Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Thursday 26 December 2019

Boxing Day Pie - Use up all those leftovers from Christmas lunch and make this delicious pie...



We like to go all out for Christmas lunch in our house.  We have the traditional English Christmas fare of, turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and parsnips, sprouts and more.  So as I'm sure you can understand, there are a lot of leftovers, but, not wanting anything to go to waste we always have a delicious turkey pie on Boxing Day, to use them all up and I thought you might like to try it too...


Boxing Day Pie


Ingredients (serves 4-6)

2 leeks
Double cream
1 sheet of ready rolled pastry (short or puff is fine)
Stilton cheese (optional)
1 heaped tsp plain flour

Christmas Lunch Leftovers

Turkey, veg, stuffing, pigs in blankets, gravy

  • Wash and slice the leeks and gently fry them in a little oil.  We use olive oil, but you can use your favourite.
  • Cut your cold turkey into chunks and add to a pie dish
  • Do the same with leftover veg, stuffing and pigs in blankets (you really can use whatever leftovers you have)
  • Once the leeks are softened, stir in the flour and cook for a minute
  • Add the gravy about half a cup (you can use chicken stock if you don't have leftover gravy) and the cream about half a cup also.
  • Stir until thickened, add water until you get the right consistency.
  • If you like stilton cheese you can crumble some in to taste and stir until melted.
  • season with salt and pepper
  • Pour the sauce over the turkey leftovers and cover with pastry
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes at 180°C until pastry is golden and the filling is piping hot


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I hope that you will give this recipe a go.  What do you eat for Christmas in your house and what traditions do you keep?  Let me know in the comments below...

Enjoy!
Catherine
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Saturday 21 December 2019

Velvet Baubles - Make these decadent decorations for your tree, Christmas Cal...

Well hello everyone.  This is the last addition to the Christmas craft along this year and is so quick and easy you can make it in a matter of minutes.  What better way to finish our craft along than with something pretty to hang on your tree.  I have loved using the Bernat Velvet yarn so much and this is the perfect way to use up those last scraps of yarn.



Velvet Baubles


Materials

Bernat Velvet (small amounts)
Darning needle
60mm bauble
Stitch marker
Ribbon


Hook

6mm (J)

Abbreviations US Terms (UK Conversion)

sc - single crochet (double crochet)
sc2tog - single crochet 2 together (double crochet 2 together)
ch - chain
st(s) - stitch(es)
pm - place marker


Other notes:  Velvet Baubles are worked in a spiral, do not join.  Move marker up at the end of each round.

Starting with a magic loop

Round 1 ch1 (does not count as st), 6sc into ring.  Pull tight but do not join. Pm in 1st sc.


Round 2 Starting in the first sc from previous round, 2sc in each stitch around (12sc)


Round 3 [2 sc in first stitch, sc in next st] repeat around (18sc)


Round 4 [2sc in first stitch, sc in next 2 sts] repeat around (24sc)


Rounds 5-7 Sc in each st around.  

Round 8 [sc2tog, sc2] repeat around.  (18sc)

Now comes the tricky part.  Stretch your crochet over the plastic ball and continue to work around. 


Round 9 [sc2tog, sc1] repeat around.  (12sc)

Round 10 [sc2tog] repeat around.  (6sc)

Bind off, leaving a long tail and thread yarn onto a sewing needle.  Work your yarn under each stitch and pull tight.  I find it easier to pop off the top of the bauble to do this.  Bind off hiding yarn inside the crochet.  


Replace the top of your bauble and hot glue if necessary.  Add some ribbon and hang on your tree…



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I hope you enjoyed the pattern and have a wonderful Christmas.

Catherine

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Tuesday 10 December 2019

Christmas Bread & Butter Pudding - A delicious way to use up stale bread - Christmas craft along...

Hello friends.  I have something a little unusual to share with you today.  I'm not really sure if cooking counts as a craft, but I thought it would make a nice change to do something different.   I always like to cook a nice roast for Sunday lunch and finish it off with some kind of homemade pudding.  During the week we try to be a bit more healthy, so the weekend is time for treating ourselves, especially as it's almost Christmas.



Although I do love to cook, I am not really much of a baker.  All that faffing around weighing stuff and being precise, it's just not me.  I like to experiment and just chuck stuff in when I'm cooking, so I tend to stick to a few deserts that I can make, without needing to check a recipe or watch Youtube.  Bread and Butter Pudding is one of my goto puddings, as it's so simple and can be adapted to suit your mood.  One of our favourite ways of making it is with chocolate spread sandwiches.  So yummy!  So I thought why not try and make a Christmassy version.  The finished pudding was so delicious, I knew you would like to try it to, so here it is...


