It’s a sunny 60F (15C) here in the upper regions of the Pyrenees with exactly zero possibility of a white Christmas. However that hasn’t kept Mrs. Evil and I from kicking our Christmas celebrations into high gear. Unfortunately Spain is one of the worst countries on the planet right after Indochina or the Sahara desert to observe Christmas. So as someone who grew up in beautiful and snowy Austria one has to go the extra mile to get into the spirit of things.
Speaking of Austria, one of the most delicious treats you’ll ever come across during the Christmas holidays are traditional ‘Lebkuchenherzchen’ which you over in the U.S. know as gingerbread cookies or gingerbread hearts (if they are heart shaped). Believe me when I tell you that you haven’t had a good gingerbread cookie until you’ve tried the heavenly treats they conjure up in Bavaria, Austria, as well as Switzerland.
Of course those are nearly impossible to get here in Spain. All they sell at Lidl or Aldi are cheap a$$ mass produced crap laden with sugar, salt, and a chemistry set full of preservatives. So the wife and I decided to make our own gingerbread hearts & cookies this year, which turned out to be brilliant.
Admittedly they don’t look as beautiful as the stuff you can get up in the icy North but they taste great and are much healthier!
Instead of all the sugar we used xylitol and a bit of stevia – we are used to the taste, so it doesn’t bother us. I also reduced the amount of honey (130g instead of 250g). Which makes them less chewy but eat them with a glass of milk next to a crackling fireplace and it’s pure heaven.
We didn’t spend any money on cheap crap or useless presents as we basically have everything we’ll ever need and then some. Tomorrow (the 25th) we’re going to whip up a tasty roast and make some Glühwein (mulled wine) and watch some movies in front of the fireplace. And eat those cookies of course!
Whether or not you observe Christmas, may you and your family enjoy a relaxing holiday season full of wonderful surprises, good food, many treats, and most importantly much laughter.
Merry Christmas!!
P.S.: If you’re not celebrating Christmas (i.e. 90% of the world) you should still try those gingerbread cookies. But be warned, they are addictive!