unwind christmas time

Since we last spoke I have been in New York, Hong Kong, Bang Kok, Shanghai........

needless to say I am looking forward to some quiet family time over the holidays 

I predict I will be spending a lot of time here  

 

 

(image from pinterest source unknown)

 wearing something like this

image and pyjamas from Sleepy Jones

and well, if i must arise then maybe i will throw this on

 

lounge robe Zara 

I may even wander here 

and do a little of this 

no knead bread

whatever you are up to this Holiday season

I hope it is wonderful 

see you on the new year 

x Helen 

Christmas Cake

 Made Christmas cake today
This is not your traditional black dry tasteless cake
but a warm caramelly fruit filled delight with the warmth of ginger singing in its flesh
(ok maybe I am getting a little carried away)
But seriously this is a really delicious fruit cake
I sometimes bake it in 2 loaf tins during the year as a rich fruit loaf perfect for an afternoon snack or to pop in a lunchbox

I chose to decorate with a layer of marzipan
dusting of icing sugar and blanched almonds nestled into the top
but if you like you can of course decorate with the usual frosting also

I also put a layer of marzipan in the middle
just because I am a big fan of marzipan

RECIPE 

225g sultanas

225g raisins

110g candied peel

100g stoned dates

75g chopped dried apricots

50g crystallised ginger chopped very fine

125 ml hot strong tea

2 tspns vanilla essence

juice of half an orange or a whole clementine

275g softened butter

200g soft light brown sugar

75g dark brown muscovado sugar

5 free range eggs

1 tsp orange or clementine zest 

50g ground almonds

275g plain flour

1tsp mixed spice

1tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

50g flaked or nibbed almonds

METHOD

Pre heat oven to 150c

line a 20 - 23cm cake tin with parchment including a high collar around the sides

(that is a lining that stands proud of the tin)

to protect the cake during the long baking time

place dried fruit in a bowl and cover with hot tea, van essence and juice

leave to steep

Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy 

add eggs, 1 at a time incorporating each completely before adding the next 

stir in ground almonds and zest, 

sift in flour and spices

stir to combine

add steeping fruit with liquid and the flaked or nibbed almonds 

Transfer mixture to prepared cake tin

Your cake will not rise a lot as their is no raising agents in this cake but the eggs will make it rise a little 

place in the oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours 

or until a skewer comes out clean

leave to cool completely in tin

when the cake is completely cool tip out of tin and carefully peel away parchment paper.

brush cake with warmed apricot jam 

roll out your marzipan to fit over the cake 

carefully place marzipan over cake and smooth

add blanched almonds around the edge pushing them into the marzipan to secure

This cake will keep for up to 3 weeks in an airtight container

christmas Wishlist

The first of my wishlists

for Christmas 2012

Stackable Rings from 

Odette NY

Mugs 

John Derian for Astier de Vilatte

 An Hermes
Enamel Bracelet

A Ring from 

Satomi Kawakita

 This book 

by 

Deborah Needleman

Beautifully Illustrated by 

Virginia Johnson

or one of her beautiful shawls

Shawl by Virgina Johnson

These Arm warmers 

by

Eilis Boyle at Bow

More wishlists coming soon

xx

Wishing you a very Peaceful Christmas

This has been quite a year 

to think merely 12 months ago I was preparing for, what was, unknowingly

to be our last Christmas in our house in Ireland.

Now here we are in New York 

The adjustment for the children has been more difficult than

I anticipated but slowly, we are all finding our way.

I thought it appropriate on this Christmas eve to share with you

these beautiful photographs by someone whom I have met in my new life here in 

the big Apple

Meghan Hickey

There is such a quiet peace in her photographs

These are taken from a series called

"Sensible Longing"

They find the sacred in the Urban world

Meghan wrote this about the series

In many ways, the series Sensible Longing grew out of my budding relationship with the Rolleiflex medium-format camera I acquired a year and a half ago. I'd seen some work by another photographer on a Rollei, and I knew right away it was the tool I needed - the tone, the texture, the romance with light were all what I was looking for, plus I quite simply loved the square shape. As I began to learn more about this particular camera, its personality traits and limitations, I really began to appreciate the sensory experience it provides: looking down into the hood, half tuning out the noise around me, I steal a moment alone with the subject, and give myself permission to be present in a way that might not otherwise be possible. It's a contemplative moment, and in keeping with the spirit of the project. I will occasionally will use another medium-format camera, such as a Diana, for the series, but the Rollei is my partner in this enterprise.

Wishing you all the most peaceful and serene of

Christmas Days

x

Wreaths, Snow and Thank you's

Looking for a circle to make a wreath out of I came across these in Penney's.

Priced at €6 , they are silver and white balls on wire.

So I purchased a few and played with them, adding eucalyptus leaves, fir, pinecones and bells as that was what I had to hand.

 

I wove the branches around the circle and then wrapped the wire around the leaves to keep them in place adding a red and white gingham ribbon. I wanted a Gustavian looking wreath.

 

Here it is hanging on the chimney breast in the Living Room.

I do like wreaths indoors.

and on the front door

  

.............and we got snow this weekend, everything looks so pretty.

The garden, which was looking worse for winter wear, has a sprinkling of Christmas dust. 

The back field

 

The wall with the pampas grass hmmm those Pampas fronds would be lovely in the wreaths.

 

and quite by chance this festive combination of Silver Birch, Green Shrub and Red Dogwood.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say Thank You to all of YOU.

To those of you who have left comments and sent me encouraging emails, to the veteran bloggers who stop by and whisper reassuring words, You gladden my heart.

To all of you who believed enough to become "followers", and to those of you who wish to stay silent and watch from the corners of your world.

I have enjoyed this journey so much so far and look forward to even more fabulous experiences and posts in 2010.