Christmas approaches, and traditional rituals are being observed...
perhaps a little less of this or that, as we grow older....
The pansies are still in bloom. It appears this year I have won my competition with myself to keep them going until Christmas.
Despite a few short burst of intense heat, the weather has remained relatively pleasant lately, with temperatures hovering around 30c.
.JPG)
The pile of presents for our children and grandchildren is growing beside the Pink Christmas Tree...
I put on my ancient Red Cardinal apron, and made a hasty Christmas cake. This recipe is for non-cooks like me who left it until the last minute.
1kg mixed dried fruit
2 1/4 cups apple juice
2 cups self-raising flour
Boil mixed fruit and apple juice for three minutes.
Leave to cool to room temperature.
Add 2 cups flour.
Bake 2 hours at 160 c.
Naturally I decided to add variety, and put in some cherries and flaked nuts, plus cinnamon and nutmeg.
The cake is moist and delicious, and probably will not last very long.
We will sing carols at church, celebrating the First Christmas..
I made this cross-stitch about 20 years ago, when my eyesight was much keener :)
My dear friend V made this little pink paper Christmas house for our pink tree..
Isn't it gorgeous?
On Saturday I will be baking a leg of ham, a family favourite.
The glaze is made with ginger marmalade, brown sugar, mustard, and ginger ale.
It is decadently delicious as part of Christmas lunch with our family...
Looking forward to a visit from the grandies on Saturday..
They are such fun to have around.
I hope your preparations are going well.
Remember the reason for the season...
XXXX
Best wishes for your Christmas holiday celebrations! Your glazed ham sounds delicious and I am thinking how wonderful that cake must taste…perfect with a cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas
Leslie
Hostess of The Humble Bungalow
Thank you Leslie, the cake is a surprise, quite delicious for something without butter or eggs. Wishing you a wonderful family Christmas celebration, accompanied by some pretty snow.
DeleteAll looks lovely and ready to give joy and thanks to those lovely grandkids and your family. Have a blessed time dear friend. Just read your comment, thanks, sounds like your plans for 2023 are underway and exciting - so happy for you all.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the Christmas holiday - wish I could come by and sample that cake - good health and much happiness for the coming year.
Mary (and Bob) XX
Thank you Mary, and I would love to have you come by for cake, too. Best wishes for a very lovely and special Christmas season, as well as a wonderful New Year. Yes, we are so excited to be off across the Pacific once more next year! xxox
DeleteHave a lovely Christmas Patricia with your little ones - what a special moment for you to be able to share with them.
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of your fruit cake, and have written down the recipe. Nice and easy really appeals to me.
It will be a very different Christmas with three little ones around. I was trying to teach them about snow today - they recognise a snowman already, but it seems the concept of cold white stuff on the ground is a bit beyond them yet :) It is a very simple cake, but easy to add what takes your fancy. Have a lovely Christmas Rosemary.
DeleteHappy Christmas!
ReplyDeleteYour glaze sounds good.
Happy Christmas Salty Pumpkin. The glaze is very popular with the family, so hope it turns out well this year.
DeleteAs we are in for dropping temperatures here in Georgia (-20F), it will be an inside, relaxed Christmas Mass on TV. Going to make that cake tomorrow for my husband and me as we celebrated with nothing special. In fact, just got back from Florida, but they are going to be freezing as well. Have a Blessed, Merry Christmas with your family and little ones. God Bless. Mary in GA
ReplyDeleteOh my, it is very cold in Georgia, and across the continent according to our news sources. Keep warm and cosy and Mass on TV is a great invention which I watched a lot during Covid. Even Florida! Our Canadian friends used to Winter in Florida for the sunshine - who would have thought? Wishing you Blessings and a very Merry Christmas from Australia.
DeletePS I just noticed that there is no butter or oil in the cake Patricia!
ReplyDeleteYes, nor sugar unless you count the apple juice. That is why I do not think it will last long, and might dry out. It seems to be a Weight Watchers recipe.
DeleteThat's great Patricia - thank youX
DeleteDearest Patricia,
ReplyDeleteYou no doubt will enjoy having the family over for Christmas!
Yes, our eyesight is going down as we age but you mastered a perfect embroidery that still is looking perfect.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
Hugs,
Mariette
I am pleased I did a lot of cross-stitch back in the day, and they are all framed and come out from time to time. We are having Christmas day at one of our son's homes, but will look forward to family visits under the Pink Tree during the festive season. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas too, Mariette.
Delete💞
DeleteYour ham sounds delicious, Patricia. I have a ham for Christmas also, and should try this sometime. Your cross stitch is so pretty, and fitting as you sing carols at church. That little hanging angel is so sweet. And your Christmas cake sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you, dear Patricia. Thank you for bringing peace and goodness to your blog every week. I really enjoy reading your posts.
~Sheri
Dear Sheri, I love that you also have a Christmas ham. It is a tradition my parents always kept and I have carried it on. We enjoy ham and eggs on Christmas morning, as well as ham for the feast. I also enjoy roast turkey or chicken for Christmas too. Merry Christmas Sheri, and I so much enjoy your beautiful photos and blog too. Always a treat to visit you.
DeleteThat Christmas cake sounds divine, Patricia, but I’m surprised there are no eggs or fat in it. I shall have to try it because it’s very vegan friendly. My daughter are both non-dairy types, so that would be perfect. I love your decorations. We are having our Christmas tomorrow and Mack will be joining us too. :)
ReplyDeleteI do hope you have success with the cake Val. It is very moist and perfect for the non-dairy. Have a beautiful Christmas tomorrow.
DeleteMerry Christmas, Patricia! Your parcels are so pretty, waiting for your grandchildren. We are celebrating tomorrow (the 24th) with our family, and the 25th will be a quieter day with just one of our children whose in-laws have passed on.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely cross stitch piece, one to treasure. We will be going to church tomorrow evening and will be singing carols, as well. Enjoy your ham for the feast!
Christmas joy and blessings to you as you celebrate down under!
Merry Christmas Lorrie. We are excited to enjoy the twins' first conscious experience of Christmas. They are very curious about it all. Thank you re the cross stitch, which is my favourite one. I will always keep it. Wishing you peace and joy and all the blessings of Christmas.
DeleteGoodness me, I made a glazed ham for a dinner yesterday and my glaze was same as yours but without the ginger ale! I used dried ginger instead of ginger marmalade. It was good but I bet yours was better!😊 I loved this post showing us your pink Christmas tree and that lovely pink house ornament! Your cross stitch is perfect! Just this morning I was singing the last verse of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, sing it now, why don't you and think of me in America, your friend you have never met. ❤
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas Kay, singing God Rest right now. I love that you are glazing ham in ginger too. A slug of ginger ale really peps it up. Off to have another bit right now.
Delete