Better make clear from the outset we’re not talking about making the usual sort of mass produced, garishly coloured, plastic encrusted calendar found by the hundreds on the shelves of large supermarkets or local shops. You can’t escape them, no matter where you look, can you? Annoying.

Go back a century or more to a much simpler time and that’s where we’ll draw our inspiration from. Everything back then was hand made. In fact, the first advent calendars were no more than simple chalk marks on the front door, marking the passing days until Christmas. Now, no one is suggesting you do the same, although if you want to, what’s stopping you?

Another way people in those days counted down the days to Christmas was by means of a specially marked candle. The candle was often lit during the evening meal, and then blown out, the ritual being repeated day after day until it was all but gone. By then, of course, the big day had arrived. Again, it’s not that candle making is not a great craft to learn. It is. However, it’s just a little bit too complicated for our needs.

Any good with needle and thread? Even if you’re not, it’s not that difficult to learn. If you’ve got access to a good sewing machine – and you know how to use it – then so much the better. But don’t worry if you don’t. Hand sewing will do just fine.

Materials are simple enough to acquire. Needles and thread, of course, and two square meters of material are all you need. Oh, and you’ll need a box of some delicious chocolates and a pen and paper. The materials need not be new, an old discarded sheet will do just fine.

If you want, sew a neat hem around one of the square meters of material. This’ll form the base for the calendar. Next, using the other square of material, divide it up into 24 small squares. These are the pockets, representing December 1 to December 24. Now sew each of them on to the base, maybe in four rows of six, or something like that. It’s really up to yourself. Make sure only three of the four sides of each small square are sewn to the base. After all, it a pocket we’re crating here.

You can stop the sewing right there, if you want. But, to really complete the job, sew a little popper button on each pocket so it keeps securely closed. We’re finished. Now the good bit. Open your box of chocolates and put one chocolate into each pocket. You might like to add a little note of Christmas encouragement, too, maybe with the odd, corny joke thrown in? Then fasten each popper button securely.

All that remains is to fold up the chocolate advent calendar and then wrap it in some bright and cheery Christmas paper. It’s a simple, easy-to-make gift that any child will absolutely love!

Ingredients for Helado de Canela

Milk, cream, vanilla bean

Sugar, cinnamon sticks

Ground cinnamon

Egg

Color, cold water

Lemon juice

Corn starch

How to prepare ?

If you want to prepare this mouth watering Spanish ice cream, you should follow the following method for a cool and authentic taste.

1. Mix the milk, cream, and other ingredients in a proper way.

2. Boil the cold water according to the instructions in the recipe you refer to and put a bit sugar, color, flavor with cinnamon and boil it for some more time.

3. Make a paste of corn starch with the help of some cold water and mix it in the above ingredients.

4. Add lemon juice according to the requirement.

5. Then, keep the entire mixture in the refrigerator and allow it freeze.

6. Remove it from the refrigerator. Now, you can enjoy this wonderful Spanish dessert.

If you are fond of desserts, you will surely like Helado de Canela which gives you different flavors, tastes and experiences.

Coming to Spain, you can instantly see that the eating habits of Spanish people are absolutely different in comparison with other people in the world. Different salads or soup in their first courses add distinct tastes to the mouth and are good even from the health point of view. Eating customs in the country play vital role to make any food special in Spain.

You will be offered different dishes in different seasons if you go to Spanish restaurants. There is an extensive menu of dishes which are special in different geographical areas of Spain. In general, Spanish foods are special due to some of these reason mentioned below:

1. Food ingredients: Spanish recipes are prepared using different food ingredients that are rarely used in other countries of the world. Ingredients such as marmitako, pork, beans for soups and other dishes, are special foodstuffs used in the preparation on Spanish foods.

2. Cooking Methods: Spanish people have their own cooking methods which are traditional and so, create a completely authentic Spanish taste. If everything goes right from the ingredients to the cooking methods, a trademark Spanish dish is what you can expect.

3. Climate or season: You will get different dishes in Spain for summer and winter seasons which are completely weather friendly and will help you to stay healthy.

