The things I’ve seen, places I’ve been, things I’ve made…..

Yes, I really am that immature

I spent some time in Wales last month, for a weekend with my friends, it's tradition to all get together before Christmas and drink to much, eat copious amounts of cheese and get far to hot in front of an open fire that we probably don't even need....

The rabble

In not too much detail, I ate a rather lovely steak and Guinness pie, visited Port Meirion, became a detective not unlike that of Miss Marple only this time in "The Mysterious Case of who ate the Pork, cheese and pickle pies", drank a whole bottle of sloe gin and then moved on to the Bombay Sapphire, got very cold toes and managed to hold myself back from too much Stilton.

Nyom

I did not, as in previous years, have to throw my jeans to the back of my wardrobe in despair and hunt out the stretch comfy pants. I am thinner this time this year than last and I intend to keep it that way.

**********************************************

I have also been making some lovely little chocolate bags, I don't mean bags made from chocolate either, just lots of little shapes from a lovely mould and little festive bags I got from Lakeland. You can make gingerbread men, snowmen, stars and Christmas trees, and I do think they turned out rather well. They've made a lovely little addition to the spiced clementines for our families, and for friends and work colleagues and have certainly gone down a treat.

***********************************************************
I have also enjoyed a trip to the Christmas Market and some cherry beer, although it seems to be more centred around food and less about gifts every year and unless you're partial to a vast amount of sausage (filthy) or some strange pickled goods then it may not be the best place for you. I looked uber geeky as I sat and drank my beer in full on "just left work mode"

Geek-a-tron

**********************************************************

I have finally finished reading Air by Geoff Ryman, if you like sci-fi, you'll frikking LOVE this book, there are times when it's made me want to hurl but it's one of the best books I've ever read, I absolutely adore it.

**********************************************

And last and in no means least a couple of little things I'd like to share:

TJB was on the bus with me this morning, when we was looking all wistful I asked him what he was thinking about and he said when we first met. I love my husband very, very much and it's lovely to know it's not just me who's the sentimental and mushy one, and it's lovely that even seven and a half years on we're still as smitten as ever.

And after you've all been sick in your mouths, please may I present to you:

This rather amazing cock on someone's windscreen this morning, not drawn by me but so good I had to take a photo.

And the fortune that Slasher received in his cookie last night, me thinks the Silk Road Fortune Cookie company are trying less fortunes, more propaganda, especially when you see the ingredients......

Mmmmm....YUMMY!

Spiced Clementines

Who doesn't like boozy fruit at Christmas?

After spiced pear gate last year (only two sets of aunties and uncles liking it after slaving over hot jars and making the flat smell like pickle for months) I decided to go with something boozy this year. So spiced clementines it is.

I won't pretend I made up this recipe, I actually got it form Tesco's Food Club magazine, although it didn't tell you what kind of sugar to use or how much brandy to add so I'm just hoping that they turn out well. Time will tell anyway. I've made a couple of jars that aren't in Le Parfait jars just ones I had left over for re-cycling but as they don't have any vinegar or corrosive based juice in them I just washed and sterilised them.

So, I peeled a massive bowl of clementines (six for each jar), took off huge amounts of pith and saved two peels to cut into thin strips.

The after sterilising the jars (I got my beautiful ones form Lakeland as I'm completely obsessed with the place) I added the fruit with three clove, two cinnamon sticks and a star anise.

Then I added the syrup that I'd made from heating 50g of preserving sugar with 2 tablespoons of water then simmering until it thickened, then taking it off the boil I added 1 tablespoon of brandy and leaving it to cool for a couple of minutes before adding it to the jars and sealing.

They need to be kept to mature for a month and eaten after three months. Hopefully the family will enjoy them.

I want to eat them now they smell sooooooo good :D

For full photoset please have a nosey at my flickr Spiced Clementine set

A little bit about this blog

I decided to start a separate blog as I like to keep the one on my website more burlesque orientated rather than all the gumph that floats around in my head that I like to spill. So this is it. These are things that I have done, places I’ve been, things I’ve seen, drinks I’ve shared, story swaps, sparkly things, friends and family, loves, likes, hates, probably way too much wrestling info for anyone, general prattishness, previews etc.

My other half told me I should be keeping a diary considering the changes that have happened in the last year and a half and the things that are due to come. So here it is, my diary, well up to a certain point. I won’t be blogging about every little detail in my life as it will be tres boring and I’m not one for giving every part of myself away. I have someone beautiful and loving and the bestest to share it with already, so no juicy gossip I’m afraid there will however be lots of cake so if you’re all for less gossip, more cake then please keep checking and reading.