Wednesday 2 November 2011

A Christmas giveaway - Italian Christmas box from Mediterranean Direct (c/d 25 November 2011 NOW CLOSED)

Image credit - Mediterranean Direct

I was searching recently for an Italian hamper to send as a gift to my friend's 80th birthday, and was pleased to discover a company called Mediterranean Direct. My friend was delighted with her gift. She is quite a foodie and enjoys exploring new flavours.

Mediterranean Direct is a company specialising in Italian food and wine, their online store has a selection of over 500 foods from Italy, quite a choice. So many temptations!

As Christmas is rapidly approaching, I decided to do a pre-Christmas giveaway.
A winner will receive an Italian Christmas box.

A simple but tasty collection of sweet and savoury Italian goods presented in a decorative Christmas Box. A nice way to say thank you or Merry Christmas.
Handwrapped Mini-Panettone from Sicily with Christmas Toy (100g) - This is no ordinary Panettone and you will not find this quality in the supermarket. Fiasconaro follow traditional receipes including the use of delicious Sicilian fruit and a leavening process that ensures a light and moist texture. We think this is the best panettone we've ever tasted! On top of this it's beautifully wrapped and comes with a cute Christmas toy.
Cannellini Beans from Puglia (360g) - Canellini Beans are the traditional cooking ingredient for Le Cassoulet in France but they are loved in Italy all the same. Excellent in hearty tomato-based winter sauces but equally at home in chunky pasta or a salad drizzled with olive oil and black pepper. In short a great item for the store cupboard.
Classic Almond Cantuccini with extra Almonds from Tuscany in Gift Box (100g) - Produced at the Belli family biscottificio (biscuit factory) following traditional recipes. Signore Belli's rule is: No skimping on ingredients!. There are plenty of shortcuts producers can take but you won't find any of them here. Absolutely delicious! Serve with coffee or Vin Santo.
Arrabbiata(Spicy) Sauce (370g) - quality Italian tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil from Puglia and Calabrian chillis are used to make this tasty and spicy Arrabbiata sauce. Perfect for serving with Penne pasta on its own or can be used as a base, e.g. add tuna or salami.
Penne Rigate Pasta (500g) - a classic and popular Italian pasta translated as grooved quills because of their diagonally cut ends. It binds and holds the sauces in its ridges. Perfect partner for the aforementioned Arrabbiata.
Organic Conchiglie Pasta (500g) - these organic pasta shells are made from high qulaity durum wheat from the Montebello organic farm in Umbria. They will also work well the Arrabbiata as the sauce fills the shells. The pasta is dried slowly at low temperatures to keep all its nutrients and goodness.

I will have a delivery arranged straight to the winner.
To be entered in the draw please follow two simple steps:
1. Answer the question
2. Leave a comment on any other post.
Only people who will do both steps will be entered in the draw. I love reading comments, so please indulge me, you can choose any old-er post to leave a comment.

You do not have to follow my blog to be entered in the draw. If you decide to follow my blog, I will be thrilled, of course.

And the question is: what are your family Christmas traditions? If you do not have any particular Christmas traditions, tell me what do you love most about Christmas.

P.S. this is not a sponsored post, I will pay for the little hamper myself.

Good luck, everyone! The draw will be closed on 25 November, in good time for it to be delivered to the winner's address before Christmas.

___________________________________________________________________________________

The day has arrived to pick the winner of the giveaway. My baby boy is 16 months old today, not a baby anymore. I celebrate this event by giving away a little Christmas gift that I know I would have enjoyed myself.
First of all, I would like to thank everyone who entered and left comments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about your family traditions, some made me smile, some made me think that I would like to introduce something similar in my family, so thanks again for all ideas and suggestions!