Christmas Bread & Butter Pudding


Ingredients (serves 6)

8 slices of bread (slightly stale is best)
Soft butter
2 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp mincemeat
A handful of dried cranberries
Orange marmalade
2 eggs
2 cups milk (or 1 cup milk, 1 cup double cream)
Icing sugar
Brandy cream


  • Grease a medium sized oven dish
  • Butter each slice of bread and lay half of them butter side down in the dish
  • Spread the other side thickly with marmalade and dot the mincemeat over the top
  • Sprinkle with cranberries
  • Lay the remaining slices of bread on top butter side up
  • In a jug whisk the eggs, milk and sugar and pour over the top of your bread slices
  • Leave for 30 minutes to allow the bread to soak up all of the custard mixture (the pudding can be frozen at this point if you want to make it in advance)
  • Bake in a medium hot oven for 30 minutes, until golden brown.  (160°C or 320°F)

Sprinkle with icing sugar...



...and serve with Brandy cream for extra decadence... 



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I hope you will give this recipe a try.  What do you like to cook at Christmas?  Let me know in the comments below and make sure to subscribe for more posts like this...

Enjoy!
Catherine
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Friday 6 December 2019

Last Minute Christmas Crochet - My top selections, for quick and easy projects, to decorate your home with...

Hello friends!  I'm sure you are all super busy this holiday season, but there is always time for crochet right?  It's so nice at this time of year, to be indoors, all cosy and warm.  With your Christmas decorations up and feeling festive with a little something Christmasy on your hook.  Go make yourself a nice cup of coco, get your hook out and crochet up one of these lovelies...





You can never have too many baubles on your tree and these crochet ones are so pretty.  I love the way the gaps in the crochet allow the ball underneath to shine through and the sparkly yarn adds extra glitz.  You can find this pattern at Annie Design Crochet.

Christmas Baubles





This time of year is always so busy, busy, busy.  What with all the shopping, decorating and cooking, but you can still whip up this super cute, crochet Santa in no time at all.  Add a hanging thread for an adorable tree decoration, or you could make lots and use them for gift toppers.  The pattern is by Little Johns Yarn.

5 Minute Crochet Santa





Want something squishy to cuddle up to this Christmas?  Then look no further than 3amgracedesigns' cuddly candy cane.

Candy Cane Kawaii Cuddler





I'm not a big drinker usually, but I do like to have a little tipple at Christmas.  A nice glass of mulled wine or maybe a Baileys over ice.  This festive tree coaster will have you feeling merry and bright in no time, along with a glass of sherry and a mince pie?  The pattern is by Fluffy Stitches.

Tunisian Pine Tree Christmas Coaster




Another little something to hang on your tree.  Isn't he just adorable?  I love this pattern by my good friend Marjan, which you can find on her blog here...

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer





Every fireplace need stockings at Christmas and this design by Sincerely Pam is so quick and easy, you can make it in just a few hours.  The pattern is perfect for beginner crocheters too.  Make them for gifts or just hang to decorate your home.

Alex Stocking





Lastly we have another hanging ornament and this one is such an unusual idea and is reminiscent of a vintage Christmas.  This pretty ice skate pattern is by Crochet Cloudberry.

Crochet Ice Skate Christmas Bauble




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I post every week, so if you would like to see more like this, along with free patterns and more.  Be sure to subscribe.

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Thanks for stopping by and I hope you found something you liked.  Which was your favourite?  Let me know in the comments below...

Have a wonderful Christmas and I will see you all again soon...
Catherine
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Tuesday 3 December 2019

Velvet Stocking - Make this soft & cuddly Christmas stocking - Christmas Cal

Hello everyone.  It's Christmas craft along time again and this week I have a super cute pattern to share with you.  I have been really enjoying experimenting, with Bernat's Velvet and will be making lot's of new patterns using this yarn.  Bernat Velvet is so soft and snuggly, you just cant stop touching it.  Have you tried this yarn before?  It really is beautifully soft, albeit a little tricky to work with.  So what to make first?  I needed a Christmas gift for my niece and nephew and just thought this yarn would make great Christmas stockings, perfect for a baby's first Christmas or just to make your home look extra festive.



Velvet Stocking


Materials

1 ball each in 2 colours Bernat Velvet yarn

Hook


Size

Approx. 15 inches (38cm) long

Abbreviations 

US terms  (UK conversion)
sc - single crochet (double crochet)
hdc - half double crochet (half treble crochet)
sl st - slip stitch
ch - chain
st - stitch


Other notes:  This pattern is described as intermediate, purely because of the nature of working with the velvet yarn.  This type of yarn obscures the stitches and requires some skill to determine where they are.  It is recommended for this reason to count your stitches as you go until you become familiar working with the yarn.  Colours used, Quiet Pink and White.


