Festive Gift Ideas from the Cath Kidston Caped Crusaders

Am not sure how it has happened but it is November the 21st. Which means Christmas is literally just over a month away. For my American friends "the holidays" are almost under way with next Thursday being Thanksgiving. So this week I decided to test various Christmas gift ideas and I knew just the woman to help me.

May I introduce my fellow Cath Kidston caped crusader Sarah. Sarah is an amazing chef and if you are skiing in Val D'Isere with Crystal this year and staying in a chalet she may be your chalet host! Sarah is one of those lovely people who it is a genuine pleasure to spend time with and is the only person who can get me to eat Eggs (she also survived growing up with Rachel and Laura). Well in advance of Sarah going to the frozen wastelands that is Val D'Isere on Wednesday  me and her decided to have a baking day. So what follows is our baking from today. With some Festive Gift Ideas for you to try

Christmas in a Glass

 

 

"It's noon on a Thursday why have you got a bottle of Vodka"

 

Sarah is going to do a ski season and is obviously taking a hip flask. So apart from sloe gin we thought we would find something else for her to take with her and we came across this nifty little recipe. Which explains to any concerned parents why we had a bottle of Vodka on a Thursday lunchtime

 

2 x 200g  Jars Cranberry Sauce

200ml Smooth Fresh Orange Juice

1 Cinnamon Stick

350ml Vodka

 

Preheat the oven to 140'c. Sterilise a large jar by washing it in hot soapy water, then rinse well. Put in the oven on its side for 30 minutes

 

Put the cranberry sauce, juice and cinnamon stick in a pan. Simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring regularly ( Your kitchen will smell amazing during this period!) This is what it looks like as it cooks

 

 

 

Take off the heat and cool. Add the Vodka and transfer to the jar. Put on the lid, and keep in Fridge for 3 days

 

Strain through a sieve lined with a new J-Cloth. Sterilise two small bottles in the same way as the jar. When the bottles are cold add the vodka. Use within a month

 

We strongly advise not (overly) drinking and skiing. A Gluwein is OK in moderation but don't drink too much as one will help you ski better but two will make you fall over!

 

 

 

 

Festive Florentines

 

My mum is Gluten Intolerant and really misses some of the stuff she used to eat. So Sarah and I are forever trying out recipes that mum can eat. So today we made our festive Florentines. If you don't have a gluten intolerant mother feel free to use normal plain flour.

 

75g Unsalted Butter

75g Caster Sugar

2tbsp Clear Honey/Golden Syrup

75g Plain Flour

75g Dried Cranberries

50g Glace Cherries quartered

25g Mixed dried peel

25g Dried Apricots

50g Flaked Almonds

 

Preheat the oven to 180'C/ Gas 4 line 2 baking trays with baking paper ( or Magic Carpet baking sheets if you have them-these are amazing and worth investing in!)

 

Put the butter, sugar and honey or syrup in a pan. Heat gently, stirring, until the butter has melted and all the sugar has dissolved

 

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the rest of the ingredients.

 

Put heaped teaspoonful's of mixture on the baking trays, leaving plenty of space between each one to allow the Florentines to spread during cooking (allow more room between them then you think!) Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Leave for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool

 

 

 

An optional extra:- We melted a bar of plain chocolate down and spread it on the back of the Florentines. Leave it chocolate side up to set!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made two more recipes and they will be published soon! Hope these wet your appetite and help you get in the mood