We put up our tree today. My daughter was very keen to decorate it. She’s off on her Gap Year travels, on January 1st, I think she should thoroughly enjoy the build up to Christmas at home. I love a real tree, but after a serious mishap (about 30 years ago) Our dog hurt her eye (she’d been trying to grab a decorated Christmas biscuit from the tree) we had to rush her to the Vet where she needed medicine and eye drops, the pine resin had exacerbated her injury, we decided that in future we would have a faux tree and no edible decorations!
A tree at Ham House last Christmas. If you have a local National Trust property it’s worth popping along for decoration inspiration (and the gift shop!)
More loveliness at Ham House last year!
November went by with it’s usual rush. I was delighted to be invited to Charlotte Pike’s book launch at Books for Cooks, the perfect venue for a fabulous cookery book. Charlotte is a talented chef and cookery school teacher. I bought her Hungry Student cook books for my niece in 2013, she found them incredibly useful, I’ll be getting both the Vegetarian and Baking books for my daughter next year.
Charlotte’s new book is ideal for busy families: reliable, delicious recipes which take ten minutes to prep in the morning, then slow cook during the day resulting in a tasty meal to enjoy in the evening. (I think the book makes a great Christmas present!)
Charlotte writes a super, very informative newsletter here on Substack Into the Kitchen with Charlotte Pike .
Last Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving (the first time ever for me!) My daughter-in-law spent part of her childhood in America, she has always celebrated. As they are renovating their house, my son asked if I would host a Thanksgiving dinner, I was delighted to. I now have two new recipes: Cornbread (my daughter-in-law’s scrumptious recipe) and pecan tartlets (I reduced the amount of syrup, sugar and butter). At last my Thanksgiving recipe books were used for the correct purpose! I couldn’t face cooking a Turkey (I have a Norfolk Bronze Organic bird on order for Christmas and I really want to focus on enjoying it.) I decided on Game Birds, we ate partridge, my daughter had a lentil and mushroom pie. It was a joyous meal, a lovely moment to focus on good things. This year I’m especially thankful for my precious new grandson, my lovely new daughter-in-law and my daughter’s hard work throughout her final year at school, which has ensured her place at University next October.
We’re keeping Christmas gifts simple this year , there are numbers of socks and books, a few treats such as scented soaps and lotions, and plenty of toys for my little grandsons. My ultra efficient daughter made a list, we ventured into Kingston, shopped, came home and now everything is wrapped. In the past I have been known to be wrapping Christmas presents (for many years in fact) at 11pm on Christmas Eve!
I’ll be meeting friends for coffee later in the month. We’re so fortunate to have The Petersham Nurseries near by. The Tea House is ideal for coffee and cake, warm and cosy, with extra blankets for your knees should you feel chilly. It’s particularly lovely on a snowy day. I took the photograph of the frozen fountain two Decembers ago.
The lifestyle shop is always worth a visit, at present it is full of inspiring decorations and table settings.
Next week I’m venturing into London for an event at Fortnum and Mason’s Jane Lovett is hosting a demonstration of recipes from her book ‘The Get Ahead at Christmas Book’. I’m especially looking forward to the evening as I’ll be meeting two friends there, I hope to get lots of super photos, Fortnum’s is always entrancing at Christmastime.
As well as Mince Pies, Christmas Cake and a Buche de Noel, I usually make a Ginger Bundt Cake at Christmas. I use the Christmas Tree pan, it looks fabulous with a sprinkle of icing sugar, and keeps well for several days. (One year, having seen the idea online, I imagined the trees were mountain tops, I added skiers - bought from a model railway shop, I was really pleased with it, until someone pointed out that I that I’d forgotten the skis!)
After last Christmas’s huge celebration, we are having a quieter Christmas this year, just six of us. Somethings are non negotiable, whatever the size of our party. Obviously the Turkey, with all the trimmings, the multitude of puddings, the Port and Stilton.
We also have the same starter, every year, it’s become a family tradition! Caviar, Smoked Salmon and Quails Eggs. As we are not millionaires, we need to use a faux Caviar. I have found Arenka fits the bill. You can purchase a tin at the fish counter at Waitrose, hurry, it does sell out a week or so before Christmas.
On my Instagram yesterday, two memories appeared, my two previous December newsletters. I thought I would share links to them for you, as I now have more readers.
As you may see from my earlier December newsletters, I love reading (or watching) golden age detective fiction by Agatha Christie (and other novelists) . It’s lovely to find something of the same genre, but new.
Anthony Horowitz’s latest novels are set both in the present and towards the end of the golden era! I love the constant switching between times, the subtle references to characters and plots from those classic books, the satisfying twist and, of course, the solution, with all protagonists present, towards the end of the book! (I’ve already ordered the third book which is due to be published next April!)
If you have little or no time this month to read the novels, the BBC have made the first books into two fabulous series, perfect to watch on the iPlayer over a couple of winter evenings.
If you have no interest in detective fiction, then these short stories ‘A Merry Christmas and Other Christmas Stories’ by Louisa May Alcott are perfect , for a longer novel ‘Winter Solstice’ by Rosamund Pilcher is ideal.
Have a great Christmas and don’t forget to use your leftovers! I made a scrumptious Turkey and Ham Pie for the day after Boxing Day, last year. Super quick and really delicious.
Wishing you a Happy and Peaceful Christmas
Jude xx
You're making me feel all festive Jude! Ham House looks gorgeous and I must look up Charlotte's new book.
Lovely as always Jude. You are the spirit of a warm and cosy Christmas. Can't wait for Jane at Fortnums.