3/12/08

Today at the group we had quiet a few different things going on. It was a lovely day , it was busy,noisy,interesting and most of all fun.The hall was filled with beautiful smells of oranges and spices.

To start the afternoon the older boys had a jamming session and later on some enjoyed a game of War Hammer.

We had card making with Rachel and Christmas pudding making with Debbie and Gaynor. (see below for recipe)

The pudding making was a huge hit with the kids, especially the bit where they got to mix the ingredients in big bowls !



The craft fair was also a huge hit, this time with the adults !

The home made crafts and produce looked fantastic and quiet a few bits and bobs were snapped up by enthusiastic Christmas present hunters ! I managed to get some very pretty presents there myself and also treated myself to one of Nikki's organic lemon cakes - mmmmmm :)


Jo's jewelery table had great appeal, everything looked beautiful and very trendy. It was definitely an eye catcher and the girls really loved it.

We also had a H.G.K. bring and buy table which was brimming with stuff for sale. There were beautiful girls clothes, trendy boys clothes, dressing up clothes, household items and toys. Im not sure how much we raised for the H.G.K. fund but by the end of the day there wasn't that much left.

You can view all the pictures from today here

Thankyou to everyone who made the day lovely, Becky X

Read about our visit from the Red Cross here
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You will probably not find this receipe in any cookery book. It was given to my mum by a farmer’s wife and had been handed down, in her family, over several generations. We think it is the best Christmas pudding receipe ever created! Ingredients – Will make 6, 1lb puddings 225g plain flour
450g breadcrumbs
1 tsp salt
2 tsp mixed spice
Juice and rind 1 orange
Juice and rind 1 lemon
675g suet
450g dark brown sugar
450g currants
450g cherries
50g chopped/ground almonds
450g raisins
450g sultanas
100g mixed peel
675g cooking apples (chopped)
1 carrot grated
8 eggs
1 can stout

Soak all fruit in the stout for 24 hours.
Mix in all the remaining ingredients
Stir well
Leave overnight Steam the next day for 9 hours. After covering in
Grease proof paper and tinfoil.
After steaming take off greaseproof paper and allow to dry for 12 hours (keep in pudding basin)
Recover with clean greaseproof paper and cover the whole basin in tinfoil.
Before eating; steam for 1 hour per 1lb pudding.
If you wish to give the pudding away as a gift cut a square of calico with pinking shears, tie with parcel string, attach a suitable tag and some curly tinsel. A luggage label can also be attached with the steaming instructions and ingredients if desired.