... and so it begins!

I have my own little tradition in our house, the last weekend of November is the tree weekend!  Stop groaning, it has to be done.  The closer it is to the big day, the more stressful the jobs become, so this little tradition eases me in gently and helps me enjoy the month's preparations ahead.

I like to open up the boxes and bags full of last year's decorations and think back to what frame of mind I was in when I put them away in January ...

 obviously I wasn't in a good place!

 Oh yes, I remember now, full of painkillers and unable to stand... yes I remember that time well (post double bunion removal, arthritis removal and both toes broken and pinned in three places... oh yes, yes, I remember it only too well!!).

I love unwrapping the ornaments that have been with me since pre-children days...

Along with those ornaments that were my mild threat to my little darlings "this is special santa who is here to watch and make sure you have been good!".  This little santa had such amazing powers as soon as he was put on a shelf!

The main tree has to be decorated a certain way otherwise I am met with "Mum, it doesn't feel right!".  Dried oranges, apples and cinnamon sticks fill vessels and jars around the house, filling the house with a Christmas fragrance that gladdens the nostrils.

One year I changed the tree to a thinner version to be told when I took it down on New Year's Day, that they didn't like to say at the time, but Christmas was just not Christmas without the shorter fat one (they meant the normal tree!! Don't be rude!).  So the  tall thin tree has now been banished to the hall.  Another new tradition!

The next thing is the obligatory Christmas lists.  The food list, the present list, the Christmas card list, the social calendar list.  Yes, I'm a Virgo, in control, calm in a crisis, organised and methodical (well that's the theory).

The main items on the Christmas food list... Baileys, Ham, Turkey, Maple Syrup, Chipolatas, Sweet Chilli Sauce.  Why?  Turkey obviously (even though I prefer not to eat it) ready for the Nigella recipe (here), Maple Syrup for the Christmas parsnips, Chipolatas and Sweet Chilli Sauce for the sticky sausages I make for the Boxing Day buffet (usually half have disappeared before I've got to the table!  Seriously good and I've found an online recipe here for you) and ham for my boxing day ham.   Yes, my best friend on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is Nigella!!

 Without these elements and the smells that the recipes give the house, Christmas Eve 'doesn't feel or smell right' according to my darling Teens!  Oh, and the Baileys?  Well, Christmas morning as I prepare to stuff, flavour, and wrap acres of tin foil around my nemesis (the turkey), I take the occasional snifter of Baileys to get me through it.  The Baileys will be strategically placed in the kitchen with a crystal glass and will be the first thing I see when I come down bleary eyed at the crack of dawn.

A newer tradition, to save me my sanity on the big day, is the big breakfast!  Now that the Teens are grown up and not up with me at the crack of dawn, I cook a full English, complete with black pudding!! (don't knock it until you've tried it).  I make sure the aromas waft upstairs and before long I hear the stirring on the landing and down they come.  This new tradition keeps us full until 4 in the afternoon, when the turkey has finally finished its roasting, the potatoes are crisp, the Yorkshire puddings have raised, the parsnips have started to caramelize with the maple syrup, the Brussels sprouts have been mixed with crispy bacon and chestnuts, the carrots have taken on the dill they have been paired with,  the stuffing is just starting to harden on the outside but gooey in the middle, the pigs in blankets are beginning to snore, the bread sauce has been prepared (and mostly eaten already by Miss Teen), the beef is cooked to perfection and the cauliflower cheese is bubbling and taken on a satisfying tan.  Yes, my Christmas dinner is notorious as a girdle buster and no one in the family will have it any other way, but we skip lunch for this feast by candlelight and it allows me to cook in peace (and finish the Baileys!!).

The lead up to the big day is one that I do love getting on the conveyor belt for.  I love planning and the satisfaction of giving everyone a wonderful Christmas.  The Christmas Eve presents under the tree which are usually a new pair of pyjamas for everyone and slippers so that we can then have our baths and showers and slip into these with the last takeaway meal for the year and snuggle down in front of the TV until everyone goes to bed.  Then, my last look around the house while it is quiet and I have some time alone, taking out those last little surprise presents and putting them around the tree.  A little stocking of goodies for Tia (another new tradition)... times like these I am grateful for a deaf furry friend!  Some text messages to those who are dear to me wishing them a great day ahead and then off to bed making sure the alarm is set for 6am and the start of a hectic day for me but a relaxing one for everyone else.

