We've had a busy bank holiday weekend visiting friends, family, getting my hair cut (short for the 1st time in 15 yrs!), having an end of summer barbecue and eating way too much food!
Today we finally got to have a quiet day and after a visit to Ikea for some storage jars I've made my Christmas mincemeat. The recipe was originally posted on Organised Christmas Elves. I tried it last year and it went down very well. It made so much - just under 3 ltrs - I gave two jars away and it lasted us into the New Year.
So this time i've halved the recipe and have just over 1 & 1/2 ltrs.
Prune & Brandy Mincemeat (this is the full recipe - I used half of everything)
Ingredients
500g Ready to eat Pitted Prunes
500g Bramley Apples, peeled & Cored
500g Currants
500g Raisins
500g Sultanas
200g Tub Mixed Peel
1 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Mixed Spice
350g Dark Muscavado Sugar
300ml Brandy plus extra for topping up
250g Packet Suet Method
1) Roughly chop the prunes in a processor, tip into a large roasting tin. Chop the apples in the processor and add to the prunes. Add the rest of the fruit, peel, spices and sugar. Pour over 200mls of the brandy and stir well. Cover with tin foil.
2) Sit the tin over a very low heat - use the two smallest burners and leave for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 until the sugar has dissolved and the mix is glossy. Leave to cool completely.
3) Mix in the suet then add the remaining 100ml brandy. Spoon into steralised jars and seal. Can be kept for upto a year.
This doesn't take long at all to do and I think it's definitley worth the effort rather than buying from the shop.
Now I'm looking forward to making (and eating) my mince pies, mince buns & blondies yum!
Well Happy Rudolph Day all!
I've been doing little Christmassy bits over the past few days as I don't always have a huge amount of free time on weekdays.
Of course i've been making up Christmas cards when I can and after going through my list I would need to make about 40 to cover everyone. I've made 16 so far so not doing bad at all! I'm also going to get together some bits and pieces for India to make cards for Grandma and Grandad and Daddy too (though she just likes to do big x 's over the cards normally!). I have just received a big bunch of new embellishments from ebay today & will get some more card blanks and i'm set to go.
Last night I spent a while shopping for gifts on the internet, so I now have a few more people sorted out. My gift list is updated and in my folder. I also printed off a planner for December so I can fill in what needs doing and when. Along with a planner for my elf. I need to start checking through our craft stuff for any projects he might bring with him!
Later on this evening i'll be enjoying a nice mug of Hot Chocolate. I keep my Disney Christmas mug out especially for Rudolph Day.
I noticed one of our pound stores had put out Halloween stuff yesterday, the Christmas stuff won't be far behind. Morrisons started putting out their Christmas sweets in September last year, once the kids were back at school so i'll look out for that. Once they do i'll start adding some to the weekly shop to spread the cost, I keep a list of what i've bought so nothing goes astray.
It's a long weekend this weekend for the August bank holiday. Monday I plan to make my mincemeat and will post the recipe later. Hope you all enjoy your day!
I'm on a roll with the cards this week and have made another 6. It doesn't sound a lot but I don't have lots of time to spend on doing them and i'm a bit slow too! Most of them have turned out good but i'm not too happy with the star one, not sure if I will use it yet.
I have really enjoyed doing these this week and i'm on the look out on ebay for some more embellishments so hopefully I can make nearly all my cards this year.
We have a Rudolph Day coming up next Tuesday too so a perfect opportunity to go through my card list and see how many i'll need.
I have finally got around to making a start on some Christmas Cards, after getting all the chores done and having a night with not much to do! I'm not particularly crafty and got a card making kit from a friend a couple of years ago. It was pretty basic - using outline stickers and gel pens but I made a fair few Birthday, anniversary and wedding cards too.
I've picked up a few bits and pieces over the past few months for card making and scrap booking too. So I've given it a go, I kept them pretty simple seen as these are my first ones but i'm quite pleased how they turned out (they do look a bit warped but they aren't they are on the box lid with a bend!!).
So now i've only got a couple of card blanks left, hopefully i'll be able to pick up some more tomorrow and get some more made. I really enjoyed doing it and i'm hoping to at least make my own cards for family and a couple of friends. I've got plenty of bought cards in the sales just in case!
I have to say this is not usually my type of book, I like crime and thrillers but I'm trying to broaden my reading! This was on a Christmas reading list which was posted on Magical Holiday Homes Forum. I happened to see it in my local library and decided to give it a go. I'm very glad I did as it is one of the best books I have ever read.
It's set through the month of December in a small town in America called Valentine. Centred on a young girl called Corrine who lives with her Aunt and extended family. Her mother whom she hasn't seen in a while comes to stay bringing up many emotions. It is very beautifully written and I just wanted to climb through the pages into the town - it's how I imagine Christmas to be! It even has the odd Christmas recipe in and secret Santa too. I won't say too much else as I don't want to give anything away.
It made me laugh and cry and I didn't want it to end. It is part of a series all set in the same town, which I'll be getting hold of as soon as I can. It was that good I had to post and suggest that for everyone with a love of Christmas you must read this book!
For anyone who has not heard of them these fall on the 25th of each month through the year. It's a day to try and do some planning for the coming Christmas. Things like making gift lists, checking addresses for Christmas Cards, making any Christmas crafts or cards that you have planned. Even watching a Christmas movie or listening to Christmas music for a bit of inspiration.
July 25th is extra fun with a 'Christmas in July'. This is quite a big deal across the pond and is very slowly taking off here too, with even QVC having CIJ sales of decor! It's the half way point of the year and the where some people concentrate more on their Christmas plans.
The lovely Christmas forum I'm a member of - Organised Christmas Elves - hosts as CIJ swap which gives us fanatics a extra Christmas boost! It involves swapping a box of Christmas related gifts with another forum member and opening on the 25th. Just like a mini Christmas!
So the upcoming 'Rudy Day' will involve updating my Christmas Notebook (something i'll post more on later), drinking hot chocolate in my Christmas Mickey Mouse mug and hopefully making a few cards!
This is my first post and just a bit about why I decided to do this blog. For as long as I can remember I have loved Christmas. I know when you are a kid it goes without saying you love Christmas, but my love of it has carried on through my adult life. It is now bordering on an obsession! I plan for Christmas most of the year and have lists and notes galore. I carry a notebook in my bag permanently to jot down gift ideas, recipe ingredients, shopping lists and all things Christmas.
So I thought i'd share and maybe I might just be able to inspire someone out there towards a more fun filled and less stressful Christmas!
Over the next few days i'll post a little more on what i've already planned for this year.
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Now I'm looking forward to making (and eating) my mince pies, mince buns & blondies yum!
