Why i love Nigella x

My beloved 'Nigella' (Lawson - the TV personality and Recipe Book writer for the Un-initiated)
She gets a bad press by some but i want to tell you why i love her...
My Christmas Party - held yesterday - at my house, i sooo wish you all could have come. Nigella made hosting a small Christmas gathering SO much pleasure.

Mini Christmas pudding truffles, individually decorated by my sister, my daughter, my man and me. So much fun and they look gorgeous x a crafters dream cookery project. MMMmmm licking the chocolate bowl (even the dog got in on this action)

Peanut Butter mini-cupckaes x my younger Sister (BabyFish) has just returned from 12 Months travelling the world. What better way to catch up than spending the afternoon on cups of tea and making chocolates from Nigella's Christmas Book? It was pure JOY.

BabyFish fiddling with the mini-holly decoration on 48 individual puddings. I don't care if Nigella pouts at the camera or *eats cold left-overs during a nightine fridge raid* (or only does that for the camera)

Nigella doesn't make me feel inadequate or envious. She is a joy to watch and her books are a joy to cook and bake from. I love to feed my family and my friends and Nigella knows really that the 'event' and the people are far more important than the food.

Drinking, eating, talking, laughing, creating... these are things that i see Nigella promoting and these are the things that make me happy too.

Nigella's Christmas Chutney.... mmmmm x she maybe very Middle-class, she even be Upper-class, i don't really know. I just love her class-i-ness.

My friend MrsB really does get the bus or walk to her supermarket WITH 2 babies under 3 and she cooks and entertains Nigella with so much style! (Click HERE to see MrsB loving Nigella)

Dressing the table in OOOodddles of my Christmas crockery all thrifted and Sale found throughout the years.

SO, Merry Christmas!

Don't *hate* Nigella x love her for what she stands for...

Camp creativity, eating, taking life with a pinch of sugar, entertaining, eating, laughing, creating and generally putting in a little bit more effort than your local McDonalds could offer.

Cheers x

"Local Craft Matters" .... *waves*

I write a regular column for a little publication in the UK called "Local Craft Matters".
I really enjoy it as i LOVE to talk about how fantastic and important Craft is and how you can support craft and 'find' social crafting in our area.
Anyway, i wrote my article and said about "craft fairs are the best place to Christmas Shop" and "why not make stuff... like chutney!" SO.... in case my readers wanted proof - here is me and the smallerFish making chutney...


Me, in love with Nigella (sigh) if she knew me, she'd really like me I'm sure... Always sterilize those jars! We don't have a dish washer as i find washing-up rather therapeutic (but a little rough on my poor hands)

It is a Nigella recipe called "Christmas Chutney" with all my favourites: Apples, Clementine, Cloves, Spice, Cranberries, Dates (and sugar and vinegar!)

Of course, all kitchen Divas need crowns! But please, I am NOT a terrible 'affected' lady that feels the need for Diva-ness. Any Mother to a 4yr old girl knows that Princess Crowns are worn by everyone in the family on a regular basis (including the dog x)

Yeh, go on, make Chutney! Make 'something' - feel good about yourself.

Staying in is soooooo the new 'going out'!