Now back to business. Going back to my draw, I asked people to leave two comments to be entered in the draw (one about Christmas, and another comment on any other post. I hoped it was clear enough from my post that this would be a requirement for the entry. Sadly, about a quarter of all entrants only left one comment. To be fair to all those who did both steps, I made a long list of everyone who commented and ticked off those who did two steps, and their names were put in the Raffleking). I did not make any judging on the merit of comments, all those who qualified, were entered.

And the winner is.... please a round of applause

ASPIE IN THE FAMILY


I will get in touch with you regarding your details and will pass them onto the Mediterranean Direct company to send your prize. I hope you will enjoy the Italian treats.

Thanks again to all the entrants! And watch this space. I will be doing another giveaway in January.

132 comments:

  1. We like homemade Christmas cake.Scented mixes of Cinnamon,Orange and Clove oil in little radiator burners infusing the home with their scent.
    As well as the tree, some real ivy cut from outside, I love the fresh green smell.
    If there is snow outside, getting the first footprint on it!

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  2. What a lovely prize Galina! I guess our christmas is not very traditional due to different shifts being worked but when we do get to be together I love to dress the table in a special way and enjoy a meal together with lots of chat and stories afterwards.

    Penny

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  3. This a very generous competition Galina; thankyou for organising it. I have a few Christmas traditions but our most special one is the christmas tree. Most of our decorations are things our children have made over the years from toddlerhood upwards. Whilst the tree is a hotchpotch of colour, our childrens decorations bring us a lot of lovely memories. Deb at http://www.aspieinthefamily.com

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  4. My favorite part of Christmas is the stocking. I love all of the little surprises waiting inside.

    I'm already following you of course :)

    Italian is my favorite!

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  5. what a lovely give away Galina, thank you.
    We all get up an start opening our presents at the crack of dawn (and with 2 teenagers in bed with us that is no mean feat - perhaps this year we ill wait until we get up!)After breakfast we visit the cemetery with Christmas wreaths and flowers then go to my parents and exchange presents. Over the course of Christmas day and Boxing day we meet up with my brother and SIL, niece and her family and nephew and his family for the children to exchange gifts. Then at some stage we visit my husbands siblings for yet more gift exchanges... so I guess you could say that our Christmas is very much based around the family - oh and food. DH always cooks the Christmas dinner.

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  6. just have the family round every year for dinner usually,great giveaway

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  7. My husband's family tradition is to eat a special dinner in the evening of christmas day. It includes cold roast beef, gammon and turkey along with lots of crudites and finger foods. I LOVE IT.

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  8. Granmother's own recipe Christmas rice cake is a much loved tradition.

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  9. We don't have a family tradition but my favourite part of Christmas is decorating the tree, it reminds me of my nan as it's something we would always do together when I was little.

    (forceofnature@hotmail.co.uk)

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  10. I love everything about Christmas as soon as it hits december I want to put the tree up I am very particular about the decorations it takes me hours and has to be perfect, I have a scented christmas candle in the box of decorations so when I put them up the whole room smells of cranberry and spice :)

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  11. Christmas stockings are always opened in mummy and daddy's bed. I used to go in with my parents when I was a child and now ours always come in with us to do their stockings. It's one of my favourite parts of Christmas.

    I've commented on the Benvenuto a SEVI! wooden toys post (as Shnorlick I think) and I'm following you on GFC as Ami Pilbrow too.

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  12. Fab prize.............Christmas tradition my husband cooks the dinner :)

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  13. We all have new pyjamas to wear on Christmas Eve so we all go to bed feeling nice,plus we all look good on the morning photos opening presents

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  14. Your very generous Galina - two competitions in one month! I had to think long and hard about this question, then remembered I had written a post about it a couple of years ago
    http://allotment2kitchen.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-christmas-past.html

    The one honest answer - hadn on heart, as family are far away and we cannot be with them for the seasonal holidays - we always, always telephoen and wish everyone, and I mean every one - to the little ones a Happy Happy Christmas.

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  15. we always make chocolate truffles for santa!

    i have commented on am no longer an Abel & Cole virgin

    @ashlallan

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  16. I have commented on your Benvenuto a SEVI! post and am following.

