Monday, November 28, 2016

Santa's Workshop

 We spent the weekend setting up the house for Christmas even though it's not even December yet.  We've never sourced our greenery and tree so early but this year I really think we need a long festive season.  I won't be sorry to say goodbye to 2016 and I'd like to see it out properly.

 We bought this little Norfolk pine, is it not cute?  I wanted to find a smaller tree to decorate with  these painted eggs we bought in Prague in 2008.  I added some glittery red stars because red and glitter just looks like Santa.
Christmas Cactus

Hanukkah pillow.
 Our tree is a fir that is predicted to last 35 days, we'll see.  It's a bit risky to bring one into the heated house so early but hopefully if I keep it hydrated it won't look too sad by the 25th.


 I started some Christmas baking this weekend with Nigella's vanilla cake cooked in a bundt tin.  I've been looking for one simple cake recipe that smells and tastes delicious and is easy to whip up with ingredients found in the pantry.
Nigella's Spruced-Up Vanilla Cake
 This one seems to be a winner, it's a pound cake really, the link to the recipe is just above.
The only change I made was to substitute baking powder for the baking soda.
I hope your week is off to a brilliant start.  I'll be wrapping gifts and baking cookies like mad.  Any tips for Christmas music?  The only thing missing from my Santa's Workshop is the soundtrack.
xoxDani