Stocking Toe

With contrast colour, starting with a magic loop.

Round1 Right side, ch1, (does not count as st), 8hdc into ring, join with sl st.  (8hdc).

Round 2 Ch1, 2hdc in each st around, join with sl st.  (16hdc).

Round 3 Ch1, [2hdc in next st, hdc in next st] repeat around, join with sl st.  (24hdc).

Round 4 Ch1, [2hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts] repeat around, join with sl st.  (32hdc).

Rounds 5 - 7 Ch1 sc in each st around, join with sl st, turn.  (32sc).  Fasten off.

With main colour and right side facing, join with sl st in 1st st of round.





Rounds 8-21 Ch1, sc in each st around, join with sl st, turn.  (32sc).  Fasten off.


Shape Heel

With contrast colour, joining with sl st to 8th st to the right of the back seem, (there is a slight seam visible from the joining sts).

Row 1 Ch1, sc in same st and in next 15 sts, turn.  (16sc).

Rows 2-4 Ch1, sc in each st, turn.  (16sc).

Row 5 Ch1, sc in next 10 sts, sc2tog, sc in next st, turn.  (12sc).

Row 6 Ch1, sc in each st to last 6 sts, sc2tog, sc, turn.  (8sc).

Row 7 & 8 Ch1, sc to last st, sc2tog over next st and 1st st from previous row, sc in next st, turn.

Row 9 & 10 Ch1, sc to last st, sc2tog over next st and 1st st of previous row, turn.  Fasten off.



Body of Stocking

With right side facing and main colour, join with sl st to 6th st of heel.

Round 1 Ch1, sc in same st and next 3 sts, sc2tog, sc4 down left side of heel, sc2tog over side of heel and 1st st of main body of stocking, sc in next 14 sts, sc2tog over last st and side of heel, 4sc up side of heel, sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts, join with sl st, turn.  (32sc).

Rounds 2-20 Ch1, sc in each st around, join with sl st, turn.  (32sc).  Fasten off.

With right side facing and contrast colour join with sl st to 1st st to the right of seem.

Rounds 21-40 Ch1, sc in each st around, join with sl st, turn.  (32sc).  Fasten off and weave in ends.


Hanging Loop

With contrast colour ch30.

Row 1 Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch.  Fasten off.

Sew hanging loop to top of stocking.







I added a cute wooden tag, you can get these at Amazon...



If you would like to help support my work, you can purchase an ad free pdf version of this pattern in my Etsy store.  This pattern is also available to download this month, for my Patreon subscribers.  You can subscribe from as little as $1 a month and can cancel at any time.  Head on over there for more details...


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I hope you enjoyed this weeks pattern.  Be sure to subscribe, I post new patterns every week.

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Back soon...
Catherine
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Saturday 30 November 2019

Christmas Giveaway! - Win 10 Lullaby Lodge PDF's & some super cute Christmas labels...

Hello friends.  It's that time of year that is meant to be all about giving, so I have decided to do a Christmas giveaway.  One lucky winner will receive the first prize, of ten Lullaby Lodge PDF's.  This will include a mix of Christmas themed patterns, blanket patterns and printables...


...and five runners up will receive these super cute personalised Christmas labels.




So how can you be in for a chance to win?  Just use the Rafflecopter below.  There are lots of ways to enter and you don't need to do them all, just choose the ones you would like to do.  The more points you get the higher your chance of winning.  You will need to give your email address to enter (this is how I will contact the winners).  I will not use your email address for any other reason.



If you have any friends that you think would like to enter, please share on your social media.  The giveaway entries close on 14th of December and winners will be announced on the 15th.

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I wish you the best of luck and a very merry Christmas.

 Catherine
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Thursday 21 November 2019

Christmas Belly Bands - Printable labels for all your holiday, knitting & crochet gifts...

Hello friends, I have been really busy creating these super cute belly bands for all your handmade Christmas gifts.  They come in 2 sizes making them great for dishcloths, spacloths, scrubbies, hats, gloves, socks and more.  They can be easily printed off at home and look great on both white and kraft paper.  100gsm or more is recommended.


The labels are available to buy from my Etsy Store, or as a free gift when you sign up to my Patreon page (this is by far the cheaper option).  You can become a patron from as little as $1 a month and can cancel at anytime.  Other benefits of becoming a patron include...

  • Exclusive patron only content
  • Sneak peeks at patterns in the making
  • Opportunities to pattern test
  • Special offers and coupon codes
  • Pdf patterns
  • Pattern support 
  • Private messaging service

The small labels are great for dishcloths...


...and the larger ones shown here, with a beanie and mini hot water bottle.



So be sure to head on over to Patreon and claim your free gift, or purchase from my Etsy Store if you prefer.


Happy holiday hooking!
Catherine
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