And so, as no doubt all of you are, it's time for the business and planning to be put into effect!  I have no real trips planned until just before the big day when my birthday surprise to Miss Teen is to see a West End show in London with Miss B.  While they are in the theatre, I will be no doubt walking down to Trafalgar Square to see the Christmas tree and take in this beautiful city on its last office working day.  No doubt there will be much merriment and plenty of Christmas Jumpers and Santa's Hats!!

... and so it begins... time to start climbing that mountain!

Capture and Share #26 - Raiding the Hedgerows

Walking along the black and red jewels scream out to me "JaM... cRuMbLe... SaUcE!!".  I LOVE this time of year!

Don't Waste those Apples!!

Interrupting my daily Capture and Share photos this month, I felt I needed to write a quick post on how I use up my apples for a roast pork accompaniment - apple sauce.  It's quick, it's easy, it won't break the bank and it will be a nice thank you to autumn as we head into winter and those comforting roast dinners.  Thanks to all those who emailed me and commented to ask how I made this.  The sauce is usually served cold at the table and spooned next to the pork.  A great marriage of flavours.

So, here we go...

1.  Gather up all your apples, it doesn't matter how many.

2.  (The worst bit!...) Peel and core your apples and chop up into chunks.

3.  Add them to your pan along with half a cup/mug of water and a spoonful of sugar.

4.  Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat and then put a lid on, stir occasionally and reduce water content as apples begin to soften.

5.  Once the apples are mushy, take the lid off and if there is too much liquid, drain this away.  Then begin to mash them.  I like to have ours with some chunks still left in.

6.  Add sugar to taste (depending on how tart the apples are)... also don't burn your tongue!!

7.  Take off the heat and allow to cool.

8.  Once cool, put a small jar amount into freezer bags and then keep in the freezer until you need them.  I LOVE these little bags from Sainsburys!  No need to mark them on what is inside!!

9.  When it is time to use some, I either microwave to defrost, or I put the portion into a saucepan while I'm making the dinner and heat it through gently.

So, don't waste those apples... the sauce can be used for apple crumbles, pies... the list goes on.  And don't forget that you can cinnamon, fruit etc for different uses too.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Capture and Share #14 - Bringing in the Herbs

The kitchen windowsill begins to get greener at this time of year.  Time to bring in the sensitive herbs!  Basil being a firm favourite of ours, along with other regulars like parsley, thyme and rosemary.

Capture and Share #12 - Making Apple Sauce for Winter Roasts

There is nothing more satisfying than picking the apples from our tree and making apple sauce that will accompany our winter pork roasts.  I think the freezer will be full this year!

Snippets of a Bank Holiday Weekend

It's a Bank Holiday in England and Wales and true to form the rain returns.  Bank Holiday = Rain, we should just accept it.  I sit here tapping at my keyboard just as the storm 'Katie' taps away at the window panes.  I think it's going to be a cozy day inside.

At the end of a very busy week at work, I needed to get my home looking more like a place to live rather than a place to collapse.   Luckily I knew Good Friday was going to be a good weather day so the housework was done, the washing had been line dried, the ironing mountain had been conquered, the surfaces were polished, Tia had been bathed and the weekend was now mine!   I had such plans for each day, but the only good weather day was Good Friday and another ridiculously 'named' storm was coming our way - those of you around the world that have real storms stop laughing now (why the met office have had to feel to name them I don't know).  Knowing that this would make the Fen a very soggy place to walk, I took full advantage and me and Tia enjoyed the firm pathways before the storm hit - nothing better!  The daffodils are about to turn, so seeing them still dancing in the fields and against the backdrop of the ever swelling ditches was satisfying to see.

In the distance the wind farm stood steadfast waiting for the winds to start.  It was already blowy and the sails were all turning, along with the waves of yellow rippling like the sea.

The wind was blowing Tia and her gorgeous long ears.  She loves this place so much, including the car journey to get here.  The back window of the car gets rolled down and from the wing mirror I can see that happy little face looking out with ears and jowls dancing in the air as we make our way down to the Fen.

The horses at the side of the path were far too busy enjoying their lunch to notice any changes in the weather.

Mind you, they did look cozy in their coats.

Saturday was going to be Mother/Daughter time and lunch was decided in Peterborough at the Handmade Burger Co with Miss Teen followed by some retail therapy.  We don't get enough time together lately so we thoroughly enjoyed lunch and then hurriedly searched for Easter eggs!

