Mulled Wine Lovely-ness

When I was at uni I was something of a drunken sot, but since leaving I rarely drink if at all, apart from two exceptions; Eggnog and Mulled Wine.
I know a lot of people don't like Eggnog because of the raw egg element, and it's not a traditional or popular a drink in the UK as it is in the US.
If eggnog isn't your thing, you can't go wrong with mulled wine, there's something about warmed wine that has an almost sedative like quality, I've missed many a Christmas day film after a glass or two of the mulled stuff only to wake up during the closing credits.
You can buy bottles of ready made mulled wine, which I think are overpriced (depending on where you get them from, Sainsbury's do a reasonably priced bottle) but in the spirit of all things homemade I thought I'd post my recipe for homemade mulled wine.  If like me, normal red wine makes your mouth pucker a bit then this recipe is a winner because you can add more or less of the basic ingredients to cater to your own tastes.


Ingredients

• 1 Bottle of red wine (doesn't have to be particularly expensive, I'm not an expert on wines, so I would suggest just buy something that's not stupidly cheap or wildly pricey).
• 2-3 Tbsp's of brandy
• 125ml Orange juice (no bits!)
• 2-3 Cinnamon sticks
• 2-3 Tsp's of runny honey
• 1 Tbsp dark, soft sugar (muscovado sugar works well)
• 1 Star anise
• 1 Orange cut into quarters and pierced each with a clove or two

Method

• Throw the whole lot in a big saucepan and heat through until the mixture almost comes to the boil (do not boil it!).
• Give it a good stir and strain the mulled mixture to get rid of the orange and cinnamon etc. 
• Keep the strained mulled wine over a low heat to keep it warm. 
• Ladle into mulled wine glasses (if your posh), tumblers if your not.
• enjoy with a mince pie and try not to gulp the whole lot down yourself, I wouldn't like to think I'm responsible for anyone being reckless while under the influence of mulled wine so drink responsibly my lovelies and not on an empty stomach!

Picture is unfortunately not one of my own, but from the BBC food site.

The Ghosts of Christmas' Past

I'm a stickler for tradition, especially Christmas tradition and rituals. I don't embrace change at the best of times and I refuse to veer from the Christmas schedule that I have followed forever and there are certain things that must be done in our household in order for my Christmas experience to be complete, for example: every year I put the baubles on the Xmas  tree (despite my mum directing my hand), presents from my parents to me cannot be put under the tree until I'm tucked up in bed on Christmas eve, and The Muppet Christmas Carol has to be watched at full volume while I add my dulcet tones to every song.
Everyone has their own Christmas traditions and things that they do, such as going to midnight mass, and my traditions are pretty much the same, except instead of singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing, I can be found on the sofa with a box of Milk Tray on my lap singing 'There goes Mr.Humbug, there goes Mr.Grim..' whilst watching Micheal Caine being chased round Dickensian London by Rizzo and Gonzo.
Many apologies for being a naughty blogger and not posting for a week, every time I sat down to type up a post inspiration didn't come, my imagination was officially barren. On the plus side, the time I would usually use for blogging I utilised for finishing all my handmade pressies, wrapping things and seeing friends. I also had a pre Xmas pick me up in the form of my b12 jab, and my doctor gave me the gift of a repeat prescription, which upon collection from the pharmacy would have been easier to transport on a sleigh hitched up with a twelve strong team of huskies.
the best thing about Christmas this year is that my oldest and bestest friend Anna has moved back home permanently and shes literally a stones throw from my house (well, depending on how far you could throw a stone) which is ace, I can envisage 2011 being spent on her sofa watching an endless steam of DVDs and eating salted popcorn. It'll be nice to have her home where I can keep an eye on her!
Unfortunately I didn't have enough photos to warrant doing A week in Pictures on Sunday, so I thought I'd leave it until next week and then it can be A Fortnight in Pictures and I will have amassed a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure.
Hello to the lovelies who have added themselves as followers in the past week, thank-you so much for reading, I hope you like it here!
I know my posts haven't been very recipe heavy recently, the recipes that I'm doing over Christmas I haven't got pictures for, so I was going to wait until I had taken some pictures and then I'd post the recipes. I'm doing Eggnog cream deserts for Christmas Day and on Boxing Day I'm doing a fail safe Jewish cheesecake, I L.O.V.E cheesecake. I've also got a yummy recipe for sticky plum chicken which I think your going to love which I will put up on Christmas eve.
Before I go to do today's recipe, here's some festive bits and bobs that I'm loving at the moment.

