Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Wishing everyone the very best of 2016!

Icing on the Cake

As is now becoming traditional, the icing of the Christmas Cake had to wait until after Christmas itself.  A mistletoe and ivy theme this year - will start running out of ideas soon!

Christmas Day

So here we are again . . .

. . . turkey on to roast, table laid, fire lit, veg prepped, and mulled wine warming on the wood burner.






Of course, we cooked far too much food (as usual!).






Then, with the table cleared, time to play with the pressies.  Hadn't anticipated getting a train set (I'd always wanted a 'proper' one as a child as I told Martin on our recent visit to the National Railway Museum in York), so this was his gift.

Wasn't entirely sure first off, but a few times round the track and I can feel myself getting back into the idea!  Unfortunately this particular train has a fault, and will have to go back, but watch this space in 2016.

Nadolig Llawen i Bawb!

Stollen

In the run up to Christmas I'd been thinking about trying something a bit new in the baking line, and making some stollen.

So here, we go, first attempt . . . .   made the dough in the breadmaker, mixing in the fruit in the last few minutes (never been keen on candied peel, so substituted cranberries), left it to rise, then rolled in some marzipan.


On its second rise its turned into a bit of a monster, so looks like the method worked ok.

And here's the 'finished' (baked) product, nicely dusted with butter and icing sugar - and yes, it tastes pretty good too!

Under the Window

Since having the new window fitted, we've been pondering some kind of window seat to go underneath it.  Eventually ordered a small sofa (designated 'Molly'!) from John Lewis, and it arrived today:

Must say I've very pleased with it - its a nice piece of furniture, and fits in its space perfectly - and of course the John Lewis delivery experience was excellent!

Just in time for Christmas . . .

Epic Fail

Text from Martin:

"Whatever you left in the rayburn is ****** up beyond all recognition and tastes like charcoal????"

It was perfectly good red pepper when it went in last night  . . .

Unpacking Christmas

First Saturday in December, and the Christmas boxes are out of the cupboard . . . time to get decorating!






A few hours later (after a glass of wine or two) the tree is up, the lights are on, and the (empty) boxes are back in their cupboard.

Do like my Christmas sparkle!