    At my parents the tradition is to even as adults put a present on the end of the bed and me and my mother would have a cup of tea in the conservatory.

    Now, as an adult we do not have any particular tradition. We just have the day together and watch a load of films.

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  17. i always put my tree up and cook a turkey

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  18. I commented on "The Scream (pumpkin and marshmallow bake" Looks great!

    We don't really have any traditions, but this year I would like to start some, even if its just a simple one, perhaps board games and egg nog on Christmas eve.

    @robynlclarke

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  19. We don't have any traditions but what I most love is seeing my son Samuel open his presents and going Oh I really wanted that.

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  20. What a very kind thing to offer Galina!

    Christmas here begins with mulled wine and carols playing on Christmas eve. Now that I have a real fire I plan to roast chestnuts too. Christmas day is usually a big jolly family affair, which as my dining room is being decorated, I hope to host this year! I always roast a ham too and serve it with warm spiced peaches - delicious! Lana x

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  21. What a very kind thing to offer Galina!

    Christmas here starts with mulled wine and carols playing on Christmas eve. As I now have a real fire I plan to roast chestnuts too! Christmas day is usually a big jolly family affair and as my dining room is being decorated, I plan to host it this year. I always roast a ham too and serve it with warm spiced peaches, which has become a family tradition too now as everyone loves them!

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  22. We go for a walk on Christmas Morning, and see the people in fancy dress running into the sea for charity! We always have a stocking and a chocolate advent calender and put up the tree together Thanks for running this sounds lovely xxx
    Mellissa Williams
    @melandjake99 on twitter

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  23. When the children were small we started having our first main Christmas meal by candlelight (and the lights of the Christmas tree) on Christmas Eve so I could really enjoy Christmas Day without worrying about the turkey cooking. We still do this. It's lovely because there is still such a wonderful feeling of anticipation and we now would think it odd not to start our proper celebrations on Christmas Eve.

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  24. Sorry I should have added I am @beachrambler

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  25. Thank you for the lovely giveaway.

    On Christmas eve we always go to pick up the beef pie for christmas eve supper. We always go into town to pick up last minute extras. We always watch The Muppets Christmas carol and put stockings out at night. On Christmas day we open stcokings before going downstairs to open presents, we always put the christmas cd on. Bucks fizz and bacon butties make a great breakfast and we have a late dinner. I love Christmas and get so excited!!
    @green_day87

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  26. Every year, we let our children choose a Christmas decoration each for the tree. When they have their own homes, they will have all their own chosen Christmas decorations, and can start the tradition again with their own children.

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  27. I love the excitement and expectation before Christmas. And as this Christmas is my baby's first, there will be even more of it.

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  28. What a fab prize. We have smoked salmon and bucks fizz for breakfast on Christmas day then spend the day with family. My little boy is 18 months so this year is the year to start out own little family traditions, starting with new PJs on Christmas eve

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  29. I was bought up as a Jehovahs Witness and never got to celebrate Christmas, I left when my eldest ones were still little and turned into Mrs Christas!! Tree up on December 1st, christmas loo and kitchen roll, every room decorated in some way, christmas scented candles fill the house with amazing smells and atmosphere, we bake, we make gingerbread houses, home-made paper chains, you name it, we embrace it (and probably wrap it in brown paper and coloured rafia!!) Twenty years on, and christmas is still just as special and eagerly awaited, with seven children and lots of freinds, its my favourite time of year! Ho Ho Ho!!

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  30. A lovely giveaway, thank you! I hope Santa will be good to you too.
    .. my personal tradition is to unwrap one of my presents under the tree late at night before Christmas and wrap it back up before xmas day! I cam from a family of Jehovah s Witnesses too, go figure?... :)

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  31. forgot to add ..Have commented on your Pasta,courgette and shrimp recipe!

