Yummy Christmas treats...

Hello beautiful people! You'll be so proud of me...I actually started my Christmas shopping yesterday! I know! The mere thought of beginning this task always freaks me out totally - I am not what you would call a great shopper, and most definitely prefer smaller independant shops rather than the big shopping centres...anyway, I have made a start so that's good.

I wanted to show you my little white tree with my hand made birds, baubles and ribbons...it's a happy kind of a tree!























Also, I really want to share the easiest, yummiest recipe ever! It's called a chocolate ripple cake, and my sister-in-law always makes this for Christmas night, and there is never any leftovers! It seriously is so simple, and doesn't need baking...


CHOCOLATE RIPPLE CAKE


300mls cream

1 tsp caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 packet of chocolate ripple biscuits

1 peppermint crisp chocolate bar



1. Place cream, sugar and vanilla in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until firm peaks form.

2. Join biscuits together with a little whipped cream lying on side to create a log. cover log with remaining cream. Place in the fridge for 6 hours.

3. Decorate the log with crumbled chocolate bar.


That's it, people! How easy is that? The cream makes the biscuits all deliciously mooshy (yes, that is a word!)



















Ok, now to have some fun with it...you can brush the biscuits (or cookies as some of you call them) with orange liquer for a naughty adult version, or do what I did and throw some double choc chip cookies in the mix, and stir some crushed violet crumble (a chocolate honeycomb bar - do you guys have them?) through the cream, and then crumble over the top instead of the peppermint bar.

Also, I doubled the recipe, and fashioned my biscuits into a circle with a hole in the centre - much more festive and the centre can then be filled with whatever takes your fancy - raspberries, strawberries, chocolate covered nuts, candy canes, whatever!


Also, you can vary the taste by using gingernut biscuits instead of the choc ripple ones for a gingery delight! Try it - you won't be dissapointed!


Oh, and here's some little reindeer cookies I made today - aren't they cute? I dipped the antlers in chocolate and stuck a jaffa on with some melted chocolate - instant little Rudolphs.


















Here is a little mixed media painting I did this week...don't forget you can still leave a comment for my little birthday giveaway which I will draw on my birthday next Tuesday 14th December.