It is no secret that Christmas is hands down my favourite time of year. I could watch Christmas films from 1st January to 31st December. I love the smells that fill the house – cinnamon, ginger, fresh pine and the turkey and stuffing cooking in the oven. I love the cold weather bonus if it snows. I love the shops at Christmas, the music and the wrapping of presents. I love Christmas Eve when the kids are bathed and in their new jammies; excitement buzzing round the house, counting down the hours until Christmas morning. So yes I’m Christmas’ biggest fan.
After the year we have had as a family I am so thankful that we are spending this Christmas as a united family and not a broken one and intend to make good, happy lasting memories for the kids and hopefully start new family traditions that they can continue with their own children.
This Christmas I’m doing things differently and am having a go at making gifts, decorations and home made baking. I’ve watched enough Christmas films in my life so think I should be able to fully succeed at this one.
Tomorrow myself and the girls will be baking homemade shortbread to give out as gifts to their teachers and classroom assistants. We had a trial run last weekend and Stephen and Adam devoured the lot. Today I made Christmas stove top Pot Pourri and the smell throughout the house is amazing and through doing that I decided I would share some of my creations with you all throughout the week.
To make this Christmas Pot Pourri you need:
2 cups of fresh cranberries
3 sticks of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of cloves
3 nectarines quartered or halved
1 inch piece of fresh ginger
1 cup of cranberry juice
1 small piece of fresh pine
Put all the ingredients into a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and reduce temperature to simmer; remember to keep topping up with water as needed. I would normally burn a lot of cinnamon candles this time of year so this is a new favourite for me.
If you make this let me know what you think of it and if you have any other homemade creations I could have a go at let me know.
Fionnuala π
The shortbread sounds delicious, Fionnuala! Could you mail me some? π π
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It really is lovely I will post it tomorrow π or better still I will send you the recipe and you can give it ago yourself π
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I’d like that βΊ
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I would say Tiramisu… but itβs sooooooo common…!
Oh I love Christmas! πππ€π€
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I have a confession to make I have never had Tiramisu there has always chocolate fudge cake or pavlova on the menu at the same time and they are my favs π
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πππ
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Is it terrible that I kind of want to drink it?
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Lol no not at all if you had a cold it would certainly clear your head with the cloves in it π
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ha, ha!
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It looks delicious! π
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I just shared this with my wife, she would love this
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Let me know if she makes it π
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Oh, so wonderful! You are extremely creative! And Christmas is extraordinarily beautiful in Ireland! I can well understand that the season is your favorite. Hugs!
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Have you been to Ireland at Christmas before? My dream some year would be to spend Christmas in America in the snow βοΈ
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I would love to make but what is “fresh pine”!?!?!?
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A small branch of a pine tree π² π
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WOW! Interesting!!! Is it like you can buy in the shop or go into woods to get it?!
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Yes I have a small tree I bought this year and have at my front door I just took a snip off it π
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Funny you π I have whole forest to choose from π Can’t decide which one to take π
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Wow lucky you have fun
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π
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Looks awesome! π
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You sound a lot like my daughter who has almost every Hallmark movie, and loves the baking and giving. Hope you all make wonderful memories.
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Thank you so much who does your daughter take it after? My granny loved Christmas I get my obsession from her π
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She takes mostly after her Dad in the giving area with a little of me thrown in when it comes to celebrating.
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Is it wrong that I want to eat your Pot Pourri ? hahaha. It’s good they ate the lot up last week because you know they were good, and will be enjoyed by all who receive them. God Bless you π
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I can almost smell those goodies this side of the pond!
Chuck
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Thanks chuck must be through the spirit realm lol π
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What kind of gifts are you making? Or is that a secret until after Christmas?
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Ive just posted a blog about gifts we made for teachers this morning called Little Sacks of Joy
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What a great idea! I bet it smells heavenly
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It really does house smells like Christmas π
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Thank you!!
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Haha so festive
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I tried a bite-size shortbread recipe this year. It’s basically like sugar cookies, but bite-size squares with sprinkles inside.
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