If you live in the UK, I suspect that like me, you knew Christmas was ’round the corner’ in August when Tesco started selling mince pies. I put these distressing news at the back of my mind so successfully that now, a mere three weeks before the actual event, I have only bought 2 presents and starting to inwardly tremble.
We all have our treasured routines, our seasonal pleasures, all these little signs along the way that tell us that something exciting is around the corner. And there are the specific things that shout Chriiiiiiistmaaasss! Here are a few of mine:
1. The Radio Times double issue magazine is out and omg is there going to be anything good on telly and then…
2. Dr Whoooooo! My goodness, but I love Dr Who and I cannot wait for the Christmas Special, it sounds like it could be a good one. I love science fiction and fantasy and Dr Who is always so. much. fun. So there, nerdom becomes me and I am not ashamed.
3. Something tasty this way comes: I bought a duck at the weekend, because there’s only the two of us (plus milk-fed baby) on Christmas Day and we’re having turkey on Boxing Day. On an even tastier note, I made chocolate chestnut purée cupcakes at the weekend for Little Girl’s dedication and let me tell you, they were amazing, and perfect if you can’t eat wheat as chestnuts are very starchy and make the perfect replacement for flour. Chestnut purée is so Christmassy. It speaks to me of winter, the warmth of fire and roasted chestnuts in the streets. If you’ve never tried it and you are lucky enough to live in France, you could have a lovely alternative Mousse de Marrons, which can be found in the yoghurt section of most supermarkets. Anyway, the cupcakes were basically chestnut purée, sugar, eggs and ground almonds and I stole the recipe from the BBC Good Food website from which a great deal of good things come. The topping itself I could eat on its own for breakfast.
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they look so lush Im getting fat just looking at them
So worth it!!