Wordless Wednesday - Father Christmas

You'd better be good.... he's watching!  

Twas The First of December

Twas the first of December and all through the house was a flurry of activity. Everyone was helping to decorate the Christmas tree, even the MOUSE!

I know to some people the first day of December is too soon to begin decorating the tree but I love Christmas so I try to extend the season for as long as possible.  

I must confess that I don't have my usual enthusiasm.  I think it's because we've been so busy here.  And due to the late autumn, there are still leaves on the trees.  

But as each ornament goes up on the tree I am feeling more and more festive.  

Sometimes you just have to make a start and trust that Christmas Spirit will take over.  

I like to have a theme for our decorations.  This year it's going to be all red and white.  I think it looks rather Scandinavian with the folk art tin ornaments.

I don't believe in minimalist Christmas trees so every bough is decorated. I've even stuffed in some red berries for good measure. 

It's working, it's feeling more like Christmas already!  Now, let's tackle the garlands. 

Retro Recipe - Molasses Cookies

It's that time of year when you start baking for the Christmas holidays. Christmas cakes and Christmas puddings have things in them I'd NEVER buy any other time of the year. Things like molasses, better known as dark treacle here in Britain.

The recipe will call for one tablespoon of dark treacle and then you have a great tin full of the stuff left over.   In my case, due to an error in purchasing, I have two tins of dark treacle in the cupboard!  Then I remembered the soft molasses cookies we used to have when I was a kid and could see a way to use up some of the excess molasses.

This is an old recipe.  It came from my Mom's old Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book.  The cook book says the original recipe comes from a farm in Minnesota. They taste like gingerbread cake, soft and spicy.  Here's the recipe just as it's written in Mom's book:

Mix together thoroughly .........  1/4 cup soft butter
                                              1/2 cup sugar
                                              1 egg
                                              1/2 cup molasses (dark treacle)

Stir in..........  1 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water

Sift together and stir in..............2 cups plain flour
                                              1/2 teaspoon salt
                                              1 teaspoon ground ginger
                                              1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
                                              1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
                                              1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

The recipe continues in it's abrupt style.....

Chill dough. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls about 2" apart on lightly greased baking sheet.  Bake until set.... just until, when touched lightly with finger, almost no imprint remains.  

Temperature: 400F/200C
Time: 7 to 8 minutes.  

While the cookies are slightly warm, frost with a simple icing made from 1 cup icing sugar mixed with enough milk to make the frosting easy to spread.

Thanks to Mildred Bennett from Minnesota, I now have a tin full of spicy molasses cookies and one empty black treacle tin.  One down, one to go!

Our Acer

This autumn has been busy...so busy we haven't had a chance to take our usual trip to Westonbirt Arboretum.   But that doesn't mean we haven't had some brilliant fall foliage to enjoy.

We've made sure to provide for just this sort of situation.  I've planted a few plants that will give us a variety of colourful leaves. 

We may not have acres of acers but our little trees put on a lovely show.  

Best of all, we live near the sea which creates a warmer micro-climate.   The leaves change more slowly so the Autumn colour comes late to our garden.

When most other trees are bare, ours are just getting started.  

But even our sheltered garden is starting to show the effects of the cold, windy weather.

This little acer only has a few tattered leaves left.  Fortunately, the larger acer is still going strong.

So for now I can enjoy this beautiful Autumn colour which is growing just outside my window. 

Apple Crumble Tarts and Cliches

I was always told necessity is the mother of invention.  I was also told not to make that face it would freeze that way, but I  digress. You may recall from a previous POST that I have accumulated several packages of frozen pastry.  I also have a rather large amount of apples in storage.  I believe a batch of tarts may be the answer to this small food mountain.

Start by cutting 12 circles out of ready rolled shortcrust pastry. Place the pastry circles between two pieces of plastic wrap and roll them out a bit more so they are big enough overlap the holes in the tart tin.   Line each hole with a pastry circle.  Don't worry if they rumple up a bit, these are rustic little tarts. The wonky pastry gives them character.  Place the pastry cases back in the fridge to rest and chill.

While the pastry is chilling in the fridge, make the apple filling.  I used my small home grown apples so it took 6 little apples to make the filling.  3 larger apples would probably be enough for six tarts. 

Peel, core and slice the apples and place them into a saucepan. 

Add 2 -3 tablespoons of soft brown sugar (more or less depending on how tart your apples are) and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Cook the apples over a low heat for a few minutes until they begin to soften and release their juices.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of plain flour and cook for one minute more.  Remove the pan from the heat and let the filling cool.  

Now, I have to say, I don't care much for crimping pastry.  I can do it, I just don't want to do it to 12 tiny tarts!   So I was delighted when I found a bag of frozen crumble topping in the freezer.    Click HERE FOR MY CRUMBLE TOPPING RECIPE .    You can make half a batch for your tarts or just freeze the unused topping for future crumble making.  Spoon the apple mixture into the chilled pastry cases, top with lots of crumble mixture and bake for 25-30 minutes at 375F/ 190C.   The pastry should be golden brown and the filling bubbling like lava.  Let the tarts cool in the tin for a few minutes before placing them on a wire rack to cool completely.  

You probably noticed  I referred to 12 tart cases and there are only 8 apple crumble tarts.   I filled the other four tart cases with mincemeat for Andy.   Like they always say, variety is the spice of life!  

Omelette Bowls - Glazed

I've never been good at waiting.  I've never been patient.  Curiosity often gets the better of me.  So waiting for the kiln to cool has been torturous!  I've learned the hard way,  you can't rush pottery.  If you fire it before it dries properly, it will explode.   If you open the kiln while it's still too hot the glaze will crackle and craze and you will ruin ALL the pots.  So after waiting for nearly two days; one whole day for firing, one whole day for cooling, it was time.......

The red bowl came out first.  It was still warm.

Next was the Verdigris bowl.  Verdigris is that greenish colour of old copper roofs.

The Oatmeal Speckled bowl was third out of the oven.   And the final one ...

Was the mossy green Celadon bowl.   This is the most organic colour of them all.  All four had survived the firing and my impatience.  I can't wait to make more!

How to Make a Jam Jar Posy by Common Farm Flowers

Here in Britain there is a group of very talented florists and flower farmers who are working on a revolutionary scheme... they want us to buy locally grown British flowers.   How radical is that!

This group of green fingered florists are the most kind and generous people you will ever meet.  They are willing to show you how to grow your own cut flowers and even teach you how to make your own beautiful arrangements. 

Georgie Newbury, of COMMON FARM FLOWERS, is one of the most talented flower farmers and has taught me the secret to growing beautiful roses for my own petite posies. Now she's made a video that will teach us all how to make the perfect jam jar posy. Click HERE to see Georgie's Jam Jar Posy Video.

For more flowers, tips, and beautiful bouquets take a look at Georgie's blog:
http://www.commonfarmflowers.com/