This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
It’s midnight minus one to put the finishing touches to the preparations for the New Year’s Eve on December 24 and 31! Here are some suggestions that will add a certain je-ne-sais-quoi to our holiday gatherings.
1. To embalm the house
Fir, black spruce, green mandarin and clove essential oils that smell of the boreal forest. Our suggestion: Diffusion Forêt d’Atelier La vie apothicaire ($22 to atelierlavieapothicaire.ca)
2. To stock up on festive recipes
Pastry chef and food journalist Lesley Chesterman’s second cookbook is just in time for the holidays. On the menu: dishes to share, festive bites and, of course, memorable desserts, like his famous maple and pecan pie. Our suggestion: A weekend at Lesley’s ($44.95, published by Cardinal)
3. To replace the tree
No space for a real Christmas tree? Never mind, we swap our tree for a potted rosemary plant or, why not, a golden cypress, a small indoor conifer with a lemony scent. Pretty, aromatic and ecological! (In most nurseries)
4. To reinvent our cookies
Did you know that balsam fir can be cooked? Yes, yes: both the young spring shoots — which we find dried at this time of year — and the needles of mature branches can flavor our favorite holiday pastries. Santa Claus will be delighted! Our suggestion: Dried balsam fir from Pilki ($8 for 12 g at pilki.ca)
5. To decorate our table
The tendency to DIY is not about to die out. And even without great talent in art, you can easily create your own centerpiece from a few conifer branches harvested in the woods next door or picked from our cedar hedge! Follow the guide ; many tutorials can help you, including those of Daphné Morin (daphlive.com) or Vanessa Sicotte (damasketdentelle.com), to name a few.
6. For a roast chicken done quickly, well done
If you are preparing to receive few guests this year, a roast chicken can very well replace the Christmas turkey. In addition to taking up less space in the fridge, smaller poultry cook faster, for a hassle-free meal. We can, for example, coat our chicken with a mixture of carefully selected spices and then put it in the oven, and you’re done. Our suggestion: Organic Sunday Roast classic spice blend, from Kanel ($13 to kanel.com)
7. To honor a (delicious) Italian tradition
Thanks to artisans like Éric Goeury and Anthony Daniele of Viva Panettone, Montreal panettone has won its acclaim at the Panettone World Cup. Their secret? A century-old sourdough directly imported from Italy and organic fruits carefully preserved in their workshop, among others. It is eaten at brunch, plain or, why not, in French toast version! Our suggestion: The Signature, from Viva Panettone (from $45 to $74 at vivapanettone.com)
8. To warm up while waiting for Santa Claus
As a change from the traditional eggnog, we serve a decaffeinated chai latte. This is the perfect drink to warm up after a walk in the forest… or to end New Year’s Eve on a sweet note. Our suggestion: Christmas chai latte, bulk spice mix with 6 decaffeinated tea bags, 4T ($17 to fourt.ca)
Three Out-of-the-Ordinary Host Gifts
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Homework, relating to marketing. The drafting of Homework did not take part.