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The chill-out Christmas challenge!

Chill-out-this-Christmas

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The chill-out Christmas challenge!

I adore everything about Christmas – the food, the twinkly lights and that anticipation of unwrapping something or giving someone you love a gift you know they will love.

I do, however, think we (ok especially me!) put too much pressure on ourselves trying to make everything perfect. And there is just SO much to do! This year, I have 27 people to buy for, a family gathering to organise, a huge amount of wrapping to do, a multitude of Christmas cards to write – and of course that’s at the same time as juggling all those other elements of daily life: work, cooking, cleaning, children etc. Despite being able to acknowledge all that – I still want everything to be perfect!

I make my own cards and so do the children, I try to choose special, personal gifts for everyone – all beautifully wrapped of course, I want to cook everything from scratch and for everyone to sit at the table peacefully and enjoy every morsel. I even like each of us to take it in turns to open our gifts on Christmas morning (while I am making note of who sent what for the thank you cards!!) Yes, yes I AM expecting too much, especially for three under-fives.

Last year, while trying to be Mrs Perfect, I ended up in tears after worrying that the turkey hadn’t fully defrosted and I was going to poison us all. It’s just not worth getting stressed about.

Also, this weekend whilst out on a rare, and very cold,
night out I saw so many homeless people sat on the
pavement begging us festive revellers for loose change.
It really did put things into perspective for me.

So, although I can’t compromise on that beautiful gift wrapping and hand-made cards – that’s going just too far, I am going to go with the flow on Christmas Day, we will eat an M&S lunch at my parents’ house, the children can run amok and I WILL relax and have fun and treasure the fact that I am incredibly lucky to have a loving family, plenty of food to eat and a warm and cosy home.

In the true spirit of Christmas I am not going to encourage you to buy a diary or cookbook this week, or to enter our competition, but if you have just a small amount spare perhaps you could consider giving a donation to this homeless charity. http://england.shelter.org.uk/home

Shelter Christmas Emergency

According to Shelter, 75,000 children will wake up on Christmas morning, homeless.

It’s just heartbreaking.

 

 

 

2013 diaries | How to cook the perfect Traditional Turkey Roast

The perfect Traditional Roast Turkey recipe

The perfect Traditional Roast Turkey recipe

How to cook the perfect Traditional Turkey Roast this Christmas

It can seem a daunting task, but with a little planning and organisation the perfect traditional Christmas dinner is easily achievable.

And to make things simple for you we have gathered together our favourite festive recipes and published them online as the Dairy Diary Favourite Festive Recipes.

Included in the collection is the Traditional Turkey Roast recipe which will guide you through the whole process of preparing and cooking:

  • The perfect roast turkey
  • Chestnut stuffing
  • Cranberry sauce
  • Turkey gravy

Dairy Diary Favourite Festive Recipes is formatted for mobile devices as well as your PC. So you can easily read the ingredients list when shopping and use the recipe on your phone or tablet in the kitchen – or you can print the recipe if you prefer.

In addition to the Traditional Roast Turkey you will find an inspirational choice of recipes for the whole festive break including starters, main courses, puddings, party food and drinks.

And it’s FREE, so why not check it out now?

2013 diary | Free Festive Recipes collection from Dairy Diary 2013

Free Festive Recipes Dairy Diary 2013

Free Festive Recipes collection from
Dairy Diary 2013

This Calypso Pudding will liven up any dinner table over the Christmas break.

It is just one of the fabulous recipes featured in the Dairy Diary Favourite Festive Recipes collection available FREE at http://www.dairydiary.co.uk/festive-recipes

Dairy Diary Favourite Festive Recipes collectionFestive Recipes has been formatted for mobile devices and PCs, so you can easily read the ingredients when shopping and follow the recipes in the kitchen or print from your computer.

Take a look now http://www.dairydiary.co.uk/festive-recipes

Christmas delivery

There still time to order the
Dairy Diary 2013 and
Take a Box of Eggs cookbook
for delivery before Christmas.

