Well it is that time again, doesn't it go quickly. Now I know you are all rushing around like whirlwinds doing Christmas shopping and wrapping gifts and making puddings and cakes. If you are a real old Scrooge DO NOT PASS THIS POINT DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT £200. (Recipe at end is nothing to do with Christmas.)
Love and light and chocolate,
Hazel.
What does Christmas really mean to you? Does it mean rushing around packed shopping centres and jostling with crowds wondering what to buy for Auntie Maude and Uncle Fred? Wouldn't you like something different for a change? If we could really choose what we would like to do on Christmas day I wonder how many of us would be conventional. Just think of the alternative Christmas day therapypages way.
Seriously though it can get out of hand if we let it, don't forget to be kind to yourself and take a little time to pamper yourself. Have a bath with some relaxing oils preferably by candlelight; buy yourself the Little Book of Calm and read one page every day. Instead of buying gifts take a little time and make some. Here are some ideas for spending time with yourself and perhaps the children as well can help after all they will be the ones rushing around in a few year's time. Then we can all descend on them and expect them to serve up a perfect meal accompanied with the Queen's speech and all the rest of the traditions we so blindly follow.
How about making a gift of some flavoured oil in a fancy bottle, for the budding Jamie Oliver just take a bottle of olive oil remove a small amount, add herbs and garlic of your choice then seal and it can be used as a dressing or for cooking with. Prepare about 2 weeks before Christmas - do not allow the herbs to be exposed in the bottle as they will quickly go mouldy. When using the oil for cooking or salad dressing, you can always top-up the oil and keep it going for longer (or remove the seasoning after a couple of weeks).
The children will enjoy making salt dough figures for the grandparents and the grandparents will love receiving them (trust me I am a Nan). It is very simple and great fun.
For the basic dough you need: -
Method: -
Use a straight-sided mug to measure the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl, make a well in the centre.
Add the water into the well of the dry ingredients.
Mix together thoroughly with a spoon, then use your hands to really mix it well.
Test to make sure it is the right consistency it should drop slowly from your hand when held over the bowl. If it drops too quickly it is too wet, add more flour, if it doesn't drop at all add a little more liquid.
Dust a work surface with flour and turn the dough out of the bowl, knead it thoroughly as if you were making bread.
Return the dough to the bowl and cover it with cling film to keep it airtight. Let it relax for ten minutes (while you do the same) it is then ready to use. You can keep it in an airtight container for several days in the fridge. If it gets a bit "sticky" just add some flour and work it in till it gets to the right consistency again.
Dough paste is used for joining bits together if you need to, or for repairing cracks in cooked dough. To make it you just place a small ball of the dough in a cup add a little water and stir, add a little water at a time until you get a mix the thickness of double cream, this can be applied with a brush to the pieces that need joining.
You can colour the dough with food colouring if you want, or if the children are old enough to paint it, let them loose with the poster paints, just make sure they; and the surfaces around them are washable. They can let their imaginations run wild and I am sure you will all have some fun and produce some interesting conversation pieces. You might even get some family heirlooms that can be passed on from this generation to the next!!!! Whatever they produce it will give pleasure, to them doing it and to the ones who receive it.
Well! There are just a few ideas for an alternative Christmas. Whatever you choose to do I hope you have fun. We will be producing a newsletter in December but it will be combined with the January issue, as we will be taking a short break over New Year.
Until then Love Light and twinkling stars
Hazell.
Here is a favourite recipe that is so quick and easy we can have it on the table within 20 minutes, even if we have been out shopping all day and given no thought to the hungry herd at home. It is called Noodles with mangetout, water chestnuts, and sweetcorn and is taken from Rose Elliot's pasta book. You do not have to stick to the vegetables listed if they are not to your choice, use anything you happen to have in the fridge; the method is the same whatever you use.
Ingredients for the basic recipe are
Method
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and put in the garlic and ginger. Stir for 30 seconds, then add the vegetables and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is heated through.
Meanwhile bring a saucepan of water to the boil, add the noodles and cook as per instructions.
Add the noodles to the veggies in the pan along with the salt, pepper and soy sauce. Stir quickly over the heat, serve immediately onto warm plates, tear coriander leaves over the top and serve with garlic bread if desired.
Please could you consider writing an article for the newsletter, we would like this newsletter to evolve into n exchange of ideas and a discussion venue for different ideas and therapies. Use this opportunity before it is lost as the Newsletter needs input from other people in order to make it interesting for the readers. E-mail Hazell on click here with your ideas or ring first on 07050 255102.
We hope you will find time to relax at this busy time or year.
December Issue will be combined with January's issue of the newsletter and will available from 15th December 2000.