Nice Buns!

Kirstie Allsopp step aside! You have got competition. This weekend was a weekend devoted to Christmas crafts and gift making. Michael Buble's White Christmas was set to play and the mulled wine was boiling on the stove while I prepared myself for the long haul. Crafts included: Festive tea light holders made from jam jars decorated with pressed flowers , vintage lace and ribbon , and buttons Homemade lavender soap An array of traditional sweets and treats presented in hand decorated boxes or vintage teacups sourced from charity shops. ( coconut ice, vanilla fudge, peppermint creams, chocolate truffles) Recipes and craft instructions as follows:

My favourite instruction in the recipe is to bring the family together to stir in the stout and as you do so all make a very special wish. Christmas is about love and the coming together of the family - this is a lovely tradition which we always uphold.

Treated to a day of bliss at the Daylesford Organic Cookery School (Kingham) , my sister and I created an array of beautiful pastries and deserts. From creme brulee, to chocolate delice topped with coffee icecream, fig and pistachio, to a pear frangipane tart. I highly recommend this course with Daylesford who specialise on using simple , fresh, honest and SEASONAL ingredients. This is one of the most important things in cooking I believe - using ingredients that are seasonal and at their best to create a dish bursting with flavour.

I also made some simple tuna and cucumber sandwiches (no crusts obviously darling!), and some jam tarts filled with some good quality lemon curd and jam. This was all accompanied with some earl grey tea and frizzante from DaylesfordOrganic

Would also be great as a starter for a few of you - so easy to prepare yet looks impressive. Importance lies around the freshness and quality of the ingredients. All of ours were sourced from Daylesford Organic Farmshop , Kingham.

SECRET INGREDIENT ** In addition to the recipe I add chunks of green and blacks white chocolate