Christmas Winter Berry Trifle

Summer has gone , Autumn is in its lasting dying throws and winter is on its way but why not settle down with a Christmas Berry Trifle.


Ingredients

500g bag fresh or frozen mixed berries.
4tbsp golden caster sugar.
44tbsp creme of cassis ( or any other berry liquor , or basically anything you fancy putting it , just leave out the drink if you want children to eat it)
250 Madeira cake sliced.
250ml tub mascarpone.
500ml custard.
2tsp vanilla.
284 ml and 142ml pot of double cream.

Method

Put the berries and sugar in a pan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the cassis and cool slightly.

Put a layer of Madeira cake in the bottom of a large glass trifle dish and spoon over 2/3 of the berry mix ( you might not need all of the liquid)

Beat the mascapone until smooth the gradually beat in the custard and stir in the vanilla. Spoon on top of the cake and berries. Whip the cream to soft peaks and dollop onto the custard. Chill for an hour. Just before serving, spoon over the rest of the berry mix.

Nature The Gallery Edition

You all know much much I adore nature it's in my veins and in my very soul. I find myself saluting magpies and welcoming natures first crispy chill.

Though we are not quite yet in the grips of a bleak mid winter.

If you prepare your soul and heart for winter it can lessen back the chill.

From sunrise rise ....

To sunset you will find me in natures embrace with my head and heart dutifilly found high.

The Ideal Home At Christmas Show Review

Last Sunday I descended upon the Ideal Christmas Show I hadn't been there since I was about ten and I seemed to remember the Pepsi Challenge being all the rage. No journey for me into London is without adventure  I always get on the wrong tube despite clear instructions , so I just asked a nice policeman.

When you turn up eventually at Earls Court you are immediately struck by its 1930s architecture  and as it was the Christmas show there was fake snow , Christmas trees and music to get you into the mood. I think I could have downloaded a guide but I hadn't ! I wanted first off to see Hillarys Blinds the kind people who had helped me get photo the show . I just asked the lady selling the guides but she didn't know and just pointed at the show guides.

So I judged where I thought it would be and kept asking , eventually I found Hillarys Blinds hurrah and I went to say hello and see how I could better dress my window , apparently your window is a blank canvas that invites you to decorate it. This is I can see as true as a nice blind will add depth to some matching curtains , I have lots of ideas and will telling Mr T who will be agreeing with me.

The rest of the Ideal Christmas show if I am honest was rather hit and miss so this is where perhaps having a guide helps , so you can target where you want to go. This year for Christmas many of the shops are picking up on the Nordic Christmas it's a theme I love. It it relatively simple as it sticks to a certain range of colours yet it be accented by show stopping pieces. I love Tesco stand and I wanted to take all the products home but sadly I think they would have missed their gorgeous items. I partially loved the Stag cushion that accented the sofa , I so wanted to sit down and drink a glass of mulled wine.

There was breathtaking gifts also there was quite a bit of the usual tatty gifts but one persons tat is another person gold. More seating at the show would have helped people recoup at certain points in the day. But the photo below will give you an idea of just how vast the show is !

I had a good time and seeing the various styled rooms, items and products confirmed what I do and don't like in my home. It also fuelled what I would like in my dream home as well!

I also saw an idea for the teens games room come study ! how brilliant are these Big Boy bean bags ?!

And how cute are these little baking sets !

And after seeing the rustic bread there I'll be baking again! perfect for curling up on the sofa with a hearty bowl of soup.

And if you are stuck for ideas how to dress your fireplace , what about this ?

Thank you to Hillarys Blinds for giving me the opportunity to go the show.

Jorvik Viking Centre What A Superbreak !

Step back a thousand years in York and see the city in a different light one where there would have been Vikings houses and artefacts. At the Jorvik viking centre you will be able to see where archaeologists discovered over 40,000 Viking age artefacts.

A Viking shoe.

You will see the living conditions of the Vikings in their reconstructed houses and backyards : all this is experienced in a special capsule that takes you back to this exciting times offering you sights, sounds and commentary as you go . ( There is a special commentary for little ones so no one in the family misses out.

It is a brilliant attraction and one not to be missed and once you have your ticket did you know that it allows you to visit for a whole year .. what fantastic value !

And was courtesy of Superbreak that we were able to go and we found the arrangements extremely easy and there was no problems. It offers exceptional value as your Jorvik centre tickets are valid for a whole twelve months.

And currently children aged 5 - 15 are free ! which is brilliant and they will soak up the interaction between the guides as they take you back in the past, you might even get your own viking coinage.

The displays and information are breathtaking and you feel fully emerged in the past ....

A Viking sword hilt

And here is a copy of the helmet that sparked it all off the 'Coppergate helmet '

The Coppergate Helmet

One of the skeletons discovered on site.

My only observation / criticism was that when the capsule took you back in time that the exhibit didn't seem to smell as much as it had previously but that could have been down to me as I do suffer from sinus a lot of the time.

Buy all in all it was an extremely enjoyable visit to the Jorvik Viking centre in a truly beautiful and majestic city only this time it was us doing the invading.

We were sent free tickets by Superbreak in order to review the Jorvik Centre and Superbreak service .  My review is honest and impartial.

Come Dine With Me

If I had to host  a dinner party I would host it with an opulent but hearty theme  as hosting  at home doesn't mean you have to scrimp on luxury.  My theme would be the Beggars Opera by John Gay so the dress code would on a rags to riches mixed themed. A  dinner party doesn't have to overwhelming either if you plan it out.


Starter


Fig & Pancetta  Cheese

These would be served upon slate hearts .

Main Course

Frugal Corn Beef Hash

Dessert

Would be an opulent Opera Diva Cake.

I would of by asking everyone to me  at a set meeting point wearing of course suitable foot wear ( make sure if they wanted they brought a change of foot wear for dinner) then we would proceed into the local woods only a short way in ascending the stairway

Till we came to the arches forming a natural auditorium

And we would sing some operatic tunes then make our way for our Beggars Opera Supper ....