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  32. Our traditions keep changing because the family keeps changing but we always have my brother over, I always say dinner will be at one and it never, never is - we're lucky if it's on the table by three! And we don't have Xmas Pudding, we have tiramisu.

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  33. commented on Avocado and cashew nuts salad post - thanks for a great comp x

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  34. one funny tradition that we had every year was to have hot mince pies for breakfast on Christmas Morning, it was funny because non of us liked mince pies, in fact some of us loathed them, but we had to have them just because we always had! each year we would try to have the smallest ones possible!

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  35. We always buy new PJs to wear on Christmas day, commented on 'Bonding'

    @littleboo_21
    http://boorootiggertoo.blogspot.com/

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  36. Our family tradition(is a sad one, sorry) was to go to my stepdad's mum's house on Boxing day. She was a little angry woman who everyone called Morg and she always did table presents which are something smaller than a placemat to open at the table between dinner and pudding and everyone got one, even people she didn't know were coming because Morg was actually magic. A few years ago, just before Christmas, Morg left us. Now I do table presents each year and there's always one for Morg which we hang on the tree as a decoration and then save in a box for the next year. It sounds like a sad story but it's not because having that last present left means we have to talk about Morg and remember her other family tradition which was to set the Christmas pudding alight...along with the tablecloth. And the oven mitt. Every single time.

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  37. Oh! And I commented(whilst drooling a little- sorry) on our marshmallow pumpkin bake

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  38. Lovely prize!! Our only tradition is that my husband begins cooking christmas dinner with a glass of champagne and usually I take over and dish out as he's a little 'merry' by the time its ready!!

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  39. We let the children open their stockings in their bed, so we get a bit of a lie in. They open their presents as soon as we all go downstairs. We always have turkey and all the trimmings for dinner. Play with presents for the rest of the day, and have turkey sandwiches.

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  40. This hamper looks great, I love trying new food.
    Some of the traditions we do in our house are we leave out a mince pie & sherry for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph, the kids have a stocking at the end of their bed, and I always put a satsuma in with the toys, my mum used to do the same when I was little. After dinner, we play with the presents and play games in the evening with loads of nibbles.

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  41. xmas tradition is wrestling the presents off the dog as she tries to unwrap them

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  42. I asked my son the same question a couple of days ago and he said he cant wait until we can get all our blankets and pillows and sleep in the lounge on the floor and watch tv and eat chocolate with the lights off and just the Tree lights and tv on..... i cant wait!

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  43. I have commented on the The Scream (pumpkin and marshmallow bake)post.

    Our tradition is chocolate spread from the jar with a spoon for breakfast and then we eat our big dinner throughout the day, starter at lunch, main course at dinner and dessert at supper time!

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  44. my tradition is to prepare all the veg on xmas eve whilst listening to carols and christmas songs on the radio, a glass of wine helps things along. this leaves xmas day free to spend with the family and not alone in the kitchen

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  45. Our tradition is to go get up early to have our stockings - all the family sitting on the bed - happy days

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  46. Our Christmases have always been international.
    I grew up in a b&b, surrounded by foreigners and students who occasionally couldn't fly home due to Scottish weather and organising things too late.
    We ate Mostarda, Pannetone, Lomo, Turron, Crianza, Glog and lots of other European treats while my dad played fiddle, we danced and everyone cried down the phone to their parents!

    Since those early christmases we were always sent things by the students we kept in touch with.
    Now that my parents are gone and this is our first Christmas alone as a new family I plan to carry that tradition on.

    Thanks for such a lovely giveaway.

    Kx

    I left a comment on your quince jam recipe!

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  47. Ooo yummy. Our family traditions are mainly based around found and lots of it LOL. If you can walk away from the lunch table without waddling then you got it wrong!

