Monday 21 November 2011

Foodie makes and pretty parcels :)

Good morning

How was your weekend? I hope you weren't affected by the fog too much? We were lucky here - what fog we might have had overnight disappeared quite quickly leaving both Saturday and Sunday bright, sunny and a tiny bit chilly.

Now where did I leave things? Oh yes baking time. There was plenty of left over fruit from the Christmas cake, so Friday morning I spent more time in the kitchen baking and making;

Currant buns with cherries on top for my boys for after school

Then using a recipe I found on a blog last week - just can't remember whose! I made some fruit chutney - I tweaked the recipe to use what I'd got and trust me it smells & tastes delicious;

Some for us and some for pressies for family & friends :)

Saturday was CCM-day - Christmas Cake Making day. I started early as I knew from past experience the baking time is nowhere  near the 3 hours the recipe claims - I think it was almost 4 1/2 by the time it was done - perhaps I was being cautious this year - even remembering to wrap the tin in brown paper;

It made the house smell very festive and most importantly it made it out of the tin in one piece!

Its now wrapped up and shut away only being allowed out for a dosing with brandy each week. There's just the matter of the battle with marzipan and icing to come - oh and I need to find some suitable decorations for the top - I'd like subtle but knowing me it will end up being OTT!

The rest of the weekend passed in a blur of parties - one for a S&B group friends 70th on Saturday night. It was a lovely evening and I think a total surprise to her. Just wish I could have got up and danced to the rock-n-roll singer that was providing the entertainment for the evening.

Yesterday afternoon saw my sisters and other assorted relatives assemble at my Grandma's house to help her celebrate her 86th birthday. Lots of loud mad games involving cushions were played and lots of food was eaten and a good time had by all :)

That would normally be enough for a blog post but there was a thud on the doormat a little while ago. A parcel for me from Ali @ Magic Beans. I'd won her little giveaway the other week. Here's what was in my parcel;

 Sweeties and something lovely hidden in that envelope;

 This gorgeous necklace made by Ali :) Its so pretty and fits perfectly.

If you'd like to see more her work then she's a fab website too - www.mulberrydog.co.uk

Right I must dash - I've a Christmas Charity Shop parcel to wrap - hoping I can get a lift into town tomorrow to post it AND I can collect the parcel I missed the postman try to deliver this morning at the same time!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx




20 comments:

bellaboo said...

Your cake looks delicious! No one ever seems to eat Xmas cake here,so I don't bother making one.I can remember when I was a child, the fun of helping my Mum stir hers,and then decorating with the little red postbox,father Xmas and 'snowy' trees. :0)

Louise said...

All your cakes look delish. I don't make Christmas cake either because I'm the only person in this house who would eat it. But that's not such a bad idea I suppose ...

MelMel said...

Hi Vicki...oh the cake looks yummy!

Great use of labels on the home-made gifts! they set the jars of a treat!

We had no fog here, bit dull and cold today, the weekend was quite bright n sunny, so that was lucky!

Melx

Kashi said...

Vicki,
You sound great! I am glad you are having a wonderful time here at the start of the holiday season. No dancing! He He. So happy you are starting to feel better.

Unknown said...

Lovely post. i to made my xmas cake on saturday and i agree with you the smell of the house was gorgeous ;-) Mine took 3 hours but it was a good excuse to stay close and sew. Happy birthday for your nan. That chutney looks yummy to. Enjoy the rest of your week, dee x

Jackie said...

You have been a busy lady! Your cake looks yummy - can't wait to see it all decorated. Lovely necklace - very pretty x

Andrea said...

Hi Vicki,
The currant buns and cherries look fab!!
I love a the smell of a Christmas Cake baking, wonder what you wil decorate yours with? I use my old ones I have used for years, I never seem to tire of them.Have a lovely week x

♥ emma bear forever ♥ said...

Your cake looks wonderful. I know I'm naughty but I'm quite smitten with a gorgeous v=cake in Waitrose x

A Thrifty Mrs said...

Can I put my orders in for some buns, cakes and chutney now please? I'll be over to pick them up on Christmas eve. ;)

Becci bunny said...

the cake looks amazing, i wish i had the patience to make an xmas cake. the spiced fruit chutney looks yummy too, it would be ace if you could remember whos blog you got the recipie from :D

Deborah said...

You have been busy!! your cherry cakes look lovely I can't resist a Mr Kiplings cherry bakewell ;)

Bee happy x
Have a delicious day!

elegancemaison said...

Mmmmmn - I can smell that cake! And that spicy chutney. How lovely to be a Christmas visitor to your home to enjoy your delicious baking treats. Gone are the days when I did Christmas cooking. Or rather it's the family who have gone to far flung places across the globe. But - silly me. It was always just Mr EM and myself who really enjoyed the cake. I've never made chutney though make a point of buying 'homemades' at Christmas fairs.

lemonade kitty said...

Those currant buns look truly scrumptious and wouldn't last two minutes in our house, Lucey x

Unknown said...

cake looks fab! well done you. x

Claire said...

oh a christmas charity shop swap that sounds fun!!!

Jo said...

It's so nice to hear someone else say "buns" instead of fairy cakes, I thought I was the only one! I can only imagine how wonderful your house was smelling from the chutney and christmas cake baking!

Magic Bean said...

Thank you for such a lovely bit about the necklace. Sorry that the chocolate was bit random- the bar I had put by for you disappeared... Hope the kitkats arrived safely. And love the Orlando link- coincidences like that please me tons. Happy Wednesday, Ax

Donna -Little Tiny Stitches said...

Vicki, your chutney and cake look gogeous!! I canjust smell them too ;o)

I love your books from your previous post too my lovely! If they'd beeen in one of my CS's they'd have been about a fiver each at least!!
Such scrummy illustrations though!

So pleased you are on the mend now. Goodness, it seem like ages to me, so must seem even longer to you my dear :o(

Take care now my lovely. Looking forward to seeing your makes.
Love n hugs,
Donna xx

Lisa said...

You have been busy. Lots of good times and lovely presents and parcels too.
Lisa x

Anonymous said...

Your baking and chutney looks fabulous - I am in awe of anybody who makes their own Christmas cake, as I am the world's worst baker! Thank you for my parcel - it arrived this morning but I haven't opened it yet - waiting for Will to come home from school and open it with me! xx