Day 24 Christmas Mix

We are actually here, it's Christmas Eve!!! I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by this month. I've been wondering how I was going to do to round up this Advent Calendar & had grand ideas of amazing cakes. Then the reality of the fact that I still have Christmas to prepare for kicked in, coupled with some last minute Christmas Eve present shopping. In a word, time just ran out - I just about managed to catch the light to take these pictures :)

I'm taking care of desserts this year and the only request I had was for Apple Crumble - tasty but not particularly seasonal. So instead of showing my actual Christmas dessert, I whipped up three tasty snacks that can be enjoyed on the day (or any other time for that matter). All of these take less than half an hour to prepare at least and are sure fire favourites...

Check out the recipe here. This is an old classic and takes about 10 minutes max - love it. 

The recipe and lots of cool variations can be found here. I added marshmallows to mine and didn't quite manage the clean cut finish that they have but it tastes just fine :).

And finally for awesome simplicity check out the recipe here. The link for is a recipe for plain and toffee popcorn, I didn't bother making any plain popcorn so I doubled the toffee mix to make sure it covered all of the popcorn. The plan was to save it till tomorrow but it's all gone already!

Merry Christmas & I hope you have a beautiful day tomorrow!

Peace & Love

xx

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Day 22 - Christmas Cornflake Wreaths

This is yet another offering from the mighty Nigella Lawson's Christmas book - Christmas Cornflake Wreaths. They are basically made from marshmallows, cornflakes and sprinkles and as I love Chocolate Cornflake Cakes it seemed like a nice one to try.

Nigella says in her recipe book that the wreaths are very sweet and that children adore them. I'll be testing the children theory this Christmas but I would agree that they are very sweet. That said I did nibble quite a bit while I was making the wreaths so it can't have been that bad!

The wreaths can be made up to a week ahead and are really simple, here is the recipe if you want to try. 

Recipe (makes 12)

100g butter

200g mini marshmallows

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

250g cornflakes

Sprinkles

1. Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat then add the marshmallows, stirring until all melted and smooth. 

2. Take off the heat and stir in vanilla and almond extracts followed by the cornflakes.

3. Take some mixture about the size of a small satsuma and roll into a ball. Then flatten using the palm of your hand and mould into the shape of a wreath, making a hole in the middle. The mixture is sticky but is slightly easier to work with if you lightly grease your fingers.

4. Decorate with sprinkles.

Leave to set for at least 2 hours and then store in an airtight container between sheets of greaseproof paper.

Wow, only two days left of the Advent Calendar and two days left until Christmas, I can't believe how quickly time is flying by, this time next week it will be all over!

Happy Cooking :)

Peace & Love

xx

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Day 20 - Prosecco & Pomegranate Jelly

Today is my first drink type post & I have been dying to try the Prosecco and Pomegranate Jelly from Nigella Lawson's Christmas Book that I stole from my sister!

There's something so regal and enchanting about pomegranates, I can sit there for ages picking the seeds one by one and as Prosecco is one of my favourite alcoholic beverages, this dessert is a match made in heaven.

To get the recipe click on this link which has taken the recipe from the book verbatim. I halved it and used 5 gelatin leaves as I wanted it to be set a bit firmer. I also used glasses rather than a jelly mould, mainly because I don't have a mould but also these glasses are way cuter. They were an early Christmas gift from my sister & I love them!

Another variation is to use shot glasses and top with Maraschino Cherries, I thought they looked pretty nice too. 

As an update, most Christmas presents have been purchased, all that's left are the homemade ones which need to be done as close as possible to the time... Such joy!

Enjoy

Peace & Love

xx

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Day 17 - Christmas Boozy Ice-Cream In A Chocolate Cup

Ice-cream is happiness condensed - Jessie Lane Adams

As I have friends and family around the world who are celebrating this Christmas in the sunshine, (in particular I'm thinking of my mum in Jamaica, not to mention my aunt, cousins and many dear friends), it is only right that I do a sort of warm weather Christmas treat; and Rum & Raisin ice-cream seemed as good a place to start as any!

Perhaps the most exciting thing about this dessert is the chocolate cup that the ice-cream sits in. I got the technique for making them from one of my newest books called 'The Vintage Tea Party Book'  by Angel Adoree founder of the Vintage Patisserie. Basically you mould the melted chocolate around a balloon that is partially blown up and then very gently peel it away to reveal the edible cup. A bit fiddly but very cute.

If you are in the sunshine, you'll have this eat this one quickly before it all melts but I don't see that to be a problem :).

Peace & Love

xx

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Day 11 - Christmas Cake Pop Baubles & Molly Bakes...

I've been making zillions of Cake Pops recently though these babies are my first ever upside down cake pops and I love them!

Cake Pops are simple (in theory) to make, but things often go wrong so it ends up taking three or four times as long as it should. I still haven't cracked it which frustrates me no end, surely by now I should be the Cake Pop Master! That said, I have just secured myself some classes with the writer of one of my latest book purchases, Molly Bakes a cool bakery in London Fields, Hackney. Maybe she can shed some light on how to get it right every time!

Whilst getting frustrated with myself for my lack of mastery over the mighty Pop, I stumbled across the quotes below & they really struck home. There is no substitute and/or fast track for experience. How often are we hard on ourselves for not handling a situation when we've never done it before, let alone when we've given ourselves a bit of a chance? I've certainly been giving myself a hard time this week and am determined to be a bit kinder to myself...

We learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. One becomes in some area an athlete of God. Martha Graham

“A man went to Istanbul, his first visit there. On his way to a business meeting, this man lost his way. He began raging at himself for getting lost, until a realization allowed him to overcome his anger. "How can I be lost? I've never been here before?" pp 104-105” Melody Beattie, The Lessons of Love: Rediscovering Our Passion for Life When It All Seems Too Hard To Take.

So back to the cake pops; these cuties are vanilla flavoured and are fashioned after Christmas Baubles, I haven't figured out yet whether you could actually hang one on a Christmas Tree but given that I only made a few, they'll be gone before I can work it out!

Update! Since this post I have done a photo how-to post for making cake pop balls... Not that I am now the expert but I reckon I can at least share what I've learnt through all of my failures :)

Peace & Love


xx

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Christmas Is Coming!!!

It's official, Christmas is well & truly on it's way! I love Christmas for two things, family & food. As this is my first Christmas as an International Blogger and Ting, I thought it would be nice to do my very own Advent Blogendar (did you see what I did there? Blog + Calendar = Blogendar, yeah? OK cool :)).

So as a gift from me, everyday in the lead up to Christmas I will be posting various Christmassy sweet treats, cakes, desserts, cake pops etc and maybe even a drink or two! It will be a challenge but I hope that you will enjoy it as much I plan to.

Today I have some Fruit Cake Cupcakes topped with marzipan and icing. The best thing about fruit cake is that it lasts for ages so I can take my time eating them. I hope you are having a great week whatever you're up to!

Peace & Love

xx

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