We have found a gingerbread recipe and are making a Christmassy garland for my Christmas events. A great cutter really helps, and the gingerbread recipe is lovely.
Recipe below for those who want to try;
350g (12 oz) treacle
225g (8 0z) dark brown soft sugar
150ml (5 fl oz) cold water
50g (2 0z) butter
900g (2lb) plain flour
1 dessertspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 dessertspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinammon
Mix flour, ginger and bicarb into a bowl, rubbing in the butter, then add the sugar, stirring in the syrup and egg to make a firm dough.
Roll out to 5mm thick and let Sprogs loose with cutters. Bake at a 190 for 10-15mins, on a tray lined with greaseproof paper. We used a straw to make holes for stringing before they were baked!
We had such fun, and the garland was used at the Holiday Marketplace in Hampstead over the weekend. The event was run by the Hampstead Womens Club, North American, 
and they were all lovely. The setting was beautiful, see the lovely stained glass in the Rosslyn Chapel.
and they were all lovely. The setting was beautiful, see the lovely stained glass in the Rosslyn Chapel.Everyone was shopping for Christmas, and they bought a lot of Biscotti- the jars and tins with the Gourmet-size Biscotti went really well, and all of the seasonal flavours such as Spiced Apple, Cinammon, Autumn Plum etc.
The gifts on show from the vendors were great- so different from shopping in a High St or Mall, and I even managed to pick up a few gifts myself. My friend's children got beatiful framed pictures for their rooms from www.bethdesign.co.uk, and I picked up a lovely London print for a friend, Sprog bought herself a lovely necklace and too many sweet things. The cupcakes were absolutely delicious- my favourite was the Autumn Spice which was similair to my own flavours...yummy!
Sprog had her day made as there was a "REAL FAIRY, MAMA" there from www.mysticalfairies.co.uk and she had so much fairy dust from frequent visits that she could be seen for miles! At one point, she disappeared, and thankfully was found...with the fairy.
Christmas music played, it was bright, sunny and Christmas Spirit was in the air on this chilly day!
Which brings me nicely onto Spirit of Christmas at Olympia which I visited the day before- amazing! I went 
to shop and see if I wanted to exhibit next year. The show was lovely, lots of great gift ideas, Christmas decorations- I bought lots of shaker-style ornaments from http://www.deck-the-halls.co.uk/, and Sprog got a lovely doggy ornament with her name written on it by the lovely Tricia who was helping us. 
to shop and see if I wanted to exhibit next year. The show was lovely, lots of great gift ideas, Christmas decorations- I bought lots of shaker-style ornaments from http://www.deck-the-halls.co.uk/, and Sprog got a lovely doggy ornament with her name written on it by the lovely Tricia who was helping us. 
I feel like I bought tons- beautiful mohair blankets for friends and Mum, chocolates and sweet treats for many, stocking fillers from Jelly Bean, a fabulous blue scarf for myself with brown polka dots www.earthsquared.com, decorate your own with photos pencilcase for a lovely teen www.clippylondon.com, melamine gift set from www.sophieallport.com for a perfect little 2 year girl, a beautiful little dress for another 2 year old angel, lovely purses for Sprog and BF and butterfly coasters for MIL. I also picked up some labels from the lovely www.honeytreebespoke.com and put a face to the brand I had been looking at online, only the previous day!
As you can see...perhaps not ALL of the Jelly beans will make it to the stockings!!!
