Tis the season.....

We love the build up to Christmas and all the family traditions we have together, like:

Choosing our Christmas tree. The local christmas tree grower is a wonderfully christmas place to be. Songs play,children run around excited at the aniticipation of Santa's visit, and some of us just make fond memories. We like to choose a Norwegian spruce because of the pine scent.  I heardthe other day that the tree in Trafalgar square is a Norwegian spruce, speacially chosen and sent across to London.  It is normally 20 metres and about 50-60 years old. It is selected with great care from the forests surrounding Oslo ad is fondly described by the forresters as "the queen of the forest"
Deck the halls.....

Oh Christmas tree, oh christmas tree

Much pleasure thou canst give me

Next activity on the to do list is baking

Mince pies ~ a British tradition usually eaten at Christmas time.

Although I buy my fruit mixture, I still like to make my own pies

and this year added extra dried cranberries and slivered almonds.

They are scruptious eaten cold

or warm with a dollop of double thick cream.

DD's speciality is cupcakes, they are always light and fluffy

 And DS's speciality is

                                                            shortbread ~ cruchy and buttery

To finish off this gastronomical post here are two traditional English christmas desserts~

Trifle and Christmas pudding