Advent :: Day eleven

This hasn't been an easy year one way or another. After only eight months in a new job Stewart found himself out of work again - that was six month ago. He's now made the decision to start his own business but understandably that will take time to grow. So like many others we've had to cut back and economise. We did think that we wouldn't send Christmas cards this year.

 

 

But then they started to arrive and I realised I like gettng cards and hearing from people we may not see often. Last year, after getting a card from an old friend whom I'd not seen for ages, I was prompted to pick up the phone and we arranged to meet. We've seen each other a couple of times this year and are meeting again for some shopping on Friday. And so I decided that I would send cards after all this year... because maintaining friendships is important. I'd like to say I make all my own cards... but alas time does not permit.

 

Do you send cards... and do you make your own? I know I really appreciate and keep all the hand made ones that I receive and I re-use all the others... like this and this .

Advent :: Day ten

I'm working my way through some commissions for Christmas... not complaining as it's good to have the work and I always love doing this type of embroidery the best.

 

After seeing this apron on my blog a few weeks ago I was asked if I could make another. Slight problem as I'd just used the last of the fabric but the recipient didn't mind if I changed it slightly... and so I've come up with version no. 2

 

 

And whichever way you look at it I think I prefer this slightly bolder colourway. I suppose it's a bit like product development with some tweaking here and tweaking there until I come up with something I like.

 

I'm now thinking this design would be fun in some really bright and whacky colours.

 

Which one do you prefer? Bright or pastel?

 

Meanwhile, must dash... still another two tea cosies to finish!

 

Advent :: Day nine

I've never been entirly convinced by homemade mincemeat in the past. I've tried many different recipes but quite honestly once it was surrounded by pastry I couldn't tell the difference between homemade or a good quality shop bought variety.

 

 

That is until I discovered this wonderful pear and ginger mincemeat with no added fat.

 

Which really is so good it could be eaten straight from the jar. It is a fragrant blend of fruit, nuts, sugar and spices with just the right amount of alcohol... and not a trace of suet in sight.

 

From the River Cottage Handbook No. 2 "Preserves" by Pam Corbin

 

Pear and Ginger Mincemeat

 

1 kg cooking apples, peeled, cored, chopped and cooked to a puree

Zest and juice of 2-3 oranges (you need 200ml juice)

500g ripe pears, peeled and finely chopped

100g currants

200g raisins

200g sultanas

100g crystallised stem ginger, finely chopped

100g orange marmalade

250g demerara sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/2 nutmeg, grated

50 ml ginger wine

100g chopped walnuts

50 ml brandy

 

Place all the prepared ingredients except the brandy into a large baking dish, give them a good stir and allow to stand for 12-24 hours. Preheat the oven to 130 deg C and bake the mincemeat, uncovered for 2 - 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Stir in the brandy and then spoon into sterilised jars, making sure there are no air pockets. Seal and store in a cool dark place.

 

This makes the perfect addition to my almond paste mince pies!

Although I'm planning to add some to ice-cream this year. Watch this space.

Advent :: Day eight

I've been pleasantly surprised this week by both my craft fair ventures. Despite spending two hours in a primary school hall where my average punter was aged about six with a total of 50p to spend followed by three hours in a cold church where most people seemed to have come along for the hot turkey rolls, I still managed to sell enough for me to be able to afford to go out and buy a Christmas tree yesterday!

 

 

I had made two Christmas aprons and both of them sold. I was secretly disappointed as I had hoped to keep one!

 

Of of my little notebooks sold... so there is still one left.

 

But alas, neither of my seasonal tea cosies sold...

 

which is a shame as I think they are rather cute and just the thing to accessorise your cuppa and mince pie at this time of year. And if tea is not your thing I can see no reason why your Christmas morning Bucks Fizz can't be poured from a tea pot!

 

As promised...tea cosies and note book are in my Etsy shop.

Advent :: Day seven

You might be forgiven for thinking I've gone rather overboard on the Christmas cakes this year... but no. Although I've got the fruit soaking for our cake I've not done much else as I've been distracted by making these... which are little individual Christmas cakes.

