It's beginning to look a lot like...

Yes! Advent is here.  Opening little doors and having chocolate before breakfast.  Most of my decorations are up apart from the tree as I find it best to throw oneself  head-long in to the festive period.
This does not extend to hoovering up pine needles for five weeks however and so that will have to wait for a while. 
When the kids were younger and I feared that the tree would become a climbing frame, I decided instead to suspend a branch from the ceiling and put the fairy lights on that, out of reach. 
This was such a hit that now we do both every year and the hedge is getting thinner.

Remember to put your favourite decorations in the kitchen as you will be spending ages in there over the next few weeks.






December is definitely a marathon so here is a recipe to keep your energy levels up:

Best Chocolate Brownies

2oz Plain Chocolate
4oz Butter
2 Beaten Eggs
8oz Sugar
2oz Plain Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
Pinch Salt
4oz Chopped Nuts -
            Walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts or whatever you fancy.
Melt the butter in a pan on a very low heat.  Add the chunks of chocolate. 
It will melt in to a smooth gloss with no lumps.  Trust me.
While this is happening, toast the nuts in a dry frying pan.  Keep them moving so they don't burn.  When they're browned, chop them.

In a separate bowl, stir the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar together with a whisk.  Add the beaten eggs, chopped nuts and chocolate mixture.  Mix.

Pour in to a well greased tin measuring about 7"x11".
Bake at 180 centigrade for 30 minutes.

Around the Grounds

December is the month for pruning your apple trees. 
If you have five or more you have an orchard and they need not take up too much space. 
However.  With great plants comes great responsibility.

Pillarette apple trees like this need a good haircut. 
Reduce each branch to two buds after its last bifurcation and remove any dead or damaged pieces.


Frozen Assets.

This week's freezer essential is the multi-purpose tomato sauce. 
There are dozens of uses for it and its so easy and cheap to make.
The quantities are up to you:
Onions
Celery
Garlic
Tinned Plum Tomatoes
Lots of Fresh Parsley and Basil
Seasoning
Dried Oregano


Chop the onion, celery, garlic and the stalks of the herbs and fry gently in olive oil. Add the tinned tomatoes - its doesn't matter what brand you buy as they are all the same so get the cheapest.  Add your dried oregano and season to taste.
Simmer and reduce for about half an hour - use a splatter guard so that the kitchen won't resemble a crime scene.

Now add the leafy fresh herbs and whizz with a soup wand until smooth.  If the sauce is too runny for your liking, simmer and reduce again.

Freeze in jars or tubs - there is no need to sterilize these.
If you don't have a funnel either, cut the neck of a tonic bottle like I have.

Great as a pizza sauce, in bolognaise, for simmering meatballs in, to enrich a stew or curry...

Funny of the Week

This is how Christmas specials should be done.

Eric and Ernie.  Enjoy.

http://youtu.be/0n-mwWzR6IQ