Hello 2013!

Happy belated New Year to you all!

I hope that you had a fabulous festive season. I can't believe that I haven't done a blog post since the end of October. I hang my head in shame. I really don't know where the time has gone. November and December were flat out and then all of a sudden we are almost at the end of January! How'd that happen!?

Anyway, I made a promise to myself that I would dedicate some more time to my blog and to those who follow me. It hasn't helped that the laptop went on the blink and we've only got the new computer up and running.

I have also made a promise to myself to spend some more time in my beautiful kitchen now that I have the kitchen of my dreams.

Christmas was a very busy period for us both in our personal and professional lives.

On the 1st and 2nd of December, Denman College hosted the WI Real Jam Festival and Christmas Fair which was amazing. All the staff and volunteers worked hard to ensure that the event was a success. We also had a staff category for the Jam Festival which I am delighted to report that I won much to my surprise! I did take it a step further and actually made a festive crochet jam jar lid cover! Oh yes!

I entered a jar of Roasted Shallot and Cranberry Relish which scored 18.5 out of 20. I am aiming higher for next year. My colleague, Claire, came second with the most amazing fig, brandy and apple jam which was also very good with cheese. We swapped our winning jars and took them home.

My beautiful crochet lid! Very festive!

And the winning jar...

Paul Hollywood came to Denman and did a cookery demo on the Sunday. Tickets sold out within 18minutes and our Ferris Theatre was full to capacity! I managed to get my bread book signed as well.

Talking of Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry came to Denman the following weekend for a Christmas Cookery Demo and I got to meet her again... any buy another book... and get that one signed! Ahh there are some perks to my job!

Since we are on a work / baking theme, here are my festive cupcakes that I made...

We had a cracking Christmas in our new home with family and friends. It was great to take advantage of the new rangemaster and put it through it's paces over the festive period!

In preparation for Christmas, I even managed to crochet some lovely snowflakes for one of our Christmas Trees. The pattern came from Lucy over at Attic24. They really didn't take very long to make and they really looked pretty on the tree.

The crochet bug has really gotten to me and I do find it easier to do than knitting... though I will never give up the knitting needles... and I made my first crochet bear which will be going to a special little girl next month for her first birthday! I was really delighted with him.

As well as crochet, I have been playing with some new card designs as I was very luckily to be given some Letraset Ink Pens for Christmas from my brother and his wife. They are serious colouring pens for adults!

As well as getting crafty over christmas with yarn and pens, I managed to play in the kitchen with some new gadgets, including my first attempt at crumpets! Thank you Mr Hollywood! They were truly scrumptious if I say so myself!

So that was Christmas, and now to the New Year! It's been a slow start as the weather has been challenging i.e. SNOW! So we have battened down the hatches and have stayed in the warm, cooking delicious delights and baking bread. What else is there to do!?

I can't believe that it will be February next week. I don't know where January has gone.

SO, my promise to you is to blog more... and now that we also have a new camera there are no excuses to take pictures of food and crafty bits... especially when I have several new cook and craft books! There is no stopping me now!

Take care, stay warm, and I'll see you all very soon!

Cheerio,

Nic xoxoxoxox