 

 

Ridiculous as it might sound thay have made me very excited (what is it about small things?) and they weren't nearly as much of a faff as I thought they might be... well, a bit of a faff but my excitment has definitely compensated for any fiddly business.

 

Do you want to know how to make them? You'll need one of those mini Sandwich pans from Lakeland, although I'm guessing a muffin pan would work just as well.

 

Individual Christmas Cakes

Cakes

• 75g currants
• 75g sultanas
• 75g raisins
• 50g glacé cherries, quartered
• Zest and juice of 1 orange
• 25g chopped almonds
• 1 tablespoon brandy plus extra 4 tablespoons
• 150g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
• 100g dark muscovado sugar
• 2 tbsp treacle
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 150g self-raising flour
• 1½ tsp mixed spice
• 1-2 tbsp milk

To decorate

• 2 tbsp apricot jam, warmed and sieved
• 500g marzipan
• 750g ready to roll icing

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/335°F. Grease and line a mini sandwich pan (from Lakeland) or a 12 hole muffin tin. Place the currants, sultanas, raisins and cherries into a small pan. Add the zest and juice of the orange and heat gently for one minute until the juice is hot but not boiling. Remove from the heat and cool to allow the fruit to plump up. Stir in 1 tablespoon of brandy
2. Place all the other ingredients for the cakes, except the nuts, into a large bowl and using an electric mixer, mix all the ingredients until they are well combined. Add the fruit and nuts   and stir in with a spoon, combining well.
3. Divide the cake batter between the Sandwich Pan or the muffin pan and bake on a low shelf for about 25 minutes or until well risen, golden brown and a skewer inserted into the middles comes out clean. Remove from the oven and pierce the top of each cake with a skewer and dowse each cake with 1 teaspoon of brandy. Leave to cool in the tins
4. Brush each cake with apricot jam. Lightly dust a surface with icing sugar and roll out the marzipan out thinly. Cut a disc of marzipan for the top of each cake and a strip to wrap around the sides of each cake, covering it completely. Leave to dry overnight
5. Dust the work surface again with icing sugar then roll out the icing thinly. (I find this easiest to do in two lots, covering half the cakes at a time) Cut out 12 circles big enough to completely cover each cake. Brush each cake with a little boiled water and place an icing disc over the centre of each cake, smoothing it down the sides with your hands. Use the remaining icing to decorate the cakes.

 

 

Wrap in cellophane with some pretty ribbon and you've got some cute little gifts for giving!

Advent :: Day Six

I have never really used my blog as a political platform or as a place to comment on news or world affairs, yet the death of Nelson Mandela yesterday has prompted me to delay my scheduled advent post.

 

photograph: BBC

 

Of all the wonderful tributes that poured out last night I was struck by the words of President Obama who among other things described Nelson Mandela as a "profoundly good human being".

And I thought that in this advent season... the season of good will to all men...  wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all strive to be more profoundly good every day.

 

Nelson Mandela

18th July 1918 - 5th December 2013

Advent :: Day five

I have mixed feelings about Craft Fairs or sales of Handmade goods.

I suppose that there are really good ones... like the Selvedge Christmas Fair (I went last week and it was wonderful!) but then they are understandably going to cost a lot to participate. But local fairs... usually involve a lot of standing around in draughty spaces and having to put up with a lot of tutting at the outrageous prices we dare charge for the items that have taken hours to make and then ultimately very few sales.

 

 

But I'm ever optimistic and I like to support local events and so this afternoon I'll be at a local school for two hours and then on Saturday morning I'll be in the Church (very draughty) for the morning.

 

When I booked a table at the school I was asked if I had Christmas items... no, not really! But I have obliged and made one or two bits and pieces...

 

Like these little book jackets. But I've not made too much because if they don't sell I'm stuck with them for another year... I can't see them selling at summer events somehow!

 

So if these don't sell this by Saturday there could be a sudden Etsy update on Sunday... watch this space!