MARZIPAN

Christians in India decorate banana or mango trees. They also light small oil-burning lamps as Christmas decorations and fill their churches with red flowers.They give presents to family members and baksheesh, or charity, to the poor people.

In India, the poinsettia is in bloom and so the churches are decorated with this brilliant bloom for the Christmas Midnight Mass.

This is a favorite Goan sweet made specially for Christmas. Marzipan can be made into all sorts of shapes, depending on how artistic you are and how creative you feel! You can mix food color into portions of Marzipan as you knead or even paint on the shapes once you've made them, using a regular artists paint brush.

1/2 kg almonds blanched

1/2 kg powdered sugar

3 egg whites

1 tbsp rose water

Food colors and decorations as required

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Blend all the ingredients, except the food coloring (add that later to portions of prepared Marzipan as needed) together until smooth.

Make into desired shapes - fruits, Christmas related shapes like stars, Christmas trees and snowmen can be made using cookie-cutters or you can roll out the Marzipan into a thick slab and cut into diamond or square shapes.

If you're using paint-on food colors, let the shapes sit for at least 3-4 hours before painting, so that the surface is sealed and color does not seep or run where you do not want it to.

You can also dip each shape in melted chocolate and allow to set. Top with nuts, sprinkles or other smaller Marzipan shapes.

Allow to set for a day at least.