Twenty Twelve

The New Year is upon us. 

I am feeling excited about all the possibilities and opportunities it will bring.

I am not keen on resolutions. I just want it to be awesome. 

Wishing you much peace, love and hapiness for the year ahead.

I look forward to sharing it with you.

x jody

Our Christmas

So we made it to the other side. We had one of the best Christmas's ever. The little people were so so excited, it really made the day. That and the amazing amounts of super delicious food, alcohol and not to mention fabulous company. Highlights were the ham catching on fire, crazy toy assembly in the backyard, hubs and I  in matching outfits - not intentionality, pimms cocktails, no arguments, my ace pudding, Lyla devouring a whole turkey leg and then some. 

How was your Christmas?

x jody

Merry Christmas

I am all set and ready to go. The past week was a hectic one for me, work hours increased, preparing for interstate visitors as well all the shopping, wrapping, cooking and getting organised for the big day.

My parents arrived yesterday from Sydney to spent the week with us. Christmas is a pretty special time in our house. Even more so this year is the first the little ones have really understood whats going on. They are super excited, which makes excited too. My brother and some friends will join us too, we'll will spend the day as a family, cooking, eating, giving presents, drinking and celebrating together. And I can't wait.

Thank you for all your support, kindness and friendship over the last year. Thank you for stopping by my little space and for all your comments and wise words. They warm my heart and brighten my day.

Wishing you much peace, love and happiness.

See you on the other-side.

xx jody

Its Never Too Late For Pudding

I have taken a bit of a step back this week. The little ones have been tired and grumpy, well we all have been. I decided to concentrate on them, give them my full attention, do a few extra festive activities and try to tick a few things off my to-do list! 

Not sure I accomplished all I set out too, but on the most part we've had a good week, shaken the grumps away, had lots of fun and done lots of Christmas baking! {good for the kids, not so good for my non-existent waist line!}

The highlight would have to be the Christmas puddings, like most things, I like to leave them to the last minute. I find making them at this time gives a lighter pudding, which I prefer. This is Stephanie Alexander's recipe from The Cooks Companion cookbook {with the edition of dried figs}. It's a great simple recipe that I have been using for quiet a few years, its not as heavy as other puddings, always seems to work well and everyone loves it!

It's never too late to make Christmas puddings!

Ingredients

360g butter

180g plain flour

2 1/2 cups fresh white breadcrumbs

260g seedless raisins

260g currants

125g candied peel

180g sultanas

180g dried figs chopped

180g dark brown sugar

grated zest of 1 lemon

1/2 nutmeg, freshly grated

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 eggs

100ml brandy

600ml milk

Method

Grate butter to achieve 360g {measure carefully.} Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. The mixture should be fairly wet. Increase milk a little, if necessary. Leave overnight.

Next day, taste a little and check it has enough spice for your liking and adjust if required. {I always forget to do this and have never had a problem.}

Pack mixture into 2 x 1 litre buttered basins/pudding tins, cover each with a disc of greaseproof paper and a double sheet of foil. Tie securely under the rim with a doubled length of string and replace lid if it has one. 

Stand each tin on a wire rack inside a stock pot and add boiling water to come two-thirds up sides of basins. Boil for 6 hours, topping up stockpots as needed with more boiling water. Cool and store in the fridge until Christmas Day.

The puddings will take at least 1 hour's boiling on Christmas Day to be really hot, but can boil away for a lot longer. Serve with custard or ice-cream or both and flame the turned out pudding with brandy if you like.

My little ones love cooking, so this was no exception and it's tradition for everyone to have a stir and make a wish!

Are you a pudding fan? Do you make your own?


How has your week been? 


Have a lovely weekend!

x jody

It's Begining to Look a lot Like Christmas

Our tree is finally up. We spent the day shopping, decorating and listening to carols. The house smells of pine. And now it really feels like Christmas is upon us.

I don't like tinsel. I couldn't get the kiddies to sit still for a decent photo in front of the tree. I love our mix matched decorations. Lyla hated the tree in the car, now she can't keep away from it. No Santa photo for us this year, queue was too long for me. I love my new Mexican tin Angel. I love Christmas but am not quiet ready. But Almost.

Are you ready? 

Choc-Gingerbread

We love yummy gingerbread men in our house, but I have never made our own. So yesterday we decided to give it a crack. We got everything ready only to realize I didn't have a 'man' cutter so we raided the playdough  box and improvised. I'm not so good at following recipes so used a basic one and tweaked it a little by adding some cocoa and m+m's, for something different. So good.

Ingredients

• Melted butter, to grease
• 125g butter, at room temperature
• 100g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
• 125ml (1/2 cup) golden syrup
• 1 egg
• 375g (2 1/2 cups) plain flour
• 1- 2 tsp ground ginger {depending how much kick you like}
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 1-2 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• Plain flour, to dust
• mini m+m's or other things for decorating 

Method
Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Brush baking trays with butter to lightly grease.

Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar in a bowl until light and creamy. Add golden syrup and egg and beat until combined. Stir in the flour, ginger, mixed spice, cocoa and bicarbonate of soda. Turn on to a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.

Press dough into a disc or three, cover in plastic and refrigerate for half an hour to rest.

Place dough between two sheets of baking paper and roll out until about 5mm thick.

Use a cutter to cut out shapes. Any will do. Place on trays about 3cm apart. Repeat with excess dough.

Press in mini m+m's or other decorations. {if there are any left!}

Bake in oven for 7-10 mins. Depending if you prefer a softer or firmer gingerbread. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.

They got a big tick from the kiddies. They had lots of fun making them and scoffed them all down. Think we might even attempt a gingerbread house just before Christmas! 

Happy weekend! 

What have you got planned?

Adapted recipe from here.

Little Red Photography - The Shoot

I am so excited to share with you some of the amazing photos from our shoot with Little Red Photography.

Linking up with Faith Hope and a Whole Lotta Love for Wordless Wednesday.

x jody