4. Geographical areas: Spain has many different geographical regions and the cooking methods vary from place to place. The local dishes across different locations across the country give Spanish cuisine a special and wonderful taste.

Thus, if you give a closer look to Spanish foods, you will find it special as compared to other cuisines all over the world. Spanish foods really give you different tastes, flavors and experiences.

Each type of cheese consists its own features such as they are light with wonderful flavors. If you want to enjoy your breakfast with Spanish cheese and bread, they are waiting for you in different Spanish restaurants and cafeterias. In Spain, cows, goats, sheeps are the major sources of cheese produced in the traditional way. If you go to different  mountain villages in Spain, you will find varieties of cheese produced by local people with natural processes. Here are some special Spanish cheese made from the cow’s, sheep’s and goat’s milk which you can enjoy with your healthy breakfast.

Cow’s milk cheese: If you go to Galicia, Cantabria, and in the Balearic Island, you will get the cheese produced from cow’s milk. There are various cow’s milk cheese which you can get in Spain such as Tetilla, San Simon, Arzua Ulloa and Mahon.  Some of these cheese are light and some are semi-cured and heavy. But, these items prepared from milk are the best sources of health and nutrition.

Goat’s milk Cheese: If you go to Valencia, Andalucia, and the Canary Island, you will get goat’s milk cheese with different flavors and shapes. The most popular Spanish goat’s cheeses are: Murcia al Vino, Montsec, Ibores, and Majorero. These various types of goat’s milk cheese are very tasty and are the best fitness solution for anyone.

Ship’s milk Cheese: If you visit different territories of  central and northern region of Spain such as Castilla- La Mancha, Navarre and Basque country, you can get a large quantity of Ship’s milk cheese. The famous ship’s milk cheese in Spain are Zamorano, Burgos, Manchego, Roncal and Idiazabal.

If you are a cheese addict and cannot eat your breakfast without it, you can find variety of healthy cheese in Spain available everywhere across the country. Make your Spanish trip healthy and memorable; enjoy this mouth watering cheese!

Spain is the third largest wine producer in the world. So, you can get varieties of Spanish alcoholic as well as non alcoholic wines as your beverage.

Alcoholic Beverages

1. Sherry and Brandy: It is a Spanish beverage which was introduced in Jerez in the southern part of Andalucia. Most of the Spanish prefer fino which is dry sherry. You can a dark colored drink with medium sweet sherries, a famous beverage in Spain for yourself. Spain is also famous for brandy which is sweeter in comparison with French brandies.

2. Moscatel: It is a famous wine made in Spain. It is just like sherry and has similar taste. You can not only drink it but can also use it as a substitute for oil in cooking.

3. Cava: It is a Spanish sparkling wine which has gained enormous popularity all over th world. Cava is a wine that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime!

Non- alcoholic Beverages

1. Agua Fresca: It is a non-alcoholic beverage made from  fruits and cereals with cold water and sugar. You can make this beverage with different sweet fruits as well as sour fruits as per your taste. However you make it, Agua Fresco will instantly freshen you up in seconds.

2. Batido de Fresas: If you go to Spanish fruit markets, you will get various types of fruits which you can use to make non- alcoholic beverages. Batido de cafe is a famous non-alcoholic Spanish beverage which is made with the combination of  curd, water, sugar, large strawberries and a tint of lemon juice. Enjoy this beverage on your Spanish trip and give your mind a punch of freshness.

3. Granizado de Limon: Your summer Spain visit may prove to be hot one. But, no need to worry. There is this Granizado de Limon, a cold beverage, which will instantly chill your entire body. It is a drink of the season in Spain!

Have you ever been to any Spanish restaurant? They will offer you different types of soups such as white garlic soup, gazpacho soup, creamy cold tomato soup to name a few. You will feel an altogether different taste while having these delicious soups. If you are visiting Spain in the summer season, you will find Spain hot and dry and so, go for the cold soups during your meals. Here are some cold and hot soups which you should try with lunch or dinner.

1. Salmorejo Cordobes: Salmorejo Cordobes is a cold, creamy spanish soup which is made of bread and tomato and was first introduced in Cordoba. This is a soup with simple pink orange for summer season made with bread, garlic, oil, tomatoes and vinegar. It is just like Gazpacho which is decorated with boiled eggs and diced Serrano hams. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare this soup.

