I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Jan R..requested this Happy Christmas Jan. It looks like it will be a white Christmas in London this year!

Christmas at Kew Gardens.

Santa's Grotto

'Tis the season to be jolly!' Visit Father Christmas in his sparkling woodland grotto hidden in Kew's tropical glasshouse to tell him those important Christmas wishes.

Dates: Sat 11 Dec to Wed 23 Dec 2010
Time: The queue opens at noon and closes at 3pm.
Venue: Princess of Wales Conservatory
Price: Free

Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

Horse and Carriage Rides

Collecting visitors from the Orangery, a horse and carriage will whisk you down Kew’s historic Broad Walk.

Dates: Sat 11 Dec to Mon 3 Jan 2011
Time: The rides will run from 10.30am to 3.30pm daily and last 20 minutes. Subject to weather conditions.
Venue: Orangery
Price: Adults £3, children £2

More Information and all activities

Christmas Stocking Filler-Children will love these, Matchbox Theatre Set

We are an independent toyshop in London's Covent Garden Market. Originally established in the 1880s by our namesake, Benjamin Pollock who produced toy theatres or the juvenile drama as it was then known for "a penny plain, twopence coloured."

Now selling over 100 years later a wide selection of traditional toys for both children and adult collectors including the toy theatres. Browse the website - international shipping available and FREE UK shipping OVER £100, or come into the shop where we have lots more on offer.

The Friends Choice...

Construct the Grand Opera, Punch & Judy (or Guignol), Commedia dell Arte and a Curiosa Cabaret each from a matchbox. They make great individual theatrical gifts or keep them as a set.

Celebrate Christmas with Dickens- Open Christmas Day

‘Christmas with Dickens’ at the Charles Dickens Museum will be at the heart of London’s Christmas celebrations in December 2010. Special events on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day will make visitors to Dickens’s home in Bloomsbury (48 Doughty Street, London, WC1) take a step back in time: They will be able to see how Dickens and his family would have celebrated Christmas, and they will find out about Victorian Christmas customs from carol singing to Christmas puddings.

The Museum will present itself in seasonal greenery and authentic Christmas decoration as described by the English writer.We will offer mulled wine and mince pies on cold December days and you can relax listening to readings from Dickens’s Christmas stories. Presentations of classic movie adaptations of A Christmas Carol will run throughout the day.

The Museum will be open on those days from 11.00-18.00. The admission fee of £14 (£6 with concessions) includes complimentary Christmas delicatessen, a gift pack, access to the Christmas exhibition and special events. Tickets can be ordered in advance (020 7405 2127) or bought on the day.

The Charles Dickens Museum, 48 Doughty Street, London, WC1N 2LX. TEL: 0207-405-2127

Last-minute Christmas pudding recipe- Quick Christmas Pud!

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk Big Thanks for this recipe!

Ingredients

1. 1½ x 411g jars luxury mincemeat
2. Grated zest of 1 large orange
3. 2 tbsp brandy
4. 50g self-raising flour
5. 1 tsp mixed spice
6. 50g fresh white breadcrumbs
7. 1 egg, beaten
8. Icing sugar, a few fresh berries and a large fresh rosemary sprig (optional), to decorate

Method

1. 1. To prepare: Empty the mincemeat into a large bowl and, using a wooden spoon, stir in the grated orange zest and brandy. Sift the self-raising flour and spice together and stir into the mincemeat mixture with the breadcrumbs. Stir in the beaten egg. Spoon into a greased 900ml pudding basin, cover with a circle of pleated greaseproof paper, then a circle of foil and tie around the rim of the basin with string to secure. Loop the string over and tie at the other side to make handles.
2. 2. To cook: Put the pudding basin on an upturned saucer in a large, deep pan, and pour in boiling water until it comes halfway up the side of the pudding basin. Cover and steam for 3 hours, topping up the water level occasionally. Alternatively, cover loosely with greaseproof paper and microwave on high for 8-10 minutes.
3. 3. To serve: Turn out onto a serving plate, dust with icing sugar then decorate with fresh berries and a sprig of rosemary, if using.

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Note from RPH. Add some booze....

Simon's Cat In Santa Claws

Thanks BM in Poland for sending this over Happy Christmas

Whole Story » Blog Archive » Roasting Chestnuts

Whole Story » Blog Archive » Roasting Chestnuts

The smell of roasting chestnuts always reminds me of the holiday season in New York City, when it seems like there’s a street vendor roasting chestnuts on just about every other corner.

If you love chestnuts, and have always wondered how to roast them at home – here’s how:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. With a very sharp knife, cut an X in the rounded side of each chestnut, making sure to cut all the way through the shell. This is an important step, because it will prevent the chestnuts from exploding.
3. Place the chestnuts on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of water over the chestnuts, shake the pan, and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
4. Wrap them in a towel, and let them sit for about 10 minutes. Crush them gently with the bottom of a heavy pan. Unwrap the towel, and place the chestnuts in a big bowl.
5. Take the bowl to a comfy spot (a roaring fire is good) with some friends and family (and maybe some glasses of port). Peel the skins off of the meat, while you have a pleasant chat.

