Recipe: Christmas Cake - Stage 1

I followed this tasty looking recipe for my gorgeously tasty Christmas cake- the first I've ever made.

There are several stages to making the perfect Christmas Cake the cake, the feeding and the decorating.

I have never attempted a Christmas cake before but I thought if G and I were spending Christmas day at home together then, as my first year as a wife, I should make the effort this year.

Stage 1 - How I baked the cake:

Ingredients:

• 
  
• • 150 grams currants
  • 350 grams raisins
  • 50 grams glace cherries
  • 200ml cold earl grey tea
  • 75 grams chopped pecans
  • 150 grams butter
  • 90 grams soft brown sugar
  • 1 orange grated
  • 150 grams plain flour
  • 75 grams ground almonds
  • 1/2tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4tsp ground ginger
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon black treacle
  
  
  18cm round tin
  Temp 150C
  yield approx 12 slices
  
  
  
  

Method:

1. Place all of the dried fruit in the earl grey tea, stir and place  in the fridge over night.

2.Preheat oven to 150C and prepare tin.

3. Cream butter and sugar together then add orange zest.

4.Add eggs one at a time (adding tbsp if mixture starts to curdle) Beat in treacle.

5.Sift in dry ingredients, then mix this alternatively with the soaked fruit, into the creamed mixture. Fold in pecans.

6.Pour into prepared tin and bake in the oven, until a screwer inserted into the cake comes out clean.

7.Brush with more earl grey and wait until completely cold before turning out.

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Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Rings

Wow these little tasty treats were very welcome last night.  I was inspired by the link that Emily posted this week on Cupcakes and Cashmere.  Mine don't look quite as delicate and perfect as these ones, however this certainly didn't detract from the taste!

I used cooking apples as it meant that they had a sour taste that cut through the sugar and oil, and I substituted the sugar on the outside for icing sugar for an extra bit of sweetness.

Ingredients

4 large apples (any variety)

Batter:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 large egg

1 cup (250 ml) milk (I used lactofree)

1/2 cup oil, for frying

• Pour enough vegetable oil into a frying pan to cover the bottom of the pan by an inch and heat.  The oil needs to be really hot before you start. (You could always use a deep fat fryer).
• Cut the apples into slices (about 5mm - 1cm thick)and then cut out the core and cut off the peel.
• Mix icing sugar and cinnamon onto a plate ready for dipping the rings once they are cooked.
• Mix up the batter and have a sheet of kitchen roll at the ready.
• Dip the apple rings into the batter and drop into the hot oil, about 4 at a time depending on how big your pan is.
• Fry on each side until brown (it only takes a couple of minutes on each side), remove from the oil and place onto the kitchen roll to absorb some of the oil.
• Roll into the cinnamon sugar mixture and serve while still warm.

We served ours with toffee yogurt, but they would go fantastic with toffee or vanilla ice cream.

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Turning Wintery

While I have been off work looking for a new job I have been able to make the most of the lovely autumnal days and head out for some brisk walks.  I tend to just head along the seafront but I thought it might make a nice change to head up the hill and along the racecourse.  

There are some really fantastic views from up here and it's nice as it feels almost a bit countryside!

I saw some gorgeous red and orange colours as the different plants were turning and now a lot of leaves have fallen it definitely feels wintery.

Bring on the chilly weather, burning fires, crisp frosty mornings and the wintery Christmas season.

Autumn Check

Scarf, Cardigan and Hat - All Aubin and Wills, Grey Sweater - Topshop, 
White LS Tee - Primark, Black Skirt - Matalan, 
Thick 100 Denier Tights,  M&S, Boots - Next

I love it when the weather starts to turn meaning that it's time for layers and scarves.  I am delighted that I just found this scarf in a pile of bits and bobs from last Christmas.  

This was one of the last items I bought from Aubin and Wills before it shut down and I fell in love with the soft Merino Wool and pale colours.