Aurora Borealis Via Flickr always reminds me on Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials books

Lily Flame do the loveliest smelling candles, I already have Blush and it's scrummy

Christmas Day with the Warry's many moons ago

Nigella's Rocky Road

How cute is this X-mas pudding from KatesMakes?

Katie-Boo k

 

A Week in Pictures

 

 

♥ End result of The Jam Saga, easily the most irritated I've been in my life. Maybe.
♥ The Boyf's presents ready and waiting to be posted.
♥ Christmas candles.
♥ Lunch at Ha Ha Bar Brighton.
♥ Tags for my homemade presents.
♥ Miniature Christmas tree which was once my Mum's.
♥ Sainsburys' Vintage-style baubles.
♥ Life Class, Pat Barker. Possibly one of my favourite authors ever.
♥ Tree decoration which came on a present last year from my mum and dad, pretty on my mirror dontcha think?
♥ My pink fairy from The Boyf, Xmas 2005.

Katie-Boo k

Ha Ha's and Doo Dah's.

Yesterday my cousin and I ventured into Brighton for a pre-Xmas shopping trip, which quite frankly we must have been bonkers to do since the wind chill coming in off the sea was like minus a million or something stupid. We had parked on the top floor of The Highest Car Park know to man, and I literally thought I would be able to snap my fingers off they were that cold, blue and lifeless.
I Managed to sneak in a few cheeky Eggnog Lattes from S-Bucks, although half of it ended up down the sleeve of my coat when I was trying out the Strobe Cream in Mac. We had a yummy Gluten-Free lunch in Ha Ha Bar which was lovely and it looked so pretty in there with all the Christmas lights and the huge chandeliers. Shame the service was crap, I wanted to leave a good tip mainly because the waiter looked like Ryan Reynolds, but I was loathe to leave one when the service was so bleeding awful.
There's this lovely chocolate shop near the Laines in Brighton called ChoccyWoccyDooDah, and in the window they had this massive reindeer which we are still undecided as to whether it was a huge cake or made out of chocolate, if it was chocolate I want to know where you can buy a slab of chocolate that huge!

Picture via Facebook (mine was rubbish!)

Today I made marshmallows, which was majorly exciting. As with everything I've never done before I slotted making marshmallows into the 'gotta be very hard' category. But it was so easy and I felt dead clever, like I'd had a hand in building the pyramids or something equally as epic. I'm just waiting for the mixture to set so I can slice it all up and then I'll post the recipe.
I've done that really daft thing of believing this weeks horoscope in Heat. Apparently I'll give myself too much too do and will work myself to the bone and to a frenzy trying to get various things done for Christmas. And I have, I actually have done that, I've not even written my cards, I've only wrapped The Boyf's presents and I haven't even finished buying the rest of my Xmas presents yet or finished doing the ones I'm hand making, but then knowing this I've been fannying about making marshmallow, swanning off to Brighton shopping and reading Marie Claire while I watch Glee.
I forgot to say at the end of the last post (the FAQ guide) a big thanks to Becky who as always gave me some great suggestions and comments on the post.
Also, while I'm on the subject of gratitude I'd just like to say a big Thank-you to everyone who commented, tweeted or emailed me regarding the FAQ, I'm glad everyone took it in the light hearted manner in which it was intended and that it was actually of some use!
I know I promised a snowy days cupcake recipe, but the pictures I took were really bad as it was in the evening and the light wasn't my friend, so unless someone specifically wants the recipe I won't be posting it, but leave me a comment if you do.
I was having a flick through my holiday pictures from Florida last year, and found a picture I took in the Ye Olde Christmas Shop at the Magic Kingdom, I've got it as my wallpaper now, but I thought id share it on here because its so christmassy and festive.
Also, the hour is nigh for Mince pie making time to commence. My mincemeat has been stewing away in it's jar since the start of November and at the weekend it will get its debut in my first ever mince pies, the recipe of which will be going up on Sunday, and the marshmallow one will go up tomorrow.

