Merry Christmas

 
 
To me the last weeks up to Christmas are often among the happiest of the year. I love to decorate our house and the Christmas tree with the girls, do a spot of baking, work my way through a pile of cookery books and magazines on my bedside table, and visit one or two Christmas fairs. It's the jolly songs on the radio too, the magical window displays in the city centre and the lights in the trees and houses, that catch my attention as I cycle through town.

Last Thursday morning, when on my way to the station at six thirty, to catch my train to work, a bearded young man on a bicycle, headphones on, passed me by, singing Rudolph the red nose reindeer at the top of his voice. A moment later I could hear the distinctive sound of sleigh bells ringing..... A broad smile appeared on my face. It's small things like this, that bring happiness, and make the start of a day and the weeks up to Christmas special.

And now, on Christmas Eve, with a Bundt cake in the oven, a mushroom soup simmering on the stove and the girls in front of the telly watching a film, I sit behind my laptop writing this post to you. Before tomorrow's celebrations start and we will all be busy,  I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. I hope you will have a wonderful time with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog too and for