Shortbread Biscuits and Pantomimes

There has been more baking of mince pies and also shortbread biscuits for the children's Christmas pantomime.  Here is the shortbread recipe (also by Paul Hollywood).

Yummy Shortbread Biscuits

225g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
110g caster sugar, plus extra for dusting
225g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
110g cornflour
Pinch of salt

Line 2 trays with baking parchment.  Cream the butter and sugar till fluffy and then add the flour, cornflour and salt.  Knead to a soft dough.   Roll the dough out to 1cm thickness between two sheets of baking parchment.  Prick holes all over the dough and cut out into any shape you want.  Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes and then bake at 170 degrees for 20 minutes.  Allow to cool and firm slightly before taking them off the tray.

Here are some pictures of the pantomime which was about the Knights of the Christmas Table.  An amazing play written by Erica Gray.  Here she is introducing the play whilst the knights wait to go on. 

a well deserved break after rehearsal for chips...

The appreciative audience just hanging together

 and it all ended with carols and dancing and of course mince pies and coffee.  A fabulous afternoon well spent.

German Christmas Market - Dusseldorf

I am so pleased we managed to get to a Christmas market this festive season.  It is becoming a tradition to do this every year and it is amazing.  Last year we did Aachen and this year Dusseldorf.  I have to say though that Dusseldorf was INSANELY busy.  Nevertheless it was fun to set out on an adventure with a car picnic of tostis and flasks of tea.  The kids were just thrilled to be going somewhere.  We did not buy much as getting to the stalls was problematic and the queues were long.  We did manage to find an un-busy gluwein stall though and got mugs of this and hot chocolate for the kids.  After alcohol and some Bradworst rolls we were in a fine mood - not so grumpy with the crowds and we meandered around for ages enjoying the atmosphere and the Christmas lights.  I did not get many pics of the actual market which is a shame, but here are some of us having gluwein etc.

Kids Christmas Crafts

We are starting a few Christmas crafts because it is that time of year and Cricket is really into his crafting at the moment.  Tiger is just that bit older and not so keen anymore.  He is still joining in sometimes albeit a bit reluctantly.  Very simple Christmas wreaths were made to hang in the kitchen.  Glitter was everywhere and still is.  Cricket was very pleased.  I suppose you have to glitter your house at some point in the festive season.

Sinterklaas and Surprises

I should have put this in before Christmas.  Here are a few random photos from Sinterklaas and the Giraffe Surprise Daniel had to make for school.

The surprises are made for each other in the class - you each pick a name and then buy them a small gift and hide it inside the surprise.  Generally the surprise has something to do with the kids hobbies or sport etc, but as we knew nothing about the girl other than she wanted a giraffe soft toy as a gift, we made a giraffe and put the soft toy in the giraffe's tummy.  Cute huh.

Potjie Dinner

Ah joy, we did a potjie on a day that wasn't too freezing cold.  We made two fires to sit next to and cooked our lovely beef stew in the potjie pot.  Cricket especially loves to sit and be gezellig around the fire.  Although it might have something to do with a bowl of chips.   Here are some photos...

Tomato Lasagne

Oh boy, this is my favourite dinner of all time and for the kids.  In fact the whole family devours it and asks for seconds and thirds.   This is extremely satisfying (unless you are very hungry) as Cricket is so fussy with eating.  I found this recipe in the Apples for Jam recipe book by Tessa Kiros.  I adore this recipe book.  I am not so sure how healthy it all is as most of the food in it is fried, but I love the illustrations and stories which come with it...beautifully created.

Tomato Lasagne

Large jar of Passata (the really tall one okay)
2 garlic cloves
3 Tablespoons olive oil
fresh basil leaves chopped
some water (1/4 of a cup)
lasagne sheets
parmesan
béchamel sauce

Put the olive oil in a pan and add the peeled but whole garlic cloves.  When you start smelling the garlic then add the passata.  Bring to the boil and then simmer for about 25 minutes or until it is all blending together.  Add some water to thin it out a bit and then add chopped basil leaves.  Leave to simmer (remove garlic or blend it in) whilst you make a béchamel sauce.  Make a lot.

Spread a thin layer of béchamel on the bottom of an oven dish.  Add layer of lasagne sheets then a layer of tomato, then some strips of béchamel, a layer of parmesan and more lasagne sheets.  Repeat until all lasagne sheets are in.  Cover with remaining béchamel sauce add 3 or so dollops of the tomato sauce and throw parmesan cheese over.  Bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 180 deg. C

Mince Pies

Delicious Mince Pie Recipe

I have tried mince pies a few times and they are often crumbly and break apart.  Well I have found one that seems to work every time now.  It is from BBC Good Food - Paul Hollywood.

375g Plain Flour
260g unsalted butter
125g white castor sugar
1 large egg plus an egg for glazing.

I will shortly be trying out making my own mince meat, but for now I have used a jar 410g brought over kindly by friends from the UK.

Rub the flour into the butter and then add the sugar and egg.  Knead briefly until a firm ball - don't overknead or the butter will melt.  The dough should be slightly sticky...if it is too dry then it crumbles when out the oven.

Roll out on a floured surface to 3mm thick.  Punch rounds out using a small glass tumbler.  Place them in a muffin baking tray which has been greased and dusted with flour.  Punch out stars for the top and place on top once you have added a spoon or two of mincemeat.  Brush with beaten egg and place in a preheated oven.  I baked mine at 190 degrees for 20 minutes - my oven is not that hot.  If you have a hot fan oven then 180 should do it.  Paul's recipe says 200 or 220, but I think that is too hot.

Delicious and so much fun to make - I am addicted as they are just so easy and look so lovely all dusted with icing sugar....love love love love.

Christmas Crafts - Wreaths and Centrepieces

We had a ladies get together to do some christmas crafting.  I baked mince pies (see recipe in previous post) and we made some simple wreaths and centrepieces.  It was more an excuse for a good old chinwag than anything else, but fun to do christmassy stuff together.  Here are some pictures...

Firstly the gathering of all the stuff like moss, branches for the wreaths and greenery and berries.

We made wreaths from scratch by binding branches together with wire.

The finished product - really simple but I think it is pretty.

Tiger turns 8

My oldest has turned 8.  8 is sounding older rather than younger and indeed he does seemed to have turned a corner and matured a lot in the last while.  There are less cuddles and he is much more independent and much quieter - busy with his own ideas and thoughts.  What a wonderful boy he is though.  Love him to bits and pieces.  For his birthday we had an indoor laser game party at Zeven Geitjes.  Pics for the grandparents...

Birthday party at the corn maze

I wanted to add some pictures of a birthday party we went to at the t'Fazantje corn maze.  Because besides celebrating a birthday, pumpkins were carved and they were so beautiful I had to put photos of them on.  A lovely afternoon with probably the last of the gorgeous weather before the cold set in.