A Week of Pictures

OK, so this is the first post of one of the new features I've been umming and ahhing over. No, it's not very original, and yes there are hundreds of blogs that also have this weekly feature, but it's a feature which I love and satisfies my inner nosey neighbour/stalker, and since I take so many pictures during the course of the week (most of which is, admittedly, chafe...the cats doing funny things, the snow, food, the cats doing funny things..) so it seemed a good idea.
I promise all my other weekly feature ideas are much more baking orientated, and after the post goes up explaining what those new features are you'll have a chance to vote for another feature you'd like to see, or I might even run a comp to see if someone could come up with a great feature...I'm just a pawn in your game! I haven't ironed out the kinks yet. Anyway, please enjoy my new feature 'A Week  of Pictures'. Stayed tuned this weekend for snowy day cupcakes (I know i said I wouldn't be doing any more for a while, but I lied).

 

♥Me and my second in command, Poptart No.2 Tasha.
♥Uber pretty baubles from Sainsburys'.
♥Sainsburys Free From Mince Pies (at last!).
♥Bargin-licious £1.50 headband from Primark, the only thing standing in the way of my ears and frostbite.
♥Possibly my favourite post ever 'Dreaming of a pink Christmas'.
♥Supplies for the handmade pressies.
♥Olivia the owl.
♥Mac order...come to Mama.
♥Pretty roses from my mummy.
♥Snow.
♥My awesome advent calender...and it really is awesome!
♥Starbucks candy cane mug. Just need a S-Bucks barrister to come to my house everyday and make me eggnog latte.

Jam, balls and Snicker-doodles.

Today I made strawberry jam. If anyone knows an easy way to making jam I want to hear it, because it was a total ball ache from start to finish. I shan't be doing it again, and I'm actually going to stop talking about it now, because I'm still terribly vexed about the whole thing.
However, my first attempt at the infamous Snicker-doodles turned out rather well, I was very pleased, and they were really easy to make, which as you know for me is a pre-requisite for any recipe. Rather stupidly I thought Snicker-doodles were THE new baking craze on the block (Nigella's in her Islington home wringing her hands at my total ignorance). I'd been having a research online for new baking fads, and came across Snicker-doodles, so in my defence I was mislead by the site on which I found this information, but also rather stupidly I hadn't noticed that the sodding recipe was actually in my Nigella How To Be a Domestic Goddess book (did I mention it's signed?). Didn't I feel like a pillock.
Anyway, my stupidity aside, Snicker-doodles (I'm going to call 'em Doodles because I'm getting irritated calling them by by the full name) are very very yummy, and because they have cinnamon and nutmeg in they're  a very christmassy type biccie/sponge hybrid which would make a nice pressie in a pretty bag, or you could keep them in a box under your bed and keep them for yourself. I know a lot of American recipes use vanilla ice cream to sandwich them together, and other recipes I've seen have used a cream or frosting but since this was the first time I made them I haven't made a butter or frosting or cream to eat them, but I can see why they would be even yummier with such an accompaniment, and it's something I'll probably do next time I make them.
In other news I got some really pretty vintage style baubles from Sainsbury's of all places and they're so lovely, very shabby chic. I used to have a lovely big hand painted bauble that I used to hang in my room, and then I had an accident and it smashed..OK that's a lie, my MUM actually broke it, but in her defence I had hung it on the back of the door, and hence when my bedroom door was open it would push against the side of my wardrobe, so upon an over zealous door opening from mother my poor bauble got crushed in between.
Crushed balls aside, I'm getting on with making my pressies now, I successfully made an owl a la Emily (at the moment sans wings) and I must remember to send her a pic of my (dire) attempt, I'm not sure its going to make the grade to be given as a present yet, but we'll see, I might get desperate.
I've managed to wangle an interview with one of Dietary Specials lovely staff, so that's coming up soon, probably in the new year when I pull my finger out. Also, I have a FACQ guide, (Frequently Asked Coeliac Questions) that you can pass on to family, friends and all those people who ask (stupid) questions about the ins and outs of coeliacs.

Awkward as arse jam.

P.s. Sorry for the crap title name, It's a constant effort to be witty. Stayed tuned for the 'Doodle' recipe tomorrow, if I haven't commited Jam-O-Cide and thrown the whole lot out the window.

