Be prepared!

With half term behind us, we are now on the big countdown and I love every minute of it! I’m planning seasonal activities for my family, my church and, of course, loads of events with Hen Corner. Very soon I’ll be bring the Christmas chapter of my book to life at Olympia London as I host The Christmas Corner as part of the Ideal Home Show Christmas, 26th -30th November.

I’m a firm believer that it’s all in the planning and am constantly making notes in my diary of what I plan to do, and when, to ensured that I’m as prepared as possible allowing me to enjoy every minute of the celebrations. Christmas cards, Secret Santa and guests lists have been confirmed. I’m now on the look out for new recipes for classic dishes and little surprises for stocking fillers.

Win tickets for the Ideal Home Show Christmas!

This competition is exclusively for blog subscribers. The winner will receive a PAIR OF TICKETS, worth £36, valid any day 26th – 30th November.

If you’d like to be entered into this competition to win TICKETS, just check that you’ve subscribed to this blog and leave a comment telling us your favourite thing about Christmas

Competition closes Sunday 9th November, we will draw for the free tickets on Monday 10th and notify winners by email.

If you’ve ever been to Hen Corner, you’ll remember our garden room with full length windows looking out across the lawn, trees, chickens and hives.

This allows a perfect view of the season change as occasional breezes cause orange and red leaves to cascade down leaving branches bare. It won’t be long until it’s just the faithful evergreens standing resplendent and I start to pick out the foliage that I’ll be using in this year’s wreaths and garlands. Our mistletoe is magnificent, complete with white berries, but that won’t be cut until the very last minute. Shiny camellia and silvery olive leaves will feature regularly this year, maybe with tiny ribbon bows throughout.

Homemade cheese for Christmas?

If you’d like to serve something really special for your guests, or take as a gift to a super host, there’s still time to make your own Camembert cheese that will be perfectly ripe for the celebrations. We have a couple of spaces on Introduction to Making Cheese on Wednesday 12th November giving your cheese the recommended six weeks to mature…

Coming up at Hen Corner:

November

• Introduction to Making Bread Tuesday 4th
• Introduction to Making Cheese Wednesday 12th
• Introduction to Scandinavian Baking Tuesday 18th
• Making Christmas Puddings – Stir Up Sunday Sunday 23rd

Christmas Courses!

 

 

+ Making Christmas Puddings – Stir Up Sunday

At Hen Corner: Sunday 23rd November

+ Making Christmas Wreaths

At Hen Corner: Wed 3rd (7pm – 9.30pm), Thurs 4th Dec (1pm – 3.30pm), Wed 10th (7pm – 9.30pm)

Plus Christmas Wreath Workshops at Chiswick Flower Market Sunday 7th Dec, 12pm and 2pm

+ Making Christmas Food Gifts

At Hen Corner: Tuesday 9th December

+ Introduction to Christmas Baking

At Hen Corner: Tuesday 16th December and Thursday 18th December

Don’t forget – if you’ve been on a course before, email for your 20% discount!

Other news:

• Butternut is back outside living with a couple of our gentler hens who seem to be helping her find food and water
• My goodness, I’ve made a whole load of produce from my little quince tree – the cordial is especially delicious
• I had a fabulous day teaching London families basic pastry skills – perfect for the party season

Jobs for the week:

• Bring the lemon tree indoors before the temperatures get too low
• Sweep up leaves for nutrient rich compost
• Plant garlic and broad beans at the allotment

Gosh, the evenings start earlier now the clocks have gone back, do you have any traditions to cheer up the dark nights?

I hope to see you soon,

Sara