It's becoming another family Christmas tradition..

Taking a trip to Chatsworth House to ooooohhhhhhh and ahhhhhhhhh over their beautiful Christmas decorations.

  I  know that quite a few of you have also visited Chatsworth recently, so I'm conscious of posting photos of the same things.  So I'll just post a couple.

The photo above is of my favourite room. When we arrived here, there was hardly anybody else around and it was so quiet.  Snowflakes were being projected around the walls and it just seemed so magical to me.

And, I just love the photo of Violet losing her foot in the snow.  Check out that brilliant expression on her face. 

Have you seen that fabulous hat on her head?  So many people commented on it - my chest swelled with pride to know that I'd knitted it :0)

I trust you all enjoyed your weekend as much as I did.

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Christmas Trifle Recipe

Good morning to you all.

Today I'm going to be sharing with you the recipe for the bestest 'over 18's only', Christmas trifle in the whole world.  

I say 'Christmas Trifle', but you can make it whenever the mood takes you, at any time of year.  It works for other celebrations too, not just Christmas.

The origins of this recipe can be found on a page I ripped out of an old copy of Good Food magazine.  In the original recipe, Drambuie is the tipple of choice.  However, I prefer to use Framboise in mine.  

Are you ready?

Then I'll begin.

You will need the following ingredients:

350g/12oz mixed berries - or you could just use one particular variety.  Fresh or frozen.  You'll be needing a few extra to decorate the top of your trifle too.
225g/8oz Madeira cake - thinly sliced.

5 tbsp Framboise (or Drambuie)
Grated zest and juice of 1 large orange
1 litre of double cream
4 eggs
85g/3oz golden caster sugar
A few drops of vanilla extract or essence
8 tbsp bramble jam 

1. Preheat oven to 160c (140c Fan).
2. Put the mixed berries in the bottom of large, deep, ovenproof dish, and press down on them lightly to release some of their juice.
3. Now cover the berries with the thin slices of Madeira cake.
4. Spoon over the Framboise and the orange juice.  Then leave to soak for 15 minutes.
5. After the cake has soaked up the booze and orange juice.  Cover the pieces of the cake pieces by spreading the bramble jam over the top.
6. Now whisk together 600ml of the double cream, with the eggs, golden caster sugar, orange zest and the vanilla extract.  Then pour the mixture over the top of the jam.
7. Sit the dish in a deep roasting tin with enough hot water to come at least 5cm up the sides of your trifle dish. Bake for 1 hour - or longer.  Cooking times will vary as to the height and width of the dish you've used. The custard mixture should be just set with a little wobble.  Don't try and rush your cooking time by cranking up the heat - the slower it cooks the better it'll turn out. When it's cooked, leave to cool, then cover with cling film and keep in the fridge overnight.

When you're ready to serve your delicious trifle:  Whip the remaining double cream, then spoon it over the top.  You can then decorate it by positioning a few choice berries here and there.

In the Good Food recipe they also scatter lightly toasted, crumbled shortbread and finish with a dusting of icing sugar.

I am not a lover of trifles, but this baby is the business and is one of the tastiest desserts I've had.  It won't be any good for your waistlines though ladies, that's why I only make it once a year, when you're allowed to indulge in all foods that are extremely bad for you.

It does sound a bit of a faff to make, but trust me, it's really simple.  

If you do give it a go, I'd love to hear what you thought of it.  It's become our Christmas Trifle and maybe it'll become yours too.

I can't show you any photos of one that I've made because I won't be making mine until a couple of days before Christmas Day.  I just didn't want to post the recipe when you wouldn't be able to nip to the shops for the ingredients if you did want to try making one for you and your family.

Here's what the Good Food one looked like, to give you an idea.

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Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree.......................

Can you guess what my next Christmas tradition is?????

Decorating the Tree of course.

I've loved decorating the family Christmas Tree since I was knee high to a grasshopper (OK, so I'm not much taller than that now).

When I was young I was constantly on at my mum to haul the Xmas tree and decorations out of the loft, so that I could spend a few pleasant hours doing my Homes & Gardens impression trying to create the most beautifully decorated tree ever.

 And, after I'd decorated our tree, I was straight on the phone to my aunt, who lived just down the street, telling her that our tree was up and that I'd be straight round to start on hers.  I ran to her house (walking was not an option).  Flung open the doors and true to form my aunt would have all her boxes, stuffed with Christmas decorations waiting there for me - oh the joy!

I'm pleased to see that Violet has as much love for Christmas trees as I do. 

As you can see, we don't have a real tree.  In fact, this is the same
tree I've always decorated.  Yes, this very tree could be well over 30 years old.  It does the job brilliantly, so I don't see any need to replace it.  I suppose in a way, it's become a family treasure.  It's seen a whole lot of fantastic family Christmases afterall.

Since having Violet, I haven't been able to hang my beautiful glass baubles on the tree, but I have plenty of shatterproof and soft decorations that Violet can handle without me worrying that she's going to injure herself.

I'll bore you all with my Christmas bauble love another day, but for now, the tree is up - Ta Da!

Is yours up yet?

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What's in the box????

Last year I decided to create a box of seasonal related goodies, which we could open each year on 1st December.

So, what's in the box?

Lots of Christmassey goodness, that's what.

A few Winter Friends for Violet to play with.

Chris-Moose.  One of my favourite Xmas decorations.

So, that's where Santa has been hiding out!

Some Xmas viewing.  

I know, I know, it's not very good.  Our Xmas DVD collection desperately needs adding too.  Please feel free to recommend any good, family, Christmassey-type movies to me.  

I actually hated 'Love Actually' when I first watched it, but now I find it a lovely film to watch whilst I'm writing my Xmas cards or decorating the tree.  

A bit of Christmas reading for Violet. 

The Nutcracker is actually a fantastic pop-up book - so Violet's only allowed to look at it when she's being supervised.  

Another Xmas story and my cheesy Xmas CD collection - I love cheesy Xmas songs.  How about you?

And, lastly The Christmas Yearbook.

This is where I stick Xmas photos, write about our family Christmas, list Violet's presents, write down the momentous events that have happened throughout the year, and write wishes and aspirations for the forthcoming year.

I think there are about 20 years worth for me to complete - so when I'm old and grey it'll be something I can look back on with great affection.  No doubt there will be tears as well as smiles.

I bought this the year Violet was born - filling it's pages is now one of my Christmas traditions.

I know that the Xmas Box is quite sparse looking, but it's a work in progress.  I'm hoping to add to it each year.

Do you do anything like this?  

Or, can you think of something that my box is drastically lacking?

I'll be trying to list the things I love about this time of year, from now until the end of December.  I hope you won't get too bored.

I'd love to know about the things you and your family love (or even hate) about December, Xmas and the run up to the New Year.

I'm going to try and brave the slippery pavements later with Violet strapped to my back - wish me luck.

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