CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE: FOR BOOK LOVERS

 

Clockwise from top left: a candle that smells of afternoons in the library, a book about a little ghost learning to read, a handbound notebook and bookbinding classes, an early edition of a childhood favourite, a Welsh blanket to curl up under, an introduction to Ian Hamilton Finlay with a selection of his writing and a copy of his Nautical Alphabet, a song for anyone wrapped up in books, a voucher and book bag from a favourite shop, a mug and biscuits for sustenance while reading, a shelf for all their favourite books.

And, finally, because I'm sure you all have a few thousand pounds to spend on the book lover in your life...

A LITTLE SOMETHING

'Eleven o'clock and still two hours until lunchtime. Something to keep you steady - nothing finer than a slice of seed cake, washed down by a glass of Madeira. This will see you safely through until lunch.' (Fergus Henderson, Beyond Nose to Tail: A Kind of British Cooking: Part II)

On Sunday, there were online errands in the morning, then sandwiches from odds and ends in the fridge at lunchtime (mostly left from making pizzas the night before), a spoonful of pizza sauce, a few slices of prosciutto, the end of a ball of mozzarella. We piled it onto a baguette and topped it with scrambled eggs. That evening, once the cottage pie was in the oven,  I pulled out the second St John book and got to making this week's cake. A simple loaf cake speckled with caraway seeds. We've each been taking a slice to work to eat when we fancy a little something. For me, that's usually late morning or mid-afternoon, sometimes with a cup of mint tea, sometimes not. If only it could be that glass of Madeira that Fergus Henderson recommends...

AXEL SCHEFFLER AND ROYAL MAIL

Have you seen this year's Christmas stamps? 

Would it be excessive if I start putting one on everything I post even though it's still November?

No? Good.

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE: FOR HIM

I've decided to dip my toes into the gift guide waters this Christmas. There will, hopefully, be one every Friday until 21st December starting with gifts for the man in your (my) life.

Clockwise from top left: John Fahey's Christmas Album, Fair Isle socks, a wall mounted bottle opener and some of his favourite beer, Kiehl's Facial Fuel (for men who really don't like the feel of products on their face), a Makr wallet to replace the one that was stolen three years ago and is yet to be replaced, enough fried egg sweets to last the year (perhaps), a West German vase to add to the collection on our windowsill.

DRAWING IN

I can never remember when seasons officially begin and end but I feel like Winter is here. I'm piling on layers and wearing my hat and gloves every day on my way to work and it's getting dark by 5pm. And, predictable as ever, I pulled my Christmas cookery books off the shelf over the weekend and started thinking about things to make in the coming months. Last night we had a roast chicken with mashed swede and carrot and sauteed shredded brussels sprouts for dinner and a bottle of red wine that Sarah and Rob gave us in September. Tonight, after I've been to yoga which will leave me floppy, ready to pull pyjama bottoms on and curl up on the sofa under the blanket, there will be little leftover vegetable cakes with chicken and Nigel Slater talking about sweets. Or maybe eggs on the vegetable cakes and chicken curry tomorrow, or chicken and chips...

I made a vanilla bundt yesterday. After we had been to the supermarket, before we were ready to start making dinner. A cake to sit on the worktop, we'll take a slice each to work for as long as it lasts, a treat from the weekend to see us through the first few days of the week. It has a golden crust with a soft yellow crumb, the raw cake batter tasted like vanilla custard and dropped into the tin in soft ripples, so satisfying.

So, after the shopping, and the baking, and the roasting I just wanted to say this. I think I'm ready for Winter. I could do with a pair of serious boots in case it decides to snow but apart from that I'm ready and looking forward to some, maybe even all, of the below.

Making marshmallows
Cold walks followed by warm meals
Christmas cocktails and meals out with friends
A spiced chocolate cake
A December weekend in Sussex
Quiet afternoons in warm pubs with the papers 
Clementine cake
Wrapping up in a big warm scarf, and, in my dreams, a coat that feels more like a duvet


 

CPLD

Chris, Christophe, CPLD. 33 today.

Happy Birthday.

x

THIS AUTUMN FEELING

The changing colours, the bright crispness, being enveloped in wool, getting cold on long walks, coming inside to find warmth. The last week or so has been picture perfect October, the dark starts and foggy breath made better by the promise of sunshine, the days so clear that if you find just the right bench, out of the wind, you can sit outside and breathe Autumn in. On Saturday we sat in Princes Street Gardens, and on Sunday, while I fed waffles, bacon and maple syrup to friends, Chris walked to the Gallery of Modern Art with Euan and they sat outside for as long as they could. Later I walked across town to meet them, the sun in my eyes.

But all week we watched the forecast, the forecast that said yes it's sunny and bright and cold and perfect but don't get too comfortable just wait until Thursday, on Thursday it will RAIN. It held out until just after lunchtime and then it rained, and it rained, and it rained. I had taken my swimming costume to work but as I left I realised that I didn't want to go swimming, I just wanted to be at home. I wanted to turn the heating on, to make dinner, to bake a cake, to paint my nails dark blue and that, all of it, is what I did.

A couple of weeks ago I roasted a butternut squash with thyme, toasted some hazelnuts in a small pan, and threw it all into some couscous with goats' cheese for a quick meal. Last night I did the same, just with pasta and pecorino instead. Next time I think there will be big pasta shells, filled with squash, thyme and nuts, topped with crumbled goats' cheese...