Being the bad mum that I am, I had sorted everyone else out with Easter eggs but Mr Teen and Miss Teen!  All the major stores were telling me that they had sold out (hmmm, I thought, let's see how many magically appear on the shelves on Tuesday!).  Luckily a smaller store had a couple of little beauties left, so panic over!  Yes, yes, I know, they are old enough to survive without this level of sugar on Easter Sunday, but traditions are hard to let go sometimes for this mum.

... along with a bit of baking!

Unfortunately this holiday means that Miss Teen will be at Easter School.  Each day she will have to go in and study with her fellow GCSE class mates.  I know it is a good thing for them to do, but she is so tired and with no break now until after her exams, it is a little unfair.  Other schools have study leave, but not her one.  So, early mornings and late nights for the homework to be completed is just too much and I feel that many will burn out before their big days.  She will eventually be an Art student, and I am going to do my very proud mum moment and show you just one piece of her art work for her GCSE project.  Every piece she does has me speechless, so talented.

And so, before another busy week, I will my third cold of the year to pack its bags, and settle down with the blanket that is driving me slowly mad, and make lists for when the weather actually cheers up a bit.

Have a great week - here comes the storm!

The Chocolate Melting Pot - Chocolate Truffle Torte

There are times when a chocolate indulgence is needed and after Miss Teen very disappointingly said that she missed the Chocolate Truffle Torte at Christmas, I thought I'd better remedy that.  Delia Smith's Chocolate Truffle Torte (her recipe is here) was introduced to me about twenty years ago when someone I knew in work used to bring in the most amazing cakes - after all, he was an architect!  Every birthday he would bring in an enormous torte which was the talk of our floor, then just before I left I asked him for his secret recipe.  He whispered "Have you got Delia's Christmas Book?  Well follow the recipe for the torte and add Amaretto".  That was it!  So, without further ado, I will now make you sink into a chocolate heaven.  Lets's start with a 1lb of plain chocolate - certainly a stairway to that heaven!

The recipe states a 9" tin, but as I needed to take one into work, one gluten free and one for the family, I bought two 6" tins and 1 4" for the gluten free.  If I make this for Christmas or another special occasion I use a much prettier dish but you get the idea.  The recipe asks for 3oz of Amaretti biscuits as the base for the 9" dish but I tend to use the whole bag (in this case I then covered two of the tins).  Just crush them in a freezer bag or anything else you may have.

Once crushed they look just like a richly coloured sandy beach, a little bit of sunshine was a welcome addition!  For gluten free I crushed some gluten free digestive biscuits which I am assured tasted equally as delicious.

Just layer the dish, or dishes in my case and even out.

Then the fun part!  The rich fragrant chocolate!  Heat some water in a pan and let it simmer and then put a bowl on top with about a 1lb of chocolate broken up into the bowl along with 5tbsps of liquid glucose, 3 tbsps rum and 2 tbsps of Ameretto (well, let's just say, to taste!).

(Some extra information following Sandra's question in the comments - I have searched for alternatives for those who can't get liquid glucose, apparently golden syrup works just as well or 5tbsps water mixed with 5tbsps castor sugar and microwaved.  The liquid glucose (or alternative) is to set the chocolate mix and make it well behaved).

Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and quite smooth.

While the chocolate is melting, whisk up a pint of double cream until it just starts to get stiff.

Then, take the chocolate off the heat and let it cool for a couple of minutes.  Add half the cream into the chocolate bowl and fold in with a metal spoon and then once that has been incorporated, fold the cream and chocolate into the cream bowl.

I just adore the marbling!  The mix looks so velvety and delicious once it has all been incorporated.

Then pour the gorgeous silky chocolatey cream onto your crushed biscuits and level off, or make swirls depending on your preference.

Cover them with cling film and put into the fridge to get nice and cold.  They are incredibly well behaved and the added bonus is that you can freeze them until you need them.  Sometimes I make them a month in advance for Christmas.

Be warned though, a slice is very rich and some people like to have single pouring cream with it, but just adjust the portion sizes accordingly.  I can guarantee you will love it and it is so incredibly simple to make and worthy enough for the very special get togethers too.

Now, who wants to lick out the bowl??!

Have a fantastic week.

This week I am sharing with:

Best of the Weekend with Amy at Ms Toody Goo Shoes
Cooking and Crafting with J&J