Happy Little Christmas everyone. Time to kick back and enjoy the last hurrah. I am a firm believer in squeezing the last ounce of Christmasness out of the festivities and today is the last little allowable squeeze.
Today (6th January) is known as Little Christmas or Women's Christmas, and the custom was that the women were rewarded for all their hard work during Christmas by a day when all the work was done for them ...nice! Now I have to admit that this tradition has not been fully embraced by my family, actually it seems to have been fairly well neglected by modern day Ireland, but maybe it's time for a revival!!
I have decided to have a little review of some of the baking indulgences of the past couple of weeks, which nicely coincides with the Forever Nigella challenge over at Maison Cupcake whereby Sarah challenges us to bake/cook a Nigella recipe (without printing the recipe) with a changing theme (this month's is "seasonal Nigella")
These little puddini bonbons are prefect for using up any leftover Christmas pudding, great option if you don't live in a house with Christmas Pudding piggies!!!!
I actually had to buy a small pudding to make these sweets (which is quite something when you consider that I made EIGHT puddings, none of which I gave away!!!!!!!!!!), they were very popular, the sherry, chocolate and pudding made a wonderful flavour combination.
These Christmas Chocolate Biscuits were incredibly easy to throw together, actually the most bothersome part was the glaze which I wouldn't even add next time I make them. You just put some butter, sugar, cocoa, flour and bread soda in the processor - whizz and bake. Easy.
P.S. Aren't the Christmas tree sprinkles cute!
The piece de rèsistance Nigella's "Incredibly Easy Chocolate Fruit Cake" according to Brownieville Man the best Christmas cake of all time. There is just a hint of cocoa in this boiled fruit cake, which is moist and almost pudding like. The fact that it is a boiled cake means that it can be made a week or so before Christmas, great for the unprepared amongst us!!
Hope you enjoyed my Nigella Christmas roundup, I'm off to sit on the couch, eat cookies and paint my nails!!!!!!!!!!!
36 comments:
Women's Christmas - what a great idea!
Love the idea of a Women's Christmas - wonder if Hubby will buy into it?!!?
Great Nigella round up, you have been very busy.
I have got to get hubby up to doped with this woman's Christmas. Genius idea and your nigella goodies look fantastic. X
Women's Christmas is a fabulous idea! I can see precisely why it is necessary...!
I love these puddini bon bons, they are so cute.
Thank you so much for taking part in Forever Nigella. Hope to see you again in future months!
Never heard of Women's Christmas until now. Holidays are fun but also tiring for us trying to make it wonderful for everyone. Those puddini bonbons are lovely!
What a lovely idea!Love Nigella round up!
Delicious - making me feel all christmassy again. HAVE to take the tree down tonight and I would happily keep it a wee while longer.
Your chocolate cake looks stunning. Must try it next year. The fact that you can make it at the last-minute also appeals a lot.
wat a wonderful idea...enjoyed your post dear..
Tasty appetite
Having read your post and with others tweeting about 'womens Christmas' I'm regretting that my house aren't celebrating it. I have 3 sons and this is my first little christmas with my baby girl. Have informed the boys that this day next year will be a day for Myself and Millie!!!
bah humbug!
Women's christmas, I've never heard of that! I'll be sure to let my husband know though, so he can buy gifts accordingly :)
Never heard this special Christmas. Today in Italy is Epiphany and we use to imagin an old woman coming on a broom and giving children candies!
First time I have heard of this but I do LOVE the idea! Those Christmas tree sprinkles are adorable!
Many happy returns Brownieville Girl. Post is rather Nigella too. 'last little allowable squeeze' sounds like a Nigella phrase ... she should read this post too!
Wonderful idea...wonderful bakes! Happy NY, hope you had a good Christmas - Sorry i have been missing from blog world - this pregnancy lark has taken my zest for cooking! :) With love Lucie xx
What a fabulous idea.
love this idea and the use of Christmas pudding my parents came here from Scotland with christmas pudding
thanks for visiting my blog
Rebecca
What an amazing round up of Nigella recipes! You've had a really busy festive baking time!
I like idea of women Christmas...I hope more pressies for this "special" day. LOL.
Womans Christmas sounds fun!
I have never heard of the Women's Christmas but it sounds a great idea. Time to put my feet up after a busy time, perhaps?! Of course, 6th is Epiphany when we celebrate the Wise Men visiting Jesus (also 12th night and taking down the decorations). There is a great poem though called 'The Queens Came Late' by Norma Farber which seems to go with the idea of the Women's Christmas. You can find it here:
http://concordpastor.blogspot.com/2010/12/preparing-for-epiphany-queens-came-late.html
Love the little Puddini, by the way - I really must make some ... next year!
hopeeternal
'Meanderings through my Cookbook'
www.hopeeternalcookbook.wordpress.com
LOVE the idea of Women's Christmas. Can we have Women's Easter too? Your Choc Christmas Cake looks JUST like the one in the book, very impressive!
I've never heard to the Women's Christmas but love the idea! What delicious treats - the chocolate is my favorite ;)
Wish I'd known about Women's Christmas before the end of the day! Oh well, there's always next year.
Women's Christmas! Hooray - I am opening that bottle of wine and sitting on the couch! Hubby is taking over from this point on! - megs
Oh no, we are a day ahead of you - so the WC has been and passed and i never new :(
Shall mark on the calender for next year...and must remember to tell the males who call this home that it *will be* from this day forward.
I just turned off the stove and informed those within earshot - its pizza tonight - and not a home made one either.
I figured - its too long to wait till this December - why not just celebrate a day late.
Thank you BVG for bringing this important date to our attention - perfect :)
Happy New Year and may it be a safe, healthy and happy year for you and yours.
Off to pour that glass of something suitable now.
M
http://manywhitebowls.blogspot.com/
Oh how I wish we celebrated that day in this house. My friend made the chocolate Christmas cake and gave me a slice and it was delicious. I will make it one day, regardless of Christmas.
Thanks a million everyone.
Quick update - I was told by my younger son (whom I collected from a disco at 1 a.m.) and I quote "aren't we lucky that we don't live in those sexist times when such a day was necessary"!!
I'll have to work on that!!!!!!
I'm off to get ready for a girl's night out now:-}
I love this idea of "Womens Christmas." I saw Nigella make these on TV and I fell in love with them. You did such a fabulous job.
I have never heard if Women's Christmas, but am open to any holiday that lets me rest!!
From now on I will celebrate the 6th as Women's Christmas, instead of the Three Kings feast! Hope your holidays were warm and toasty (by the fireplace)!
Hi .. my name is MARIMI,,, is the first visit to your blog and I love to light new and different recipes like yours,,, I invite you to visit my blog and share mine. ... From VIGO SPAIN SALUDOS.
Not heard of the 12th day being women's Christmas, but sounds a good idea. Well done, you got your Christmas post done within time - I still have several to do and everyone's only interested in dieting now:(
I'm a food lover...frrom Italy.... so I really like this post and blog!!!!....in my blog you will find English version for posts and recipes.... have a nice Sunday, hugs, Flavia
Love it - I think my household has just acquired a new tradition!
Didn't know about this holiday - I'll have to start making the fiance celebrate this one! PS I love Nigella too - sounds like a great cake, I'll have to give it a try sometime!
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