pastry
60g of chocolate
2 fistfuls of chopped nuts
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
3 tablespoons of milk

I can't say that we like herrings the most out of all sweet things, because we like great desserts, yummy cakes and ice creams. But most people love herrings. Only my son is an exception. We like all dishes with herrings: herrings in oil, in vinegar, fried, with onion, plums and cream sauce. Our last hit was a lightly seasoned herring sandwich with crunchy vegetables in a fresh roll.

Today I would like to share with you the recipe for herrings in a mustard sauce. Maybe somebody will be interested and will make it for Christmas Eve supper. Prepare this dish the day before, because you should leave it to rest in the fridge before serving. However, it tastes excellent if you eat it immediately after preparing it.

Ingredients:
400g of herring pieces
3 tablespoons of French mustard
3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
2 tablespoons of 18% cream
3 tablespoons of maple syrup
half an onion
half a chili pepper

Every year just after All Saints' Day, Christmas decorations appear in the shops and the salespeople try to convince us that we should start buying gifts immediately. I think that every year this Christmas fever begins a bit earlier. Regardless of the shopping madness, the nearer we get to Christmas the more we want noodles with cabbage and mushrooms, herrings or poppyseed cake.

In December my kitchen smells of spicy seasoning. I often make dishes with cranberries. I often prepare sweet and sour kissel or I add fruit mousse to desserts. Today I would like to share with you the recipe for a swift cake with cranberries. It is excellent, has a mild flavour, and my children asked me to prepare it again soon.

Ingredients
200g of flour
100g of potato flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
half a teaspoon of baking soda
250g of butter
150g of brown sugar
3 eggs
150g of cranberries

"It was so yummy" said my daughter, putting her plate into the dishwasher. I think my daughter is growing up, because a few months ago she didn't even want to look at my favourite dinner salad. Additionally, she used to turn her nose up at kale and nuts. When my son stops grizzling at every dinner, I will announce more Christmas miracles.

I have to give her her due; the salad was really excellent: bulgur, kale, nuts, pomegranate, red onion and a spicy sweet and sour dip. I recommend this salad as a dish on its own, but it may also be part of a main course. It may be served hot or cold.

Ingredients:
4 big kale leaves
100g of bulgur
half a pomegranate
2 fistfuls of nuts
1 small red onion
1 lemon
chili pepper
2 tablespoons of olive oil
3 tablespoons of maple syrup