Mulling it over

Mulled wine is, literally, Christmas in a cup. The aroma and taste of warmed red wine, fruits and spices is a classic first brought to us by the Romans to arm themselves against the cold winters. By conquering much of Europe they spread the good cheer of mulled wine and warmed the cockles of many a heart.

So here were are on New Years Eve raising a toast to one and all. It's a time to reflect upon the year behind us and make plans and resolutions for the year ahead. For me, it has been a good year with highlights including time spent with family and friends and enjoying holidays. Vegetarian food hasn't been a particular highlight but maybe next year ...

Anyway, raising my glass of mulled wine to you all - have a happy, healthy and fun filled 2018.

Can't believe my mince pies

Little Jack Horner

Sat in a corner,

Eating his Christmas pie;

He put in his thumb

And pulled out a plum,

And said "what a good boy am I!"

I always thought that young Jack was eating a type of mince pie but apparently there are other hidden meanings behind the childhood rhyme. It is believed that Jack was actually Thomas Horner who took some title deeds (hidden and sealed in a pie) from the Abbot of Glastonbury to King Henry VIII. He decided to put his hand into the pie and drew out a plum piece of real estate for himself and obviously thought he was very clever for so doing.

Mince pies used to be filled with minced meat and fruit before the meat was replaced in the 20th Century by beef suet and fruit. Thankfully for vegetarians the beef suet has (mostly) been replaced by vegetable suet and there are vegan alternatives too.

Without mincing my words, I just love a mince pie with a cup of tea.

The Rocky Road to Christmas

The lights have been untangled, the trees wrestled indoors and the baubles co-ordinated - phew. Such a lot to organise in the run up to Christmas from decorations to gifts and enough food to see you through the festive days. There are parties to attend, friends and family to visit and cards and gifts to deliver. 

We were making a trip up north and heavy snowfall was threatened. It's always wise to take a few provisions for the journey ahead and Rocky Road seemed very apt.

- Melt together 125g butter with 200g 70% dark chocolate & 100g milk chocolate and 3 tbsp golden syrup

- Add 200g bashed up rich tea biscuits (fragmented not crumbed)

- Add 100g mini marshmallows until melted and marbled*

- Decorate with sieved icing sugar, edible glitter or festive 100s and 1000s**

- Line a shallow tray with cling film, enough to cover the top too & place in the fridge

- Once chilled and set, slice into squares as big or small as you like

* I've found vegetarian mini marshmallows in Holland and Barret and Sainsburys - check there's no gelatin.

**I used Waitrose Christmas 100s and 1000s which are vegetarian but not vegan as they are coated in shellac.

Thankfully we only had a sprinkle of snow and our journey was fine. The Rocky Road, however, was not wasted.

Sparkle and Shine

Today is the first Sunday of Advent and cardboard doors up and down the country have been opening since Friday. The old fashioned ones (my favourites) contain pictures from the Nativity, there is chocolate for children and cheese for vegetarians ... Say what?! Yes, this year Asda are selling a cheese advent calendar suitable for vegetarians. Fabulous.

Other foodie products I have my eye on are those which sparkle and shine or can be sprinkled to give our food a festive kiss.

Shimmer and bubbles for prosecco by Pop a Ball which pimp up your drink.

Winter Berries & Prosecco crisps by Marks and Spencer finished with a sprinkle of gold stars.

A dash of edible glitter on your baked goodies is fun and pretty but do make sure they are veggie/vegan as some contain E120, carmine and cochineal colouring. If that's a problem resort to a sieved snowfall of icing sugar (particularly good with the use of a stencil). It  makes a real difference.