Friday, November 28, 2008

Home Made Christmas Gifts - Panforte






Happy Cook of My Kitchen Treasures is hosting her first event, Homemade Christmas Gifts. As the title of the event suggests, Happy Cook invites us to post about edible homemade Christmas gifts that we have made for our family and friends.


As I mentioned in a previous post, I am steadily working towards making Christmas gift boxes for my friends and colleagues which contain edible gifts. One of the items which I have made for those gift boxes is a panforte, that lovely Italian fruit cake packed with nuts and fruit which always says "Christmas" to me. I have never made nor even tried panforte before, but I have always thought it looked delicious, and that this would be the year. It can also be made a month in advance, which is perfect for my purposes, as I can stagger my baking in the leadup to Christmas.


There are many different recipes for panforte, but I selected this recipe for Golden Panforte from Taste.com.au. The result is pictured at the top of this post. I have not yet dusted my panforte with icing sugar, as I believe that it would make it too sticky right now, but my plan is to do so before cutting it into slices for wrapping and placing in my Christmas gift boxes. With all of those wonderful fruits and nuts, I believe that it will taste delicious, and I hope that the recipients think so.

You can see the progressive roundup of homemade Christmas gifts here, so that you too may be inspired to make your own edible Christmas gifts. Thanks to Happy Cook for hosting this event.



On a different note, I have been honoured to receive two awards this week.


My blogging friend Ivy of Kopiaste awarded me the Great Buddy Award:





Thanks Ivy! I am passing this award on to:


Lorraine E of Not Quite Nigella

Arfi of Homemades

Rosie of Rosie Bakes a Peace of Cake

The very talented Tammy of Wee Treats by Tammy (check out her beautifully decorated biscuits and retro cards, among others) has awarded me The Butterfly Award:



Thanks Tammy! I am passing this award onto:

The Blonde Duck of A Duck in Her Pond


Ivy of Kopiaste



I hope that you are inspired to start your Christmas baking, and look forward to seeing your homemade Christmas gifts!








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16 comments:

  1. jesseNovember 28, 2008 at 9:11 PM

    Wow, I've never tried panforte before either, but that looks beautiful, and what a great idea for a Christmas present!

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  2. FinlaNovember 28, 2008 at 10:06 PM

    I am really inspired by this. I have seen this in shops, but never had the courage myself to make them.
    Thankyou for sending this to my event.
    Congragulations with the awards

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  3. AnonymousNovember 28, 2008 at 10:10 PM

    Thankyou so much! Mwah! And I think a panforte is a great choice for a Christmas gift-it's so festive and Christmassy looking and yes there is also the practical side too! :)

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  4. nataliaNovember 28, 2008 at 10:32 PM

    Ciao ! How was the Panforte ? how brave of you to make it ! I never was !

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  5. The Blonde DuckNovember 28, 2008 at 11:32 PM

    Thanks for the award! :) That's so sweet of you to think of me! I'm so touched.

    Speaking of Christmas baking, what's a good way to make cookies and freeze them or transport them 500 miles away? I don't want them to go stale b/4 the recipients eat them and don't want to depend on the grandparents eating them...

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  6. RosieNovember 29, 2008 at 5:39 AM

    WOW Cakelaw your panforte is certainly beautiful!! I have never made panforte before and only today I was looking at a recipe for this - I must look at your link too....

    It's such a great event H.C. is hosting!!

    Congratulations on your awards very deserving indeed!! Thank you for thinking of me I am truly honoured :D

    Rosie x

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  7. UnknownNovember 29, 2008 at 8:56 AM

    Gaye, thanks for the award! Surely, your friends are so lucky to have you as you are a generous person.

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  8. UnknownNovember 29, 2008 at 10:04 AM

    Your panforte look soo adorable and very xmasy! I wonder if I could orchestrate something for the event...

    Thanks for passing on the award to me....I am truly honored!

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  9. CakelawNovember 29, 2008 at 10:15 AM

    Thanks Jesse!

    Thanks Happy Cook - I can't wait to see the other great contributions to your event.

    Thanks Lorraine - I am going to sneak a sliver when I cut it up so that I can try it too!

    Hi Natalia, I haven't tried it yet - it is waiting patiently in storage so that during the last week at work before Christmas, I can hand it out. Fingers crossed that it's good.

    Hi Blonde Duck, Anna of Cookie Madness puts her cookies in little cellophane bags which she heat seals - if you can get access to a heat sealer, that would be the way to go, then wrap then in bubble wrap so they don't get crushed.

    Thanks Rosie :)

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  10. AnonymousNovember 29, 2008 at 10:40 AM

    aww..Thanks so much sweety! I'll display this with great pride :)

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  11. TammyNovember 29, 2008 at 3:31 PM

    thanks so much for the lovely award gaye. You are a great blogging buddy too!! Have a great weekend

    Tammy

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  12. gizNovember 29, 2008 at 4:58 PM

    This is such a good year for giving edible treats at Christmas. Making something with your hands is always (to me) more impressive than receiving a gift card or the latest "why do I need this" gadget.

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  13. AnonymousNovember 30, 2008 at 4:10 AM

    I left a thank you for you the other day, but I don't see it here..so...Thanks for the award sweety! I am displaying it proudly on my blog :)

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  14. CakelawDecember 1, 2008 at 9:40 AM

    Hi Maryann, ya wonderful!

    Thanks Tammy - had a great weekend.

    Hi Giz, I am hoping that one day someone near and dear to me will make me a box of edible gifts ...

    Hi Maryann, I am just a bit slow 'cause my home Internet connection annoys me and I go on strike.

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  15. FinlaDecember 4, 2008 at 6:18 AM

    Hicakelaw can i add you to my entries or should i wait till you pack them fro giving to your friends. I don't mind adding this picture as it is a real wonderful looking and i have not seen anybody else making this.

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  16. CakelawDecember 4, 2008 at 12:41 PM

    Hi Happy Cook, I am happy for you to add this to your entries now. Cheers, Cakelaw

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Thanks for dropping by!