Wallace & Gromit’s Great British Tea Party

Wallace & Gromit's Great British Tea Party

Wallace & Gromit’s Great British Tea Party

Put the kettle on. Wallace & Gromit’s Great British Tea Party is back!

The Christmas season is in full flow after the start of advent yesterday. It’s so indulgent and decadent, it’s nice to give a little back and do something special to help those less fortunate.

People from all walks of life are being
invited to put the kettle on and get
baking to take part in Wallace & Gromit’s
Great British Tea Party this December.

The Great British Tea Party is the perfect way to get together with friends, family and colleagues for a traditional teatime get-together that raises money for sick children. Every penny really does count and helps thousands of patients in children’s hospitals and hospices.

If you would like to host a tea party then please register today online by clicking here http://www.wallaceandgromitfoundation.org/register or email info@wallaceandgromitfoundation.org for your fantastic and free fundraising pack!

And what to bake?

How about these festive treats? Who could resist……

Cinnamon Stars recipeCinnamon Stars recipe
These biscuits are soft and
chewy when baked.

Wrap in pretty, festive paper
and give to friends and
relations who visit over Christmas.

St Andrew’s Day

St Andrew's Day

An icon of St. Andrew the Apostle by the Bulgarian iconographer Yoan from Gabrovo. 19th century.

On Friday it’s St Andrew’s Day – commemorated by the Scottish to remember their patron saint.

Andrew was a fisherman from Galilee, one of the original apostles who spread the gospel.

He was crucified by the Romans for his advocacy of Christianity. Some 300 years after his death the emperor decided to move his bones.

Legend has it that a monk was warned of this by an angel, who told him to move St Andrew’s bones to keep them safe. The monk transported them from Greece to Scotland. The place where he brought them shore is now known as St Andrews.

Of course, nowadays St Andrews is famous for
more recent events, such as the meeting place of
William and Kate – at Scotland’s oldest university –
and for its magnificent golf course.

I haven’t been fortunate enough to visit yet, but it does look like a lovely place, with magnificent beaches. Perfect for a blustery walk followed by a fish and chip supper!

 

 

For a taste of Scotland try these two delicious recipes

Scottish Oatcakes recipe and Cock-a-Leekie Soup recipe

Cock-a-Leekie Soup  and Scottish Oatcakes – both recipes are taken from the Around Britain cookbook.

2013 diary | Ten things you should know!

Ten things you should know from the Dairy Diary 2013

The sheer volume of things we need to know on a day-to-day basis is staggering. Far too much to be able to recall at a moment’s notice.

Here’s a list of 10 facts that you may need to know in the next few days – see how many questions you can answer.

Do you know…

  1. whether to tilt the head forwards or backwards to stop a nosebleed?
  2. how many years a Tin wedding anniversary celebrates?
  3. when Sagittarians are born?
  4. what is the maximum size for a Royal Mail letter?
  5. how many level teaspoon measures equal one tablespoon?
  6. how many grams (approx.) equal 16 oz (1lb)?
  7. when is the next partial lunar eclipse?
  8. how to remove deodorant stains from clothing?
  9. how many hours ahead of London is Tokyo?
  10. which form of exercise involves no strain, just slow, relaxing movements to tone your body?

How did you do?

You will find the answers to these questions and hundreds of essential facts and figures in the Dairy Diary 2013. There’s so much in it! Take a closer look…

Answers

  1. Forwards; pinch the soft part of the nose for 10 minutes (seek medical advice if the bleeding does not stop).
  2. 10
  3. November 23 – December 21
  4. 240mm x 165mm
  5. Three
  6. 450
  7. 25 April 2013 shortly after 8pm.
  8. Sponge with a hydrogen peroxide solution; apply heavy-duty liquid detergent to the area; wash.
  9. Nine
  10. Pilates

The Dairy Diary is Britain’s best-selling home diary (30+ million sales since 1982) and is available for just £6.99, making it the perfect Christmas gift for family and friends.

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