Quiet January Days at the Cottage

I love the month of January after the business of December, 

a time to catch up & finish many projects.

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We had a lovely Christmas Day at the cottage. Our oldest children came & spent the day with us, it's lovely to see all our eight children together.

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The village now has a softness to it at this time of year, a beautiful quietness surrounds the streams and fields. Up to a few days ago we have been having a mild Winter, trees are budding in the garden & bulbs are beginning to bloom. The mild weather had brought birds to the garden, playing in the abundance of Ivy along the church side of our garden which gives them much needed food at this time of year.

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Now the weather has turned into a cold snap and we sit fireside enjoying the warmth that it brings.

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Kitty with Betty the tea trolley on Sunday.

The twins do like to push her into the sitting room.

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 I found this old 1950's recipe booklet a little while ago but just have not had a chance to make anything from it.
Last Sunday I pulled it out of the drawer & decided to make these scones.
I am so glad I did, they were lovely & rose beautifully.

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The twins were given two Gingerbread House kits for Christmas.

Here are the finished result, they spent two enjoyable hours making these.

One was for Saturday tea & the other was for church the next day.

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As this week has turned very cold I have been baking a lot.

These are a recipe I have done many times, Ruth Motts cheese puff's.

So simple to make & so tasty for weekend tea.

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Orange Fruit Tea Bread.

I found this recipe in a book I found in a charity shop.

The book is an old Marks & Spenser's book about food for your freezer.

Its was so orangey.

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This is our favourite Banana Bread.

We had it for Sunday tea and also for breakfast with some fruit as the recipe makes two loaves.

It also freezes well.

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Using a mixer beat 8 ozs of white sugar, 4ozs light brown sugar & 8 ozs of margarine.

Mash 8 banana's with a masher & add them to the sugar & butter mix with 4 eggs & 1 teaspoon of almond essence.

Add 4ozs of wholemeal flour, 6 ozs of plain flour, a little grated nutmeg & 2 teaspoons of baking soda.

Fold together & put into greased loaf tins.

Bake at 350f for about 1 hour, check after 50 minutes.

Cool in tins & remove after 30 minute.

Enjoy

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Some of my beautiful Christmas gifts from the children.

A little shelf in the scullery now filled with green & cream things.

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These are a few finds we have found lately, I love these late 1920's Woman's magazine's.

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We had ordered some new Laura Ashley chairs for the sitting room.

Just after New Year they were delivered, they are so comfortable.

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Daffodils bringing a little sunshine to the kitchen.

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We just love a Victoria Sponge cake.

I made this using my basic cake recipe which I have posted before.

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Our first Grandchild a little girl is due at the end of March.

I have been busy knitting a little cardigan for her.

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I thought you might like to put a face to the name.

Here I am all ready to go grocery shopping.

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We are eating plenty of soups at the moment & I have been experimenting with different breads.

This bread is a Country Grain Plait.

I made Tasha Tudor's Vegetable Soup to go with it.

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Honey & Ginger Cake I made the other day for the children's lunch boxes.

This recipe came from this little vintage Stork Teatime booklet.

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This is a little dolly outfit I made for Kitty just before Christmas.

I love the way green & pink look together.

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Here are some photo's of Christmas time at the cottage.

I am sorry they are late.

We had laptop issues but now we have a new one, this is why I have not posted in a little while.

Sorry for the photo heavy post.

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George helping with the wrapping.

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A visit to see Father Christmas.

Such a magical morning.

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Mince pies on Christmas Eve.

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I couldn't put George's gift under the tree as he would have ate through the paper.

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Some baking with the twins.

I found these lovely coloured cherries in a cake decorating shop.

They made melting moments with them.

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Christmas Eve tea.

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Christmas Day desserts & puddings.

Trifle, Christmas Pudding & Tangerine Jelly for the twins.

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Little Mary on Boxing Day.

We always have Brandy Snaps filled with cream on Boxing Day.

My Grandmother always did that, so we are keeping the tradition going.

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Wishing all my dear readers a belated Happy New Year.

Thank you for all your lovely comments.

Fondly Michelle 

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