Love Sweets Bake

Merry Christmas. Hope you are having a great day with your family and loved ones. 

Merry Christmas. I hope you are having a great time with your family and loved ones. 💜

When I first tried Melomakarona was the first Christmas that I had in Greece. They are Christmas desserts that are very popular in Greece. I'm not a big fan of honey but they taste delicious and honey makes them better. Ingredients for Melomakarona 150 g fine semolina 550 g flour 1/2 tbsp baking powder 100 g orange juice 100 g sugar 1 tbsp cognac 1 tbsp powered cinnamon 1/3 Tsp nutmeg 1/3 clove 1/2 baking soda 1 vanilla extract 90 g water 125g olive oil 125 g vegetables oil 50 honey Zest of an orange Ingredients for syrup 600 sugar 300 g water 2 cinnamon stick 3 cloves 1 orange 180 g honey Ingredients to garnish 200 g chopped walnuts Step 1 We have to make the syrup first. In an bowl we add the ingredients except for honey. Boil for 4 minutes until the sugar dissolve and remove from the stove. Stir in the honey and let it cool. Step 2 In another bowl add semolina, flour and baking powder and mix well. Step 3 In another bowl add orange juice, cognac, sugar, the spices and mix well.

Candy cane take time and energy to make. They are not easy but can be made at home if you have the time and the equipment. You can make them any color you want. Ingredients 3 cup sugar 1 cup corn syrup 1/2 cup water 1 teaspoon peppermint extract 1 teaspoon food coloring any color you want Step 1 Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray and preheat the oven to 200 F. Step 2 Mix sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup of water in a saucepan in medium high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolve. Step 3 Put the remaining 1/4 cup of water in a bowl and use it to wet a brush. Use the brush to wash the crystals on the sides of the pan. Don't stir the syrup. When it boils put a thermometer. When the thermometer is 285 the candy has reached soft crack stage and removed it from heat. Step 4 After you move it from heat add the peppermint extract. And then put the half of the syrup into the baking sheet and place it on the preheat oven. Step 5 Stir food coloring in the remaining syrup and pour it

Christmas decorations this year are not the same as before. We are in lock down and this has affected ceremony of the events. This year the decorations are less but interesting. There are giant lights in different shapes and colors. You can find them everywhere in the town and every neighborhood has his own style. Is very sad that we can't celebrate it like before in a crowded place but is better to be careful about it. I know that people want to celebrate and have fun but we have to be patient and let's have a good time after the pandemic is over. My favorite is the heart shaped one.

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Finely the tree has been decorated and the light is activated. This year the town hasn't been much decorated since we are not allowed to go out in public with crowds but is still beautiful.  The tree is the same as always but the other decorations are very beautiful and creative.  Sadly this year we will not see  the fireworks and celebrate the new year in the center of the town but let's focus on being healthy and safe.  This year I didn't stay for the tree lighting ceremony because there already was a small crowd so I decided to make photos the next day. 

Chania is covered in Christmas decorations and sometimes while you walk you can find lights with different shapes and colors.  Every neighborhood and park has his own style and colors.  One of my favorite is the heart shaped.  One of the parks has lights stuck on the trees that reminds me of the lightsaber from Star War. Each year the town makes interesting decorations but I was wondering if they were making something for this year since we are not allowed to go out but they didn't disappoint me. The town is beautiful and worth watching it when the country is open.