Mulled Wine Recipe! Yum Yum Slurp....

Ingredients

1 bottle red wine, a very basic cheap one will do!
60g/2oz demerara sugar
1 cinnamon stick
grated nutmeg
1 orange, halved
1 dried bay leaf

60ml/2fl oz sloe or damson gin (optional)
Aniseed and fennel (optional)

Try adding some fresh Chillies! finely chopped (Very Optional) Or Paprika pepper!

Preparation method

1. Add slices of orange, the sugar, bay leaf and spices to a saucepan of wine.

2. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Taste to see if you’d like the wine sweeter, and add more sugar to taste.

3. Take off the heat, and stir in the sloe or damson gin if you are using it. and Enjoy!!

Little Venice-Clifton Nurseries-This Christmas.

I am often accused of being biased when it come to certain places in London. Not Guilty! Little Venice is always going to be a favourite of mine and a here is a great place, Clifton Nurseries 5A, Clifton Villas London 

From Clifton Nurseries.

Our Christmas trees are here now and ready for your inspection. The sizes range from a modest 3ft tall to a massive 14ft monster and if a 14ft tree doesn't excite you, let us know the size you want and we'll find you a corker.

And this year we have even more choice. If the non drop charms of the Nordman no longer excite you, why not have a go with a Blue Spruce, Serbian Spruce or a Cork Bark Fir. All have beautiful blue foliage and a spicy aroma and are guarenteed to strike a reaction at your seasonal soiree.

Gifts and decorations are now housed in our beautiful new Palm House. Our in house stylist has gone to town this year, so prepare to be dazzled.

We look forward to seeing you.

Clifton Nurseries Ltd
5A, Clifton Villas
London
W9 2PH

Tel: 0207 289 6851
Fax: 0207 286 4215

What's on Our Table -Christmas Crackers!

Traditional More Information a big selection from http://www.christmascrackershop.com £9.95

Fun http://www.christmascrackershop.com £8.95

Ohh No!! Who bought these!! Musical Fun for all.....http://www.christmascrackershop.com

Christmas crackers with a Casino theme More Information http://www.christmastimeuk.com

This Week from Urban Telly Thanks Guys! 9/12/10

Questions About London-Hotels

Q: What is a weekly hotel rate in london in us currency


You can search London hotels Here
After running the search you can then change the currency rates To USD
or in 19 other currencies. 


The Hotel rooms will then be shown in Dollars inclusive of tax and in most cases
 include breakfast where applicable.


Answer Provided by Tony

Christmas Recipe From Borough Market- Spiced Poached Clementines

Serves 2

This pudding is stunningly beautiful.  Using the star anise to garnish gives a beautifully festive feel which combined with the jewel-like pomegranate seeds and the glistening clementines provides not only a feast for the stomach but one for the eyes as well.Ingredients

4 clementines

150ml red wine

100g caster sugar

1 piece cassia bark

2 whole star anise

2 cardamom pods

4tbs pomegranate seeds to serve

4tbs clotted cream to serve

1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg to serve

Method

Place the red wine, sugar and spices into a pan with 150ml hot water and bring to a gentle simmer.

Meanwhile, with a sharp knife, remove all the skin and pith from the clementines. You aren’t trying to peel the clementines as if you would eat them; you want to remove the outside membrane as well so that the juicy flesh is visible.

Once the sugar has dissolved into the liquid, gently lower in the prepared clementines along with a piece or two of the orange skin you removed to add extra flavour. Gently poach the celementines in the liquid for about 8 minutes until tender. Remove the clementines from the liquid and set aside.

Turn up the heat in the pan and reduce the poaching liquor until thickened slightly to a more syrupy consistency. Remove the clementine skin, cardamom pods and cassia bark.

Place the clementines onto your serving plates, drizzle over a spoonful or two of the poaching syrup, sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds. Top with a star anise pod on each plate.

Mix together the clotted cream and nutmeg and put an artfully placed dollop on each plate and serve.

Erith Christmas Tree Festival DA8 3AN

The Erith Christmas Tree festival is based in a Grade 2 Star listed Parish Church, Christ Church, Erith and is organised by members of the church family. The large Victorian church, built in the 1870's is ordinarily beautified by mural wall paintings, but added with the 80 real Christmas trees; the sense of awe and wonder is created.

More Information


Dates & Times 2012
Friday 14th December        12 noon - 7pm
Saturday 15th December    10am - 7pm
Sunday 16th December      12 noon - 5pm
Carols By Tree Light - Sunday    Starts 6:30pm
Admission to the festival is FREE,
All donations to our partnered charity will be gratefully received.

Best Beer? Try Chalkys Bite Brewed in Cornwall.

Chalky's Bite is rapidly on its way to classic beer status. Since its launch in November '06 we have not heard one bad word about it. In fact in this short time the beer has gathered an impressive collection of glowing comments from many of the World's top beer writers.


We vote this as 10/10