A cold front

I've been spending my days researching all the new baking trends on the block so I can try and convert them to gluten-free for safe consumption. Not that I'm bored of cupcakes mind, but I wanted to try doing something that isn't run of the mill cupcakes and cookies. I think I've found something, so stay tuned in the next week.
I've been umming and ahhing for the past few days over whether or not to do a bio post. I was emailed and asked if I could possibly do one soon, and when I thought about it I realised my blog plays out like a diary and I tend to forget that the majority of my readers don't actually know me so I write as if your all omniscient! I feel really cringy about doing a bio post, there's something about it that seems a bit indulgent in my eyes, which is somewhat weird since I love reading other peoples bios (nosey cow), maybe it's because I feel like I'm flattering myself that people want to hear the ins and outs of me and my life. Who knows. It's something I might think about in the new year.
I've got a lovely comfort food recipe for you today which is much needed with all this sub-zero weather we're having. The weather woman said on the news last night 'You'll be needing your hot water bottle and thermals' but since I've been in my thermals for at least a month now and I have a hot water bottle year round I really don't know where that leaves me. I might have to light a fire in my wastepaper bin in the middle of my room.
I tried to buy another jar of manuka honey the other day, and by god its pricey, it's only going in my peppermint tea. I don't understand why is so expensive, they must hand feed every bee with a pipette.  I've started actually physically making my Xmas pressies yesterday at long last, and the first one has turned out quite well, despite not giving it my full attention as I was watching Vampire Diaries.
I had some nice feedback from various people about the Girls Guide to Dining Out, which was lovely to hear, and also great to know that it was a help to people. I always try my best to be honest about life as a coeliac, because in reality it isn't all cupcakes, understanding restaurant owners and easy to find gluten-free grub. I've struggled along with the best of them, and I still get upset and frustrated sometimes so please don't think think I'm serenely floating through my gluten free life with perpetual ease. I get quite narked at some blogs/websites/people who act like going gluten-free was a doddle and that they have breezed through the experience. I know that some people do find it relatively easy, and I myself have found it easier than some people I know but harder than others, but I really wish people would stop gloating and making out to everyone like its an easy transition to make.
Phew, now that I've got that off my chest I feel a bit better, I've been holding it in for a while!
Anyway, before I go to type up this recipe post here's a few things I'm loving this week! P.s. I'm now on twitter (!) @katieboobaker so feel free to follow me, twitter has always and probably will forever be a total enigma for me and I'm still trying to get my head round me so if you tweet me (is that right?) please do be patient!

My ace new leopard faux fur coat from New Look, steal of the century for under £30!

Kate H told me about this oh-so cute cupcake molds from iwantoneofthose.com

Check out Emily's blog at Handmade by Emily for her super duper sweet owl cushions, which will soon be on sale at Folksy.

Totally kitch, but completely sweet mug from dotcomgifts

I'm planning on buying a new beside table, but the one I've picked is a plain pine number so I'm going to spruce it up with some fab door knobs. dotcomgifts.

Hot water bottle dotcomgifts

Xmas Prep

My Dad and I went Christmas shopping this morning. We're ultra organised in this household, all of us hate being in the shops when its really busy, especially as I have the patience of a flea and am the most likely of the three of us to cause actual bodily harm to anyone getting in my way/pushing me/ treading on the backs of my shoes.
The town was (thankfully) not very busy, and I managed to squeeze in a Cinnamon Latte at Costa (poor competition to the might of the Eggnog Latte at Starbucks in my opinion). I got all the tags, and tissue paper and labels I need for my all handmade gifts, so that's another thing to tick off on my Master Xmas Plan.
I like rustic sort of shabby chic style Christmas decorations and wrappings so that's the sort of thing I'm going for with my homemade pressies.  I love all the Scandinavian style Xmas decorations on dotcomgifts at the moment, I'm trying to make my own using an old red and white checked pajama jacket!
I ordered a few Xmas pressies from Sunday Girl and they arrived a few days ago, I also got one of the signature 'Name Necklaces' that Stephanie (the girl who makes all the jewelery) does on the site, I might get another one with my alias Katie-Boo on it. Stephanie's site is great and well worth a look for lovely custom made jewelery and other super cute bits and bobs, I love it on there, I've had to resist the urge to buy more since we're so close to Christmas and I'm broke!
I've been compiling my Gluten-Free Eating Out Guide and also a special Gluten-Free Xmas Party Special about trying to eat safely at the mountains of parties during this time of year. I've nearly finished both guides and I'll post the Gluten-Free Eating Out Guide tomorrow and the other some time next week. If anyone has any questions about eating out, or any tips they might like to pass on just email me at or leave a comment, I really am very nice so don't ever be scared to email or comment.
I was dead crafty this year (it was almost like I could sense I was going to be cash strapped) and in January I bought some lovely Christmas cards in the sale, but as I manage to do every year I didn't buy enough cards (I'm a prolific card writer!) so I had to buy another pack, and I got some very sweet ones in Sainsbury's. I don't usually like cards with animals on, but I couldn't resist these, especially as the dogs are dressed up. My dog Rosie won't let me dress her up, but sometimes Poppy (my cat) will let me if shes feeling indulgent!).
I'm trying to bump out my (often very word heavy) posts with more pics, so today you can feast your eyes (lucky you) on my ace new necklace from Sunday Girl and also the bits and bobs I got today during my shopping trip.
Before I go..don't forget to email me or leave a comment with any questions or tips you might have! Have a fab night, I shall see you all tomorrow!

