Tag Archives: Christmas

Santa By Any Other Name . . .

Posted on December 23, 2022 by kayjayaitch

Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Sinterklaas, Odin, Baba Christmas, Babbo Natale, Black Peter, Christkindl, Ded Moroz, Gwiazdor, Joulupukki, Kanakaloka, Kerstman, Mos Craciun, Pere Noel, Sion Corn, Shengdan Laoren . . . Santa  is a mythical figure with … Continue reading →

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Summer Sun For The Winter

Posted on August 27, 2019 by kayjayaitch

The Preserve of Preserves With the end of summer and the beginnings of a rapid slide into winter I thought I’d celebrate with a glass of wine! Except that the wine itself is not yet ready! It is a ‘work … Continue reading →

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Make Your Own English Country Wine

Posted on July 23, 2017 by kayjayaitch

A glass of home-made Country wine is a tradition of old English hospitality that stretches back centuries. Forget grapes! Despite being universally accepted as the most reliable fruit for winemaking, grapes do not fare well in England. Therefore the juices … Continue reading →

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The Art Of Feathering

Posted on June 16, 2016 by kayjayaitch

These images and recipes come from the booklet shown opposite which dates back to somewhere about the late fifties. Despite being a promotional tool for Stork margarine it nevertheless contains some interesting insights into what would then have been basic … Continue reading →

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The Polish Experience

Posted on April 9, 2014 by kayjayaitch

Polish cuisine has been crafted over the centuries by an influx of merchants from Madrid, Paris, Genoa and Florence, to name but a few. Influences from the cuisines of surrounding countries have helped Poland to develop its own distinctive cuisine. … Continue reading →

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A Staffordshire Christmas

Posted on January 5, 2013 by kayjayaitch

Along with my Mother, Brenda and her dog Alice, I spent Christmas in the North of England, in the county of Staffordshire. We were in Dilhorne, an ancient village close to Cheadle and Uttoxeter.       The weather was … Continue reading →

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Marzipan Fruits & Turkish Delight

Posted on December 21, 2012 by kayjayaitch

Marzipan is a confection created using ground almonds and and sugar that has been a staple of the celebration table since the 17th century. The making of marzipan fruits is relatively more modern. The Victorians developed the idea of ‘sweetmeats’ … Continue reading →

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Pick Your Christmas Cake . . .

Posted on December 20, 2012 by kayjayaitch

Here are just a few images from the archive, to suggest possible styles without excessive explanation. The first example is the ‘Golden Ball’ Christmas cake! (Victoria Beckham eat your heart out!) How to create the look is detailed more precisely … Continue reading →

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The Icing On The Cake

Posted on December 19, 2012 by kayjayaitch

Celebration cakes are, by definition, produced for those occasions when that little something extra is required. Savings are made to obtain the required ingredients that, in normal circumstances, would not be on the shopping list. Throughout history all ‘rites of … Continue reading →

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Lebküchen

Posted on December 18, 2012 by kayjayaitch

The forerunner of today’s Lebküchen was called the “honey cake” and its history can be traced back to the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans. They believed that honey, the only sweetener widely available to them, was a gift of the … Continue reading →

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