2. Gazpacho Soup: Gazpacho is a cool, flavorful and refreshing summer soup which is made with fresh vegetables, a bit of vinegar along with oil and tomato juice. The soup comes served in either in a bowl or in a glass. If you want to prepare this summer soup at home, it takes hardly 30 minutes.

3. Cazuela Marinera: Most of the Spanish people prefer seafood. If you go for dinner in any Spanish restaurant, you can get Cazuela Marinera, a seafood soup, complete with a different taste, flavor and experience for your tongue. This is a simple and delicious winter soup which contains clams and mussels with green onion, white wine and garlic along with the seafood flavor. It is sure to please your taste buds!

4. Sopa de Pescado y Marisco: It is a Spanish shellfish soup which you can find in any restaurant throughout Spain. It is made from yellow onion, carrot, tomato, bay leaves, olive oil and seafood flavors. You can have this soup with rice as well which is a completely different combination. If you want to prepare this soup at your home, it takes about 40 minutes.

5. Eugenia’s Bean and Chorizo Soup: Most of the Spanish people prefer soups for their first course before having meal. Eugenia’s Bean and Chorizo soup is the perfect appetizer with Spanish foods. This soup is made from vegetables, beans and chorizo. Basically, dried beans are soaked overnight and cooked for an hour or so. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare this delicious soup.

You can have tapas any time of the day as you wish. They add a distinct taste to your mouth and also spice up your dinner. Tapas are made by the Spanish people traditionally and have been a part of the culture. There are different tapa recipes such as tapas prepared from seafoods and vegetables.

1. Seafood tapas: Spanish people eat more seafood in comparison with people from other European countries. You can find various ingredients for seafood tapas such as Salmon Ahumado (Smoked Salmon), Anchovies, Red Peppers and Cheese, Bonito with Anchovies, drizzled with olive oil, Vinegar and Minced garlic. These ingredients are used in the preparation of delicious Spanish seafood tapas.

2. Meat and Poultry tapas: You can get variety of tapas made out of meat. Basically, you will get the pork meat in Spain. Most of the dishes are made of pork. Meat and Poultry tapas consists various ingredients such as lomo, fried chorizo sausages, Jamon eberico, fried Morcilla, egg plant, green pepper, ham and cheese, beef, boiled eggs, Jamon Serrano and cheese slice. All these ingreidients add a distinct flavor to the meat and make the tapa a real delicacy to be savored.

3. Vegetable tapas: There isn’t a proper preparation method for vegetable tapas although you can get it as an open faced sandwich with different ingredients including tomato, goat cheese, avocado and mushroom. If you are a vegetarian, you are sure to enjoy these healthy and delightful vegetable tapas in Spain.

Most of the Spanish foods are prepared with fresh and healthy ingredients which are not harmful for the body. Spanish people mostly have seafood and lean meats, fresh vegetables with olive oil. Here are some kid-friendly foods which you can choose for your children while in Spain.

Kid friendly dishes

Quick Paella: This is a simple dish in Spain made of chorizo or pork with rice. It is a common dish which is generally savored by Spanish people. This is suitable for children as well as for you.

Gazpacho: This cold tomato soup is always better for the health of your children. It has natural and fresh vegetable salad which you can feed your children. Your children will enjoy its taste and it will keep them healthy at the same time.

Spanish Meatball: You can prepare this dish at your home as well as order it as your main dish or also as a snack. You will see that in most of the Spanish restaurants, meatballs are served as starter, appetizers or snacks. Spanish meatball is made with the mixture of meats and vegetables which is a real good combination for the health of your children.

Vegetable Tortilla: You can go for vegetable tortilla for your children. It is an omelet which gives energy as well as it is easy to prepare as compared to other dishes. You can prepare it yourself according to your needs and enjoy it with your kids.

Desserts: You can find many Spanish desserts for your children which are made with dairy milk, different fruits, almonds and other healthy ingredients. Children are fond of desserts and when you are in Spain, the country has a variety of cool and tasty desserts waiting for you.