Christmas cooking and a full day in the kitchen

Today, we had an extremely chilled out day at home as we have both been working a lot recently and had lots to do with getting a whole new heating system in the house (including all new piping, radiators and boiler), me working two jobs and trying to get ready for Christmas and seeing friends and family - as lovely as that is, we just don't really seem to have had a quiet day at home for ages.

This meant that we really wanted to make the most of the time we had at home and together. We chilled in the morning and had a lye in, watched Sunday Brunch on the TV and then spent the rest of the day in the kitchen.

We have made our very first Christmas cake. It is a fruit cake but also has chocolate in too.

 The fruit and booze mixture looked and tasted pretty good on it's own

 It did then get quite tricky to mix in all of the eggs and dry ingredients. This is also the point when I was told that a wish should be made so fair point for mixing duties to change hands. Me and the hubby both got a wish this way.

 It looked and spelt delicious even before it went in the oven. We replaced the brandy that was in the recipe with Morgans Spiced Rum as you can see in the background of this picture.

 There was a little bit of mixture left over from filling the big tin so we did get these little tiny ones to eat with a cup of tea. Well it's only fair that we check it tastes alright before sharing it with other people at Christmas!

And finally, tah-dah!! The main event - our first ever Christmas cake.

We are having our very own Christmas day with some friends a few days early this year so that we can still see the family on Christmas day. This is for our very own "proper Christmas" on 19th December when we have a very chilled out day at one of our houses - cook our own Christmas dinner and just have a very chilled day together. There might even have to be a wander down to the local at some point just to fully complete the Christmas event - a tradition in my eyes that should always be maintained at Christmas.

Very busy that we have been indeed today. We also cooked two cottage pies (one for tomorrow and the other to freeze) and a huge pot of chilli for dinner with some leftover to go in the freezer (hopefully!)

Happy Birthday Lizzie Turner!!

One of my very close friends had a baby a few days ago. She was quite a bit early and absolutely tiny but is almost ready to go home now - she is doing very well.

Naturally I had to make a little something for her when she arrived. As she was early I wasn't quite as prepared as perhaps I should have been for this but I didn't do too bad. I did think about adding wings to the sack but I ran out of time and I think that it looks ok without. Her room is decorated with owls everywhere so this little outfit seemed quite fitting.

I did make the little hat as per the pattern that I found for a newborn but was very concerned when it was finished that it wasn't going to fit as it is sooo tiny.

However, as Lizzie came into this world slightly earlier than expected then it seems to fit pretty well.

It definitely does help that she is ridiculously cute - takes after her Dad so slightly unlucky in that sense but never the less she is gorgeous.

Congratulations Becky and Lewis (Mum and Dad)! I can't wait to meet her.