I'm never sure if yellow is a good colour for me but I was so excited when I just found this scarf again, still with it's tags on, it felt like a brand new purchase and I had to wear it today.

I very much miss Aubin and Wills and still find myself kitted out in their classic pieces.

What Made Me Smile This Week

Hello Everyone - Happy Friday!

Here are some bits and bobs that I've been loving this week.

Really liked this post on Design Sponge  '26 ingenious ideas for your home'

Martha Stewart's website includes fab organisation tips, tasty recipes and ideas for your home

I've been wanting to find an app for collaging photos and read a recommendation that Instapicframes was a good free one.  I'm liking it so far and although the free version is pretty basic it's exactly what I wanted for now.

These 2 collages are just ones that I was trying to see how it worked - but you get the idea - you can add text, change the way the frames look, change the effects and pick different layout formats.

Discovered Marmalade Cafe at 237 Eastern Rd, Brighton, BN2 5JJ - Love it!

Also this week I discovered Kate Spade's blog and this article on Zabar's in New York made me desperate to visit the city

These tights/leggings are really making me feel Autumny and are making me think about different tight and dress combinations for this season.

Recipe: Butternut Squash, Rosemary and Chilli Pasta

Last night was a recipe that I had wanted to try for ages but I wasn't sure what G would think.  However it turned out to be a massive winner and a definite on the 'do it again' list.

I amalgamated lots of recipes together and did a search in general for butternut squash pasta, and then used the different flavour combinations to create this recipe.

Am loving the rigatoni with this.  Never used it before as normally a fusilli or penne lover, but I'm going to be sticking to rigatoni now - love it!

Ingredients

1 clove garlic

1 red chilli (you want to have a good bite to the meal but just use as much chilli as you like)

1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 tub passata (500g)

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 butternut squash

Proccutio 

Salt and pepper

200g dried rigatoni

Method

• Chop butternut squash and roast with salt, pepper, olive oil, rosemary sprigs.
• In a pan heat some oil and cook the chopped onion, garlic and chilli.
• Pour in the passata and rosemary and mix
• Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the butternut squash once roasted to the sauce.
• Cook the pasta and once cooked toss into the sauce.
• Pour into bowls and add the shredded proccutio on top.

Outfit Inspiration: Autumn is coming

Second Hand Barbour Jacket, Dorothy Perkins - Super Skinny Jeans,
Next - Western Boots,  Essie 'Fiji' 

I want to be able to use my blog to share where I find my clothes and inspiration for outfits as I find that a lot of the blogs out there are great, if you're tiny!  I'm not.  In all of my adult life I've been bigger, having gone from a size 20 down to a size 16, where I am now.  People often say that I have good style, but I often don't believe it because I'm busy thinking how much better the outfit would look if I was slim.

I find it so hard a lot of the time to put outfits together because I see things on skinny people and think that I can pull them off!! I must remember to tell myself 'No'.  Not in a negative way, as I think it's positive to embrace how you look, but I think it is important to say No and be REALISTIC about your size.

It has taken me a long time to find what suits, and often I don't get it right.  But I hope that by sharing what can work on here, those of you out there who are bigger ladies and struggle will feel inspired.

I am loving the chilly weather meaning I can embrace coats, boots and layers.  Having just picked up the newest Simple Things, a mug of green tea and rain outside is most certainly making me embrace the autumnal layers.

Super purchase is my early Xmas prezzie from G - my good as new second hand Barbour from Dirty Harry's in Brighton for £100.00!!

My Autumn Must Haves

Lovely Winter Waxed Barbour Jacket

My Autumn Must Haves....

The clocks went back this weekend....It's officially gloomy and dark...and ever nearing winter!  There are a few things I'm really craving this autumn.  Most involve being comfy and cosy!  What are your Autumn must haves this year?  I would say most certainly the blanket from Loaf is a definite (if only it wasn't quite so many pennies!)

Clarks Chelsea Boots

Woodwick Trilogy Candle - Warm Woods

Gorgeous blanket from Loaf

Honey and Almond Pop Corn