Handmaiden

Christmas Desserts

My plum pudding was a success

 

 

This is Donna Hay's recipe from her christmas cookbook. No suet and much lighter than previous ones I have made (Delia Smith) but I would like a little more spice in it.

 

Christmas pav and Christmas cupcakes

and althought not dessert but very jam like.......I made my own cranberry sauce this year.

So easy - water, sugar and cranberries cooked for 10 mins and then it sets just like a jam...oh and I did add a tablespoon of muscat

 

I think I will always do this now

Hope you had some lovely things to eat too

Sharon

Boxing Day

More friends to see today

More food and festivities

  

1. stackable christmas boxes, 2. Christmas gifts

Merry Christmas

Wishing all my blog readers

Merry Christmas

Have a fabulous festive time

Thanks for dropping by and reading my blog this year and for your great comments and advice.........I have met such wonderful crafty bloggers online and offline

 

1. Red Christmas 2006 - 236F, 2. Christmas Balls, 3. christmas globes, 4. Red Christmas, 5. Christmas Colors, 6. What if Christmas means a little bit more...

Sharon

A Christmas Party

Loving Silver and Red for Christmas....you know I love bling!

Playing around with Polyvore

Christmas Party by Handmaiden

Gregg's cooking scallops

 

We will be drinking Champagne

and we have American friends over who have requested this.

 

but another festive alternative is my mango and coconut icecream bombe

recipe here

Have a great Christmas Eve

Sharon

Let Them Eat Cake

Fabulously Decorated Christmas Cakes

 

1. Christmas cake 2007, 2. Christmas cake 06, 3. Christmas tree cake

and my simply decorated cake using flowers from Crabapple bakery in Prahran and silver sprinkles and a large red ribbon I bought at Spotlight.

 

This is Nigella's recipe and it is moist and delicious although this might have something to do with the rum Gregg was feeding it each week. The recipe is a boiled fruit cake, she adds cocoa and coffee liquer..... I didn't and it's stll fab.

 

And if this is not enough to tempt you go over and see Liesl's Gingerbread Cottage-Along with lots of linky links to the best tips and expert advice..........if it wasn't for the humidity I might be tempted to make one 

(Ed note: I have been playing around with a new comment function last night called Typepad Connect.........can you please do me a big favour and try and leave me a comment and see if it is working.......should show your profile pictures........email me if you have problems.......thanking you in advance ........you may have to log in)

Sharon

Red Roses for Christmas

I don't normally buy European flowers in Singapore as they don't last in the heat. But it's Christmas and I couldn't resist these ones from India. Only $7.50 for 20 medium stems.

 

I just wrapped these leaves around a standard square vase to hide the stems.

I stapled them at the back

 

   

But if you do need to send a last minute flower arrangement I can recommend Roses Only in Australia. Long stem roses and other arrangements with Lindt chocolates and a candle. 

Sharon

Prize Winning Shortbread

I enjoy a piece of shortbread at Christmas with coffee

1. Christmas Shortbread, 2. Wooden Thistle Shortbread Mold, 3. Christmas spice shortbread, 4. Shortbread and Gingerbread, 5. Nutmeg Shortbread, 6. Shortbread

This is the Royal Melb Show Prize winning recipe by Angela Fleay (winning 10 out of 12 times)

 

Secret to the perfect shortbread

 

You have to cream the sugar and butter until its white. Knead the dough lightly and swiftly and bake at 150C.

 

Ingredients

 

250g salted butter at room temp

3/4 C caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

1/3 C rice flour

2- 2 1/2C plain flour

 

18cm round for cutting shortbread

 

Method

 

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla in mixer on high until mixture is white and sugar has disolved.

 

Mix in rice flour, then 1 C of sifted plain flour. Turn out onto bench and gradually knead in between 1 - 1 1/2C of of the remaining plainflour, kneading dough carefully until it is soft and just comes together.

 

Press out the mix until it is just wider than yr cardboard round and has a smooth top surface. Cut out dough, remove excess dough and place the round on a baking tray covered with baking paper. Prick each piece four times and cut into 8 equal pieces.

 

Cook for 1 hour and then take out and re-cut pieces. Place in oven for 40 mins more, then turn off heat but leave door closed to let shortbread cool slowly for about 2 hours.

 

Enjoy

 

Sharon

 

Christmas Cupcakes - Cranberry and Pistachio

These are decorated so well

 

1. Christmas cupcakes, 2. Test Christmas Cupcake - Snowman and Tree, 3. Christmas Cupcakes I, 4. Christmas cupcakes, 5. Christmas Cupcake Tower 2007, 6. Christmas cupcakes, 7. more christmas cupcakes, 8. Christmas Theme Cupcakes, 9. Snowflake Christmas Cupcakes

Cranberry and Pistachio Cupcakes with Snowflake Icing

180g butter, softened

1C caster sugar

2C SR flour

4 eggs

1t vanilla essence

2T milk

4T of cranberries/4T chopped pistachios

 

Place all ingredients (except cranberries and pistachios) in mixer and mix on low speed until ingredients come together and then increase speed for 2 minutes until completely mixed.

Fold in cranberries and pistachios

Scoop into muffin trays (lined with silver cases) and bake at 180degrees for 20mins.

For icing mix 115g butter and 225g icing sugar and tablespoon of milk to thin if necessary

Ice cakes and sprinkle with coconut

Sharon

 

 

Christmas Card

I received this fabulous wool felt Christmas card from my family. Thanks Chris.

It's just so wonderful and I have decided to repurpose it into a needle book after Christmas.

 

Sharon

Christmas Birdie

Sometime ago I put myself forward as a Pay It Forward participant.

Yesterday I received Rebecca from Edward and Lilly's  present.

Just perfect to put on my own crafty tree.

 

One of her Christmas Birdies she is selling in her Etsy shop.

It's lovely and soft with beautiful embroidery

 and Rebecca is featuring a beautiful lime green one this weekend.

Plus she is having a giveaway here.

So go and have a visit

Then I think I will wait till after the Christmas festivities to do my PIF....so stay tuned

Sharon