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  48. We all have to have new pyjamas that we wear on Christmas Eve

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  49. Early morning present opening! We have a photo of my sister and I in our parents bed on Christmas morning nearly 40 years ago, with our Christmas stockings, and the bedside clock reads 4.30am! My poor mother........... I think I love Christmas Eve even more than Christmas Day - Carols from Kings while making a last batch of mince pies, friends dropping in with presents and staying for a glass of wine and a pie, and the kid's anticipation.

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  50. We are very traditional in my family. I read my three girls "twas the night before christmas" xmas eve night and they hang their stockings at the bottom of their beds. Me and the other half then pack all the pressies till about 3 in the morning, sometimes later. In the morning the girls wake up before us and open their stockings and they always have a christmas outfit in there that they put on before coming to wake us up. We then go downstairs open some pressies before putting the turkey on.. Sometime after that we open the rest. We then have a big turkey roast and pull crackers etc. After lunch the girls kids play with their pressies adn me and my partner have a few drinks and watch xmas tv. ;)

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  51. Our tradition involves making up Goan christmas sweets in the run up, various delicacies involving coconut pastries, chick pea flour sweet delights, cakes and cookies. I cannot wait for this years haul!

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  52. I started a new tradition when BabyMibs got to the age of two, I spend Christmas Eve when he is sound asleep hiding his presents all over the home, and it takes him quite some time to find them all, which makes for an entertaining and fun day for us!

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  53. On Christmas eve I like to sit and stick gloves into oranges in nice patterns. It makes the whole house smell very Christmasy (if that is even a word LOL).

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  54. My Christmas tradition varies depending o which year it is. Every other year I go to my sister's house and do the very traditional turkey dinner, champagne in the morning (on the beach!), speaking to family on the phone etc. The other years, I spend Christmas at home with my cats and love every minute. Peace and quiet, no-one demanding, and I can choose what to eat. I love Christmas dinner but when I'm on my own I try to mix it up and cook a dish from another country in addition to turkey etc. My friend comes over once he's finished his family Christmas and we eat, drink and watch movies. Perfect.
    Thanks for running this comp, very generous of you!

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  55. Oh and I'm following you too cause you have some great posts and recipes on here

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  56. Sorry, I'm rubbish at this, I've commented on your quince recipe. I'm @athenajm on twitter

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  57. Commented on http://chezmaximka.blogspot.com/2011/11/scream-pumpkin-and-marshmallow-bake.html#comment-form

    @green_day87

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  58. Our family tradition is to always go and see my grandma in the morning, literally all my cousins, aunts and uncles go, we don't stay long but its nice to see everyone briefly on christmas morning.
    @vickyd4v3

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  59. Chritmas tradition - The wjole family gather at my house, after lunch the 6 grand children perform a play. This year their ages range from 19 to 15. Last year there was a puppet show where Mr Dinosaur was in charge!
    This year the children have all been plotting on face book- from what I gather it has a 'muppet' theme from all the props that are gathering in the cupboard under the stairs.
    I think the lyrics to the Muppets theme tune have been altered to include all family members. Hopefully we will not need an orchestra of penguins.. if so I hope someone lets me know in advance so that I can cater for their dietary requirements!!!
    @kohsamuirosie on twitter

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  60. I commented here http://chezmaximka.blogspot.com/2011/11/avocado-and-cashews-salad.html#comment-form and shared on facebook too. Definately on the menu this Christmas thankyou
    @kohsamuirosie on twitter

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  61. Our Christmas tradition is to go to the cinema on Christmas eve. We always pick the last showing of the night so that the doors are locked as we come out of the cinema, we then take the kids for burger and then its hom and the kids are straight to bed.

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  62. awww thats just so lovely...true spirit of christmas from you. My favourite family tradition is (funnily enough) eating a special breakfast. We always have the same thing, grapefruit, boiled eggs with soldiers and toast. Very simple, but not our normal fare. So very special and a way to set up the day so we don't want lunch too early!