The tags and tissue paper for my pressies.

How cute are these pug cards?

My oh-so-ace Kate necklace from Sunday Girl.

My new H&M party frock.

Ideas and posts written up for 'A Girls Guide..'

Vintage Heart Christmas Decoration from dotcomgifts

Gingham Heart Decoration from dotcomgifts

Pajama Party

This week has been rather slow. I've not been very well from the off so I really haven't felt like doing very much other than stay in my pajama's until lunchtime. I have enough pajama's that I could probably wear them instead of clothes, but even I wouldn't stoop that low.
It's given me time to catch up with all the blogs I follow and read them all properly and have a good old butchers at the snaps.
I mentioned Katie's blog at What Katie Found, and also Beth at Deer Little Fawn the other day, if you liked their blogs you should defiantly check out Sammy's blog The Cookie Button. Sammy makes beautiful and oh-so cute mittens and hats and all manner of lovely things that would be perfect for popping in a stocking this Christmas and are also something a bit different rather than the run of the mill Accessorize and Boot's gifts we tend to resort to for pressies.
I'm really starting to embrace the thought of a home made Christmas, although my talents don't lie in the stitching and sewing side of things, I'm giving it a go, plus using the baking side of my hobbies to bake homemade goodies. I checked in on my mincemeat in its cool dark place yesterday and it seemed alright, I can't wait to use it. Its funny, Christmas always seems to bring out the creative side of me, its a shame it was Christmas the entire time I was trying to do my Fine Art A level, that probably would have bumped my grade up a tad.
Anyway, back to the baking. I realised I've slipped in my pledge for this to be a girls guide to gluten free baking, but as I am said girl in the blog title I sometimes feel obliged to spread my wings some of the time and chat about other things otherwise it becomes a bit relentless. I'm sure Jamie Oliver doesn't come home after working at Fifteen all day and sit down with Jool's and the kids and start prattling on about all the vinegarette dressings he's made that day. I think in general I do an OK job of sticking to the theme!
Kath Kidson's mini Christmas magazine came with the post yesterday and I had a good flick through it with my coffee yesterday. The stuff is very sweet, while I wouldn't have my entire house decked out in Kath Kidson I'd love a few bits here and there. I love how twee all the patterns are, I'm such a sucker for everything kitsch.
Sadly everyone else seems to have cottoned onto Kath, so it's not as cult as it used to be. I saved a few pics of my favourite bits from the Kath Kidson site for you to a butchers at. I still reckon Katie, Beth and Sammy could give old Kath a run for her money!
The weather has been dire all week, I'm glad I haven't had to go out because I have that sort of hair that when it gets wet, it goes frizzy and curly and I get angry. This kind of weather always calls for something stodgy and warming, and while I love nothing more than a good stew I thought this recipe adapted from Phil Vickery's Seriously Good Gluten-Free Cooking would be a grand recipe for weather like this....see how I flowed from one subject to another there? Not tenouos at all!
If you already have the book, then you may have already tried the Jambalaya or at least seen it. It's a great recipe (despite sounding like a character from The Lion King) and its a nice little twist on a traditional stew, but no less tastier for it. My recipe doesn't differ vastly from Phil's original, but feel free to check out his recipe. I make this all the time at home, and its the sort of thing you can whip up for a small group of friends on a dark rainy evening.  My Dad and The Boyf love it and always clean their plates (not that they'd dare otherwise).

Mixing bowls from Kath Kidson

Flour Sifter Kath Kidson

Cherry dinner plate from Kath Kidson

Pin tin from Kath Kidson

'Stitch!' By Kath Kidson

Ps- Someone suggested to me today that I should make mini recipe books to give away on the blog featuring a few recipes that I havent posted before. Would that be something you guys would be interested in?