Today Christmas will be packed away, but first a few photos...
All of my tree decorations are vintage, including the tinsel and lights. The children love decorating the real tree and have a small artificial one each in their bedrooms too.
A vegan Christmas cake for my daughter, decorated with 1970s frill and decorations. This recipe was a wartime one using tea instead of eggs.
Keeping it simple!
The children made Christmas biscuits.
I always make a Yule log. This was enjoyed by myself and Henry. We don't like dried fruit so don't eat Christmas cake, pudding or mince pies!
With a little snow added!
Homemade mince pies. I've loved being in the kitchen baking Christmas treats.
Cheese straws. These are so easy to make and the children love them.
Many other things were made but eaten before I had chance to photograph!
Cheers! Always a snowball at Christmas in my seventies glasses.
Looking forward into 2019...
We have lots of plans!
Yesterday I had a huge food shop delivered. My cupboards are full now and I'm stocked up with herbs, spices and baking ingredients. The plan is to move away from plastic packaging and cook as much as possible from scratch. I'm even going to bake my own bread! Plastic is everywhere and we all need to look at ways of reducing our waste.
The large chest freezer has been defrosted and cleaned, ready to store leftovers and homemade food and baking. I'd like a store for times when I'm really busy or illness strikes!
Now I will be baking every day there will be new (old) recipes to try. I've got some lovely old recipe books to experiment with and I'm happy to share them on here if anyone's interested?
Anyway, a busy day ahead!
Mandy x
Happy new year Mandy, and yes I'd love to see the old recipes you try.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will share as I go then x
DeleteHappy New Year Mandy,
ReplyDeleteI am also slowly moving away from plastic, though due to lack of room in the pantry most storage containers need to be plastic due to stackability. Making your own bread can be a problem at times, it gets eaten much quicker than store bought. I bake my own most of the time, and in summer(Australia) I have to do it on the cooler days.
Margaret
Happy new year Margaret!
DeleteI use a lot of the vintage Tupperware and buy it whenever I see it. They stack in the cupboards lovely and I use them to contain leftovers for the fridge or freezer. It's meant I've been able to stop buying cling film and the Tupperware boxes last a lifetime. The amount of plastic food packaging here is shocking.
As for the bread making, I think it's best eaten fresh out of the oven with butter and cheese! I'm guessing it won't keep as well as shop bought because of the lack of preservatives. I intend to experiment with different flours and seeds to make a healthier bread too.
How hot does it get where you live in the summer?
Hi, Mandy,
ReplyDeleteI usually make a multigrain bread with 25% rye flour, this lasts about 5 days without going mouldy, but we usually finish it before then. Today the temperature is supposed to get to 32C and tomorrow 41C, fortunately we have air conditioning though it is expensive to run.
Margaret
Oh my goodness Margaret, I would find that unbearable! I told Daisy that you live in Australia and she's very interested in what Christmas is like in that heat! I'll have to try rye flour at some point x
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