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  63. I've posted on your quince jam thread

    http://chezmaximka.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-great-grandmas-quince-jam-recipe.html#comment-form

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  64. I posted a comment on your shrimp receipe but I haven't done this before and was confused by the 'select profile' - hopefully I did it correctly.
    Our Christmas tradition is to hibernate! We work too hard and tend to use Christmas as a catch up time. Laze in bed, watch TV and NO cooking (I cook every day, this is my day off).

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  65. Thanks for the giveaway
    In recent years we have had to have a rethink on the traditions and expectations we have all held. We are now much more thrifty, but I have to say much happy and fulfilled. We do Secret Santa for adults and children, setting a value on pressies. Each family contributes to the food for Christmas day. We make tags and cards, our own candles and pick holly and ivy from the lane near our house, we also use the pine cones we have collected in the Autumn. Some of my best buys have been from the £1 type shops, so I guess our new Christmas tradition is "Thrift" xx
    @chocolateonemse

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  66. I have commented on Our Meg and Mog pumpkin
    @chocolateonemse

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  67. We love to stay home and always have stockings irrespective of the age of family members coming to stay. We start the morning with a buck's fizz and those not involved in cooking activities take the dogs for a lovely long Christmas walk! x

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  68. Thanks for running such a generous competition! Our only family tradition is the traditional battle (between my Dad and I) over which one of us gets to eat the last helping of my Mum's incredibly delicious boozy trifle!

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  69. My favourite tradition is decorating the tree on Christmas Eve.
    Have commented on Avocado and cashew nuts salad
    @sophiejanem

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  70. Lovely prize. Our little boy had his first Christmas last year so we are building our little family's traditions. I love everything about Christmas and so enjoyed taking him to choose our Christmas Tree last year. We will definitely be doing this every year. I follow using GFC and have commented on Abel & Cole Box II

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  71. We ALWAYS have to have a bacon sandwich in the morning, and I always make some delicious jam tarts on Christmas Eve!

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  72. As I am German, we always put the Christmas try up on the morning of Christmas Eve. We all help decorate it and mess about with tinsel...

    @caro_mad

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  73. What a gorgeous giveaway! Our tradition is mulled wine on Christmas Eve - it's warming and helps you sleep!

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  74. For me - getting ready for Christmas is a very creative period. I just love advent, how we get prepared during the 4 weeks. as a tradition, I do our own wreath for the door every year and one for the table with 4 candles on it. Every advent Sunday we lit one more candle, until Christmas when all 4 candles are lit. I also love baking and always decorate some special figurines for the tree. This is also the time when I sew some new tre decorations. Last year I've done quite a few (robin birds, the sign - Merry Christmas and little trees), this year I think I'll do angels. It's also a tradition in our home that hubby does the Xmas lunch, a lovly slow cooked chicken roast with all the trimmings. it's absolutely delicious!!!!!

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  75. What lovely traditions people have, I love the Morg story..so lovely this will be the first year that my son is big enough to have an understanding of Christmas and I can't wait and I love traditions so we will be starting some this year, I work with people who are less fortunate and I think it is important that my son learns to give as well as receive so we will be wrapping a special present for a family who have very little at Christmas, we will also be leaving a mince pie and Boozy drink for Father Christmas and carrots for the reindeer, I love going to Church on Christmas Eve there is a beautiful service near me and the Choir's beautiful singing sends tingles down my spine and I am looking forward to doing it all with my son who is a Christmas miracle after ten years of fertility treatment and my family.

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  76. We always have a big roast turkey with all the trimmings!
    I have commented on 'Avocado and cashew nuts salad'.
    Following with GFC as M.
    @maisietoo

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  77. I've commented on Pear, Chocolate and Praline cake from Sponge (review).
    We always play cards for pennies whilst listening to cheesy Xmas music & eating Quality Street & Kettle Chips on Christmas Eve.
    @Isis1981uk

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  78. When we were little me and my brothers would sing a christmas carol outside of the living room door on christmas morning to let santa know it was time to go back up the chimney! That way when we went in he had left the presents and disappeared! Magic... (I have also commented on the avocado salad post)

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  79. We have a family Birthday on Christmas Eve so are Christmas really starts with a huge family get together on Christmas Eve afternoon. This has been going now for over thirty years and it's wonderful to see each generation of children getting so excited. It makes a perfect start to Christmas.

