Last chance to shop for Christmas

I am pleased to say that we are still able to take internet orders and can process them in time for Christmas.

However, please make sure that you place your order by 4.00pm today (Monday 22nd December) to be sure of it arriving in time.

We are also more then happy to send your gift direct to the receiver on your behalf. Just send me an email at info@chichestercookshop.co.uk if you would like a special message attached - I have a roll of wrapping paper at the ready!

If you have any queries at all, or would like to place your order over the phone, please call 01243 827750.

Sarah

Feeling Festive...

I've taken this recipe for Mulled Wine from Nigela Lawson’s Christmas Recipes. Enjoy this perfect beverage for Christmas time with steaming mince pies as a festive treat.

Mulled Wine

Taken from...
How to Be a Domestic Goddess

1 bottle red wine
60ml (4 tablespoons) dark rum
125ml Earl Grey tea
1 tablespoon dark muscovado sugar
1 orange, quartered, each quarter stuck with 1 clove
1 star anise
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon honey

Put all the ingredients in a saucepan, bring almost to the boil, but before the aromatic wine actually boils, turn down to the lowest possible heat and keep it warm as you ladle it into any nearby glass.

VARIATION
If you need to make mulled wine that isn't really mulled wine because you have to provide drink that's non-alcoholic (as I had to do for the Christmas fair at my daughter's school last year) then you can substitute a bottle of red grape juice for the wine, half a bottle of rum flavouring (I'm sorry) for the rum.

To make your Mulled Wine try using the new Flameware range by Nigella Lawson herself. For also cooking casseroles or stews, the versatile and elegant shape of this product allows you to take it straight from the oven to the table.

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

As I am feeling particularly cold today, I have decided to write about hot trays to try to warm me up.

We have a range of cordless hot trays by Hostess that are ideal for buffets or long family lunches. Staying hot for an hour after just an 8-minute charge, the trays can be lined up or placed in the centre of a table for any event, be it a takeaway or a roast.

The hot trays are not just for Christmas, they are for summer too. As they are cordless, the trays can be taken outside and used for garden parties and barbecues.

Get yours for Christmas and you can use it for your vegetables and gravy, charge it when everyone lets the main course go down, and use it again for Christmas pudding, mince pies and custard.

Sarah

Time for tea for two…or ten…

The clocks are going back, the snow is settling in (well… in some parts of the country anyway) and everyone is starting to grumble about the countdown to Christmas. Now I don’t know about you, but I find that the best solution to the above occurrences is a nice cup of tea and a sit down. What better way to do this then with a beautiful teapot.

Ranging in sizes from two-cup/one-mug, up to gigantic ten-cup teapots there is no excuse not to take the time and rest in the good ol’ tradition. There is a reason why the Japanese take such pride and importance in the Tea Ceremony and it’s high time we follow suit, make a brew, and enjoy taking tea.

On that note, I’m off to make a cup of coffee!

Sarah