Spanish Christmas "La Noche Buena,"

One of our country's most traditional desserts is marzipan , made of almonds and sugar. You will usually find it in "shapes" or as the basic ingredient for a host of different sweets. Each region has its own typical recipe and the sweetest delights appear in every corner of Spain. There is no excuse for not dipping into this world of sweet sensations. These are a few of the most typical: polvorones from Andalusia and Toledo, neulas from Alicante, mantecados and pestiños from Andalusia and Extremadura, guirlache from Aragón, casadielles from Asturias, Basque cake , intxaursalsa, goxua and panellets from Catalonia and paparajotes from Murcia. Not forgetting of course, the traditional Christmas ring, a cake eaten on 6 January, the popular feast of the Three Wise Men. This is the most exciting day of Christmas for the youngest members of the family.

Spain's gastronomic wealth comes to its pinnacle at Christmas time. It is a time for parties and celebrations, and also for big meals with, of course, typical Christmas sweets. These are exquisite, traditional recipes, many of which have centuries of history - something not to be missed at this time of year. Come and spend a few unforgettable days in our country and discover a world of unique, smooth flavours, a real treat for the taste buds.
Spanish cuisine is rich in flavours and smells and is very deep-rooted in the country's culture. At Christmas, culinary delicacies, and especially desserts, become par for the course, covering tables all over Spain with colour and sweet tastes. Discover these authentic, traditional desserts - sweet treasures made with almonds, honey, sugar, chocolate and fruit, among other things, with world-renowned quality.

There are a huge number to try. There are many different Christmas sweets available all over Spain. The star at Christmas time, however, is surely turrón . This is a sweet of Moorish origins that can be found in most homes over the festive season. Try it and you will be captivated by its flavour. There are many different types of turrón. Not to be missed are the Jijona variety, with a soft texture and the Alicante variety, which is hard. Their exquisite taste will captivate you for ever.

Spanish Christmas Eve is called "La Noche Buena," literally translated as "The Good Night." In Spain it is celebrated with a large family feast, which is eaten late in the evening and can last a couple hours. Some families attend midnight mass before or after, although many families are still finishing dinner around the table at midnight! In Spain, Christmas Eve is a time for celebrating in neighborhood bars and cafes, and around the table with family and friends. It is not a time for gift exchanges or Santa Claus. That must wait until January 6th, which is Epiphany, another religious holiday.



Make the most of the Christmas break to come to Spain and enjoy one of its most deep-rooted celebrations. You will, of course, be able to sample some of the country's most authentic and highly valued desserts. They are sugared delights with a thousand and one flavours that sweeten mealtimes all over Spain at this time of year. Fall into temptation and try some of these extraordinary sweets. There is no time like the present. 
 

Are You Wondering, What Is the Mediterranean Diet?

Whenever you feel that you should take a step forward in gaining better health, you probably access the internet, check out news, and do a lot of research about the best diet there is. If you have already done that, then you must have come across the Mediterranean diet, which is being followed by a lot of people today. But what is A Mediterranean diet? You probably see yourself asking this question, especially when you come to realize that a lot of people are now living healthier lives with it.

First and foremost, a Mediterranean diet is not considered as a diet by a lot of people, especially those who are living in the countries that surround the Mediterranean region. Instead, they see it as a way of eating, which has been followed by people in the region for countless years. This is basically the reason why there are a lot of people in the region who are able to enjoy better health and fitness, than people in other parts of the world.
Many studies have actually been done regarding this type of diet plan. Through studies done by researchers as well as nutritionists and dietician's, they are able to conclude that most of the foods involved in such a diet program are those that really promote better health. Although they do not entirely discourage foods that are high in salt and sugar, the Mediterranean way of eating sees to it that foods containing such substances are eaten in controlled amounts.
One of the best ways that you can do in order to understand the Mediterranean diet better is to check out its diet pyramid. Through the pyramid, you will be able to check out certain food items on it. Such food items are actually posted on the pyramid in such a way that they take up certain amounts of space on it. The bigger the space they take, the more they are recommended to be included on a person's diet.
When you check out the pyramid or certain recipes of the Mediterranean diet, you will find out that most of the time, they are cooked with the use of olive oil instead of vegetable oil. Olive oil actually contains mono-unsaturated fats, which will not raise the levels of cholesterol in your blood. This is actually one of the reasons why there is low incidence rate of heart disease for the countries in the Mediterranean region compared to certain countries around the world.
Fruits and vegetables are also highly recommended by the diet plan, which contains the essential vitamins and minerals to facilitate improved bodily functions.
These are the things that you will find out more about, when you get to know what a Mediterranean diet is. Keep in mind though that in order to achieve better health you should also get a good amount of exercise on a regular basis, aside from providing your body with adequate amounts of rest.

My name is Al James. I am a 56 year young freelance writer with a renewed passion for fitness. I live in Central Oregon with my wife of 32 years, my two grown sons also live in Central Oregon and have given me three beautiful granddaughters (with a fourth grandchild due in February 2012). Certainly a huge motivation for my fitness passion.
I am also a champion for A Mediterranean Diet after losing 34 lbs. between May 1st and August 31st, 2011. I am truly "Eating" my way thin. The Mediterranean Diet Recipes are healthy, taste great and are filling. Best of all I never go hungry. If you feel like you have tried every diet on the planet and have given up, please consider exploring the Mediterranean Diet Plan. It works for me and it will work for you. I highly recommend it.

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