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  80. We have shortbread for breakfast then we play games and I cook a traditional Christmas dinner then the usual tradition of the men falling asleep lol

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  81. We have shortbread biscuits and a cup of tea when we wake up but no breakfast saving ourselves for lunch
    My brother hates Christmas pudding so always has to have raspberries and we have to have sprouts as it's not a proper dinner with out them
    The hilight of the evening is always indoor fireworks lots of smoke and the occasional flash - the same every year but we always have to have them - my nieces aged 19 and 21 insist as they have grown up with them

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  82. A very nice giveaway. The vegetarians among us like to have a salad!

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  83. We have lots of quirky family traditions, but we like cheese served with our christmas cake @ali991

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  84. i'm no great fan of xmas. what i do like are the deserted streets and the feeling of everything being quiet outside

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  85. We always have pumpkin ravioli on Christmas Eve and open one present each x

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  86. We dont go nowhere on christmas day,Its our time together
    I also dont go to any shops on boxing day as I think they should all stay closed for a couple of days so everyone can spend quality time together

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  87. We have started to make an iced biscuit advent calendar

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  88. Our family have the tradition of no presents until after lunch! However now we have children of our own I'm not sure if it'll last!

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  89. I have also commented on the Baby Christmas CD post!

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  90. Having moved house and living alone, this would be a great prize to take along to my daughters as a Thank you for having me, and allowing me to join in all your Christmas traditions.

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  91. Really love this, would give it to my sister who has just moved into her new flat for xmas.

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  92. Our Families Christmas tradition is the got our big feathery duvets down into our living room, light a roaring fire and watch fairytales all day ... after having raided the stocking first of course... accompanied by copious portions of cinnamon flavoured Gluewein and homemade cookies :-) until it is time to put the goose in the oven which will be served around 5 pm with dumplings and red cabbage... ohh yum

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  93. as im a shift worker xmas is a little different every year ,my favourite bit is all the preparation and atmosphere before xmas day,such a lovely giveaway

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  94. Being with family, but one of the other things I really enjoy is the lack of traffic on the roads when you are out walking.

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  95. I've commented on your post about Baby Sing Christmas CD.
    Our family christmas tradition is to make a special family evening around the visit to the switch on of the Christmas lights in our local town centre. The town always have a few charity stalls, a few kiddy rides and of course Santa arrives to switch on the lights.
    We have been taking Piper to this ever since her first Christmas with us and now we will take Daisy too!
    We meet up with the rest of the family so there is a big group of mummy, daddy, grandma, grumpsie, aunties and any friends who want to attend. Afte rspending a couple of hours in town we come home, put on a christmas CD, and have jacket potatoes, soup and hot dogs while working out our visiting rota for christmas Day and Boxing Day. @piperanddaisy

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  96. We always watch Santa Claus - the movie on Christmas Eve. I love seeing my niece open her presents the best :)

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  97. Not really any traditions now that all the family have flown the nest. What I love about Christmas now, is that I can spend the day with my husband alone together, its nice to have our time now.

    Also commented on the Dan Lepard's sour cream chocolate cake post

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  98. Our Christmas tradition was that we were never allowed to open the Christmas sweets until Christmas Eve!!

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  99. We make our own Christmas cake every year. I have just baked this years on Sunday and put it in the tin to mature.

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  100. I have also commented on Pear, Chocolate and Praline cake from Sponge Review.

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  101. We have a tiny stocking on the tree and we can have a small present on Christmas eve @jessws2011

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  102. Just eating and drink from the morning till day after.

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  103. We decorate sugar cookies together around the holiday season.

