ELLI LUCA

Dear Readers, Thanks for all of your support in 2014.  There is a new project in the works which will be revealed in the new year. I hope you all have a magnificent Christmas and that coming year will be a happy one for all of us. Make the most of the holidays and in addition to looking after your family, look after yourself too. May the best of your past be the worst of your future. Peace & Love Elle

RECIPES: Pumpkin Baked Baked Alaska Christmas Cookies for Kids Spicy Triangles Candied Cherry Cookies Christmas Wreath Cookies

RECIPES:  Raspberry Cheesecake 7UP Spiced Cider Appetizer Meatballs Baked Ham with Bread Crumbs Golden Potatoes Molasses Beans Holiday Molded Salad Pickled Cucumbers Tossed Salad Celery with Buttered Bread Crumbs Chestnut Tart

RECIPES:  Roast Turkey with Rice Stuffing Rice Stuffing Crowned Onions Baked Ham Buffet Menu Party Plan for Baked Ham Buffet

INGREDIENTS 1 cup butter or margarine 1 cup sugar 1 cup Brer Rabbit" Molasses (either Green or Gold label) 1 tbsp. vinegar 1 egg, beaten 4 to 5 cups sifted all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp ground-ginger 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. salt METHOD Heat butter (or margarine). sugar and molasses in saucepan to boiling. Let cool, then add vinegar and egg. Sift dry ingredients together. Stir into molasses mixture; mix well. Chill overnight. Roll 1/3rd chilled dough on well-floured board to 1/8 inch thickness (keep remaining dough in refrigerator until needed). Cut with floured cookie cutter or pattern. Place on greased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake at 3500 for 10-12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks; cool. Makes approximately 3 dozen medium size cut-outs. Decorate with Easy Confectioners Sugar Frosting. (below) Easy Confectioners Sugar Frosting Blend 2 cups sifted confectioners sugar and 2, tablespoons milk. Add food coloring as desired.

Scanned a few recipes this morning if you are stuck for Christmas treat ideas: RECIPES: Whiskey Nut Balls Merry Pudding Morsels Tiny Fruit Cakes  Sweetmeats Royal Icing Figs in Brandy Christmas Nibbles Prunes in Port Sherries raisins Truffles Christmas Shortbread

A snippet of our Christmas tree. Pugs, burgers there are even pizza and donut ornaments!

 INGREDIENTS 125g butter, softened 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup golden syrup 2 1/2 cups plain (all-purpose) flower, sifted 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon bicarb soda (baking soda) METHOD Preheat oven to 190C. Place the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat with electric beaters until light and creamy. Add the golden syrup, flour, ginger and bicarb soda and mix to form a smooth dough. Refrigerate for 10 minutes or until the dough is firm. Roll out the dough between sheets of non-stick baking pater to 4mm thick. Cut out shapes from the dough using a gingerbread man cookie cutter. Place on baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on trays (Will post my photos after I have made this years batch)

-edited post (uploaded amended file with mail

Ready for Xmas now. Puddings are steamed, I ordered my groceries online to be delivered Xmas eve. (No hope in hell I am going near any shops between now and Tuesday) My lovely mother in law is getting me fresh produce the day before. (I'm so lucky) I've written the menu plan and delegated certain aspects to different family members. All that work and the food gets eaten in no time at all! Well worth it I say. The one day of the year where I think it is okay to over indulge on the good things in life. Just got to get up early to put the lamb roast in the oven at 6am Christmas morning so it can cook for 5 hours then rest for 1. Hope you all have a lovely day whatever you get up to. I would also like to take this opportunity to say to everybody thanks for your support in 2012. Especially big thanks to all those who bought soaps recently which helped out Saffron on The Hill. I have a few great ideas I'd love to turn into a reality in 2013 and am really excited. Lots of Love Els...

  INGREDIENTS  (Makes 8 cups) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/3 cup popping corn 1/3 cup honey 2/3 cup caster sugar 60g butter, chopped 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon   250gsm bag Cashews or nuts of your choice. METHOD Grease a 5cm-deep, 21cm x 30cm (base) baking pan. Line base and sides with baking paper, allowing a 2cm overhang at long ends. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 pieces of corn. Oil is hot enough when corn turns slowly in a circle. Add remaining corn. Cover with a tight-fitting lid. Shake saucepan gently when corn starts popping. Remove from heat when corn stops popping. Transfer to a large bowl add the nuts of your choice. Discard any unpopped corn. Place honey, sugar, vanilla and butter in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 6 to 7 minutes or until sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil. Boil without stirring for 5 to 6 minutes or until light golden. Working quickly, pour caramel ...

Now waiting till Xmas day to boil again for 3 hours. I plan on serving it with custard. Ingredients 150 gram(s) Currants 150 gram(s) sultanas 150 gram(s) Prunes (scissored into pieces) 175 ml port Strip of orange peel cut finely (I used scissors as I was using them for the prunes anyway) 100 gram(s) Plain flour 125 gram(s) white breadcrumbs(I used panko ) 150 gram(s) suet 150 gram(s) brown sugar 1 teaspoon(s) cinnamon sticks 1 teaspoon allspice 1 teaspoon(s) baking powder 1 lemon(s) (zest and juice) 3 medium egg(s) 1 medium cooking apple (peeled and grated) 2 tablespoon(s) golden syrup or molasses  Method Put the currants, sultanas and scissored prunes into a bowl with the Port, stir mix then cover with clingfilm and leave to steep overnight or for up to 1 week. When the fruits have had their steeping time, put a large pan of water on to boil, or heat some water in a conventional steamer, and but...

Gift tags set up at A4 (300 DPI) File is 8mb : Card: 10 x 14 cm (300 DPI)

Yes I have one of those awesome recipe boxes from the 60's with a treasure trove of amazing recipes.  (Some completely vile and some absolutely awesome. ) Today I share with you a great classic recipe for a Christmas Pudding.  FRONT: BACK: 

Anybody have a good one? (That's been tried and tested.) I know there are a lot of them online. I'd love to attempt to make one this year and would appreciate any feedback or advice and especially a great recipe.  I love this scan from a Betty Crocker cook book I have from the 70's but I'm after a more traditional style house.

A few Xmas Cook books in the shop for those interested.  Family Circle Best-Ever Christmas - New Gifts & Ideas AU$3.00 Family Circle The Tastes of Christmas (1999) AU$5.00 Celebrating the festive season with family and friends gives us all the opportunity to indulge in some of our favourite foods.  Roast turkey with cranberry sauce, steamed Christmas pudding with brandy butter, mince pies, fruit cake and hot toddies - many people look forward to a traditional Christmas feast all year.  Or, for a change, why not try a baked salmon, followed by a mouth-watering chocolate mousse torte? We haven't forgotten that Christmas is party time, so there are plenty of delicious party foods and drinks to prepare, as well as gifts to make at home, including jams, sweets, chocolates and a spectacular gingerbread house. You will wish that it is Christmas every day.

Good Old Fashioned Christmas Cookie Recipe. I love Christmas baking & I'm doing all my planning now and these have to be on the list.