A good pairing

The next time and effort saving item is my vegetable chopping board.  It is another of the things I take around with me as it is so useful.

The downward curved lip fits over the edge of the worktop and the little feet hold it in place.  It is a good size and cleans easily.  Moveover it is simple to slide whatever I've chopped (or the peelings) off and into the appropriate container.

Teamed with a good knife, it is invaluable!

Simple planning

The simplest of things can be the most effective when it comes to planning.

Two things I wouldn't be without for any sort of planning are my diary and a notebook.

The notebook is small enough to fit into a bag (or pocket) when shopping.  Large enough contain all the lists I make and notes of my ideas, but not so many pages that some are wasted.

The diary is quite chunky and will take take all the information I need on a day to day basis throughout the year and with a pocket at the back to take loose papers, tickets, etc.

St Stephen's Zest

I was making a sauce yesterday and adding citrus zest, which is a cue for the day's gadget -

It is possible to make do with a knife or peeler but using a zester is so much quicker, easier and safer for my fingers!

I have had mine for a very long time; it was a gift from a dinner party guest when they first became popular.  It is one of the pieces of equipment that I take with me if I'm cooking out of my own kitchen.

Saving time and energy at Christmas

As we all know, Christmas can be a very busy time and anything that helps is welcome. This might be a labour saving device, a favourite knife or clever gadget.  I have a variety of equipment, gadgets etc., which make life easier.  Some are relatively new, while others I have had for many years.  Some are/were expensive, some amazingly cheap; and some a complex while others very simple.

This year I plan to post one of these for each of the days of Christmas.

On Christmas Day one of the things I find invaluable is the old hostess trolley I had many years ago when I held regular dinner parties.  

You do have to be a bit careful how you use these, as some things don't do well being kept warm like this but plates, sauces and covered plates of carved meat are fine.  It is also useful once the meal has been served as a way of keeping second helpings warm and not taking up too much space on the table.

It can be used in the same way as a warming drawer on a range or the residual heat in the oven.

Christmas Eve

Time has run away this year but everything that has to be done is now in place with a few things to wait for tomorrow morning.

Our Sleigh Run family celebration took place on Saturday and in keeping with the tree theme, my nephew made this pudding:

3rd Sunday

It is the third Sunday in Advent.  The rose coloured candle has been lit and the village is now out in the hall.

Cards have been written and the first batch of present have been wrapped.

The coming week will be full of Christmas preparations in readiness for next weekend's family celebration.  The first stage of the office Christmas competition takes place tomorrow and I have one Christmas lunch and one dinner dance this week, plus a special anniversary.

Excitement begins

For me, the countdown starts properly with the first Sunday in Advent.

As a student, this was the day when I decorated my room, but that was because I wouldn't be in residence at Christmas.  Once I became more settled, this was the day when I decided who would receive which card and when I started writing my Christmas letters.  I lit the first candle of my Advent ring, ate my first mince pie of the season, drank a glass or two of Gewürztraminer and listened to the Christmas music of the Messiah, while I pencilled names on the back of cards.  

This is a tradition I continue to this day. Most of my cards are now made, and those that are have all been allocated, with names pencilled in on envelopes and the back of cards.  Letters and cards are yet to be written, but that will be the joy of the coming days.

I know that later this week, we will start decorating our offices under the direction of team members who are as enthusiastic as I am myself.