    I left a comment on Dan Lepard's sour cream chocolate cake.

    eclairre(at)ymail(dot)com

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  104. we always have the traditional turkey and trimmings but to satisfy our indian culture we also have a pot of lamb curry, rice and dahl.
    Its a huge feast that we all love.

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  105. Our family tradition is trying to stop Uncle Erasmus from getting too drunk.

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  106. We open extended family presents on Christmas Eve

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  107. we always have new pj's and open one present at midnight

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  108. commented on another post but im not sure it worked

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  109. Every year my auntie dresses up as Santa and pretends to have forgotten some presents. None of the 7 children have ever guessed it was her.
    paulaburnside@aol.com

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  110. we have a family get-together on boxing day at my parents. all of our extended family turn-up. its the one day of the year we all see each other.

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  111. Well, you only have to do something once in our family for it to become a tradition. Christmas Eve starts with a Chinese meal and Maltesers. The kids, all grown up, get a pillow case of goodies, many themselves have become traditions, like a football etc. All the foods are our family traditions - home made bread etc...

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  112. On christmas morning, the kids come and wake us up so that we can all walk downstairs in procession(oldest to youngest). Then my other half peeps round the door to the lounge and says 'Back to bed - he hasn't been yet' and all the kids shout 'He has, he has' and start jostling to be the first through the door.

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  113. I always bake a cheescake and roast a turkey.

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  114. Small breakfast, large main meal, and lots of silly games.

    Commented on the quince jam.

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  115. Trying to go on hoilday and spend christmas with the family somewhere nice and warm!

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  116. we always go to the panto the saturday before christmas - just love it - oh yes we do!!!

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  117. Our family tradition is to have fish for dinner on Christmas Eve evening. It stems from my mother's family and, for me, Christmas is not Christmas without fish in some form on Christmas Eve x

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  118. making a christmas cake with the kids

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  119. Not the usual Christmas tradition but at 6.59pm the phone gets turned off and the curtains pulled. - well The Dr will be on in a minute

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  120. We always go to the eldest member of the family's house and have a huge turkey dinner and exchange gifts. The adults get merry and the kids have fun and pass out from excitement!

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  121. our family tradition is literally just being together and having a nice family day, yummy meal and relaxing evening

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  122. I've commented on the beetroot and prune salad post

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  123. Commented on More adventures with Abel & Cole (box III)

    Our Christmas tradition is Christmas II where we recreate Christmas faithfully with our friends, not our inlaws! Full dinner, ignore the Queen's speech, presents, the works! This is the fifth year we'll do it.

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  124. I make up Christmas stockings for all close relatives. We do a lot of visiting on Christmas Eve and while my mini-whirlwind (2 yr old son) distracts everyone, I have a merry old time hiding surprise stockings to be found on Christmas morning. My 75 year old mother in law cried that first year, it was the first Christmas stocking she'd ever had. It really gets us in the Christmas spirit and is a lot of fun to organise.

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  125. we open all our friends gifts on christmas eve and then christmas morning is all about family :)

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  126. Hi, my favourite thing about Christmas is being with my friends and family together. x
    @compingstar

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  127. I've commented on Dan Lepard's sour cream chocolate cake.
    @compingstar

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  128. The night before I always do "santa's footprints" on the carpet near the fire.

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  129. On Christmas Eve, it is traditional in my family to place a present or presents for the youngest children on our doorstep. After bathtime, parents hold a child up to a window where we scan the sky for a sighting of Santa and his reindeer passing overhead on the first stage of his long journey. It's so exciting when someone spots him racing by at the speed of light. Always, Santa's sack is too full so some presents fall off and land on the doorstep. The child is enthralled when the front door is opened and a present awaits! This 'special' present keeps them amused and distracted long enough for sleepy time to take over.

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  130. I've commented on 'All the colours of Ella's Kitchen Rainbow'

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  131. Our family tradition is to simply eat, drik & be merry.

    Ive commented on the sixteen post

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