Turkey, Turkey and more turkey

For Christmas I ordered a 15lb turkey back in October. It is ordered through my aunt who's friend has a small holding. I ordered a large turkey as my sister, niece and husband were coming to stay over Christmas. However circumstances changed (when don't they?!) and it ended up being me, my brother and my two children. So I have had a large amount of turkey to use up, even more so as the children go to their Dads on boxing day for 2 nights and my brother had to go home for work on boxing day.

One of my new year aspirations is to cook more from scratch at home, I also want to waste less. So turkey seemed like a good place to put my good intentions into practise. With the left over turkey I have eaten dinner for the past few days, I have a little for our picnic lunch on our long drive tomorrow and I have made these;

Turkey chilli based on This Jamie recipe I adapted it slightly to suite the ingredients I had left in the fridge and what was in the store cupboard

5 turkey pies, also using the leftover gravy I had in the fridge leftover from the big day.

Sausage rolls, using unused sausage meat and leftover pastry from the pies.

I also made curry, the three pots on the left hand side, again using leftovers and bits from the store cupboard

Once I was finished stripping the turkey off the carcass I made some stock.

All of the yummy turkey goodies are stashed in the freezer, providing me with some lovely ready meals when I start back at work on Tuesday. I am hoping that I will get into the habit of cooking this way each month it's a frugal way of living I am aiming towards.

I also had a little wander around the sales, well it would have been not to. I got some little knick knacks to put away for stocking fillers and birthday presents. Not too much this year though I was very restrained. I couldn't resist these though;

The four little pots hanging by the window. They were the grand total of 74p each!

So cute and just the green I want to decorate my kitchen in. I am planning on growing my own herbs this year and though these would be ideal for some to be grown indoors. I am planning on organising this when we get back from my sisters house after new year. Currently they are holding the rosemary and bay leaves I collected from the allotment and am drying out.

Later on I will add the recipes I used for the turkey leftovers onto my recipe page.

Christmas baking

The past few days we have been busy doing our Christmas baking, have a peek at what we have managed so far;

Our Christmas cake made from scratch. Very proud of this as it is the first time we have made our own.

Working together to make peppermint creams

These are destined to become part of some Christmas presents we will finish making tomorrow.

Still on our list is;

1. Ice the fairy cakes (they were baked this afternoon before we went to the pantomime)

2. Mince pies

3. Yule log

4. Pork, sage and onion stuffing balls

As well as going to the farm shop for our Christmas veggies, and preparing the Christmas dinner.

A new quilt and a Christmas surprise

Yesterday I found I had a little time to myself whilst the children were at their Dads houses. In the couple of hours I finished Stephanie's Winnie the pooh quilt I began a few months back;

In the summer Stephanie asked me to make some bunting for her bedroom, I finally managed to do that as well;

But ssshhhh! I have decided to keep it a surprise and wrap it up for Christmas.

I have a couple of other homemade gifts planned for various family members- I will post as I complete them.

lists

I have always been a little on the forgetful side, however I seem to be getting worse lately- maybe I'm getting old!

So to help me along a little I have been using one of these more and more;

I have had two lists today; my to do list and my shopping list.

I managed to complete my shopping list, what do you mean you are not surprised. My to do list is not quite finished, but I can get it finished tomorrow.

I could really do with some tips to organise myself- what do you do? Leave your solutions in the comments below.

Christmas day out in London

We started the Christmas holidays with a bang today! We went up to London we went to Hyde park for Winter Wonderland, we went to Zippos Christmas Circus, to Hamleys, and to Trafalgar Square to see the big Christmas tree before a treat in Pizza hut and heading home. It has been a fantastic start to Christmas for us, here are some pics of our day to give you a little glimpse into the fun we have had.

The lego Christmas tree at St Pancras International- absolutely fantastic

Dylan pretending he didn't really want to go on this ride

Baby went on every ride with Stephanie

Frosty

This smile was mirrored on all of our faces all day

Stunning!

Wow what a start to Christmas, tomorrow we are off on another surprise the children haven't a clue where we are going. I'll let you in on the secret tomorrow, don't want them getting any clues until we get there.

December so far

Most of December has been spent preparing for Christmas. A mix of laptop issues, work and illness has meant that I haven't managed to blog yet. Here are some pictures to show you what we have been up to so far this month.

Card making

Decorating

School nativity

Dickens Christmas festival

Favourite dinners

My nephew's 5th Birthday

Chatting with Grandad

Beginning to make Christmas presents

Special Christmas shaped chocolates

I have a ew homemade Christmas presents planned, I will post them as we get them made.

our weekend

I have been busy (as always this weekend). Why do weekends seem to go in a whirlwind? Would love one soon where I can sit still.

This weekend I have;

1. Making curtains for the house were planned a long time ago! I have finally got around to getting started on them. After a couple of dramas earlier in the week when I initially began working on them (broken scissors, a strange lack of lilac thread in the house). I present to you:

I'm very impressed, I have made curtains before, but I have never made ring top ones. I was somewhat nervous that I would make a massive mistake and ruin the material. I'm very pleased to say that I did not! 

2. I then made Dylan's curtains. His were a little more difficult as the suede effect material that he chose kept getting all static with the lining and sticking together. Not the best photo but it gives the general idea.

3. Stephanie and I began to wrap the Christmas presents. I am planning on doing a handful each day until they are done.

4. I pickled some of the red cabbages we have grown on the allotment. I can't wait til we can tuck in and see what it tastes like. I have never pickled my own food before so am quite excited to taste it.

I also had a catch up with a friend. We ended up sitting up until 3am chatting and drinking wine, it was a much needed gossip, followed by a much needed lie in. I didn't wake up until to 10.30am! Bliss, I don't think I have ever laid in that long. 

Stephanie and I also went shopping, we did the boring food shop and on the way home we popped into Homebase to look at the Christmas decorations and to by a plant pot to put flowers in at Mum's grave.

I will post about these things another day though as I feel they need a post of their own. 

How was your weekend?