TRADITIONAL POLISH WIGILIA COMPOTE

Polish traditions run strong on holidays (have you seen my post about Easter baskets?) and Christmas Eve is no exception! Our family sits down to a large dinner consisting of 12 separate dishes (yes 12!) and they are all served one by one so you can properly taste and enjoy each item. The 12 dishes originally stem from the 12 disciples but as kids we were more excited for all the food than the reason behind the meal.

One item that always ended up on the table (above and beyond the 12 dishes) was a fruit compote that was so delicious we would drink it before the third dish even came around. My mom varies this compote drink up every year to keep things interesting – some times its made from dried fruit but other times from fresh/frozen fruit. There are so many variations and it always turns out beyond Delicious! Check out the recipe below for all the details!

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HIBISCUS LAVENDER LEMON TEA

Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend and if you still don’t have a gift idea then I have you covered! Mom’s do so much for us on the daily and they truly deserve to relax and enjoy the day….and MANY days throughout the year! One of my favourite ways to relax is to have a nice warm cup of tea and thankfully my husband is a tea brewing connoisseur. Whenever I dive into a hot steaming cup of tea my stress melts away and all I can think of is how relaxed I am in the moment. Add on a slice of chocolate cake and heaven!

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CHRISTMAS HOT CHOCOLATE BAR

If you read my Entertaining Bucket List post a few weeks back you may recognize the drink idea below. One of my points for the Christmas season was to “host an epic hot chocolate bar with toppings galore” which is exactly what I am doing. As you may already know I love a good “diy” and this one is no exception. Whether serving just for two people as shown below or creating for a whole group – I absolutely love getting creative with the toppings and seeing what people put together.

Nothing beats a cozy winter day inside cuddling up with a blanket and some hot chocolate. I have been dreaming of having a Christmas hot chocolate in my hands and finally tis the season! Plan your perfect cozy night in with the setup below!

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AUTUMN SANGRIA

I am absolutely obsessed with sangria and cannot turn down a glass when it is offered! Personally, the sweeter the better from my perspective but all of them are equally delicious (red, white and rose). Whenever I go to a new restaurant/bar I enjoy trying out their version of the sangria that they offer. I am always surprised by the different flavour combinations one simple drink can provide.

Although typically the sangria cocktail is a summer drink (patio season is bliss), I wanted to bring it into the season with some additional fall flavours. Who wants to let go of a good thing just because the leaves are turning colour !? With the holiday season approaching, it is always a nice option to have on hand for drinks and sometimes even needed after all those family dinners (I kid – well maybe a little!) Bring on the autumn sangria I say! The more the better!

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LAVENDER LEMONADE

Lavender is one of my favourite herbs/plants and I absolutely cannot stop myself from smelling it each time I walk by a some. Not only does it smell heavenly and comes in a beautiful purple colour, it also offers the body many health benefits. Did you know that lavender essential oil is great for reducing stress and anxiety as well as improving sleep? I love putting on my oil diffuser as I go to bed or smelling a lavender plant when I feel stressed. Lavender is also amazing for headaches, healing cuts & burns, and other body pain. If you have not had a chance to use lavender in your life I would greatly suggest it!

Along with its amazing health benefits, lavender is a great addition to recipes –  have you ever tried lavender shortbread cookies!? Soooo delicious! As it is summer time and I am trying to stay away from my oven as much as possible, I wanted to create a refreshing summer drink to enjoy. After going to our local lavender farm (more on that below) I was inspired by the beautiful lavender fields and the hot blazing sun! What better solution than to create a crisp, cold lavender lemonade drink! I absolutely love anything with lemon in it and the refreshing taste pairs great with the unique lavender flavour.

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