Happy New Year 2016

I saw the New Year in and it was gone 2:30am before I got to bed.  I sat doing some crochet for a little while in the peace and quiet of the early hours adding extra rows to some crochet already well underway and welcoming in the New Year in my own quiet inimitable style.  OH was flat out for the count.  In the early part of the evening fireworks were going off left right and centre and at one point we had fireworks going off in the street in front of the house and in peoples gardens to the rear.  It deeply upset Missy who kept muttering and growling for the best part of the evening thereafter and the cats were not much happier either.  But at least the were in the warm and safe.  I am sorry I am not a fan of fireworks I really am not happy with them.  They look pretty but the bangs really do nothing for me.  My impression is that they make people irresponsible and less careful of other folk minding their business.  We should not be able to buy them over the counter.

As a result of my late bedtime I ended up oversleeping and for once having a generous lay in which was a novelty; its all very nice and all that but then I ache for the rest of the day. Since being up I have used the me time to flop and catch up with some TV programmes I had missed over the holiday season.

I also yesterday managed to buy four largest sized pots of double cream and so I have turned one pot into some home made butter and buttermilk in my Kilner butter churner.  I paid 20p per pot for four pots so I was not going to turn that down.  The butter has come up better than I anticipated and the bonus is the buttermilk which can be used in homemade scones with homemade strawberry jam or in pancakes for breakfast.  I shall probably freeze the butter in ice cube trays or in rolls cut into slices.  Some of the butter I am going to add fresh herbs and spices too. 

So I have had the first play of this New Year.  I intend to play a lot more during the coming weeks.  There is so much I want to have a go at and so much I have to do so it will be a balancing act.

If you would like to have a go at making your own butter there is a little tutorial here:

http://www.kilnerjar.co.uk/how-to

I have managed to make roughly half a pound of butter plus I have the buttermilk for scones and pancakes.

We have also had the first home cooked meal of 2016.  A very light meal which we have both enjoyed.  Hunters chicken with lashings of cheese, broccoli, carrots, new potatoes and cauliflower cheese and gravy.  Very nice it was too.

I have a Lemoncello pudding for afters (bought) OH is having some fresh fruit (he is diabetic).

I pre-warn you now - making things for Christmas is likely to be a frequent topic during this coming year whether that be on the food front the craft front or on the present front.  I hope I do not bore too many people to bits but I do want to use the time available to me to make things for consumption throughout the year but also be able to have goodies available for me to use for the Christmas Pantry.  I would like a house move as this place is not really big enough with the menagerie of animals that I have or practical so I will have a look around and see if we can come across anything that will suit.  Knowing my luck I will still be here next Christmas.

I have all sorts of ideas.  I have also bought a paper page a day diary to plan things out like pit stops in which to make things by, making cards for birthday presents, and probably a little present to go with.  I also intend to keep the diary on the computer as well but when I am planning things out I like a proper book diary in which to see deadlines etc. it is so much more tactile.  I also have a friend who I work with who is getting married in September 2016 and so I want to make her something a little special.

I am getting low on home made Seville Orange Marmalade and so I am looking forward to the new supply of Seville Oranges.  I already have a couple of bottles of Red Cotes du Rhone wine in and intend to get a few more bottles over the next few weeks or so to make some Vin de Orange for next Christmas's celebrations as well as making the marmalade.  I also intend to experiment with some Rose Wine and also a White Wine.

I hope you all have had a lovely relaxing first day to the New Year.  Here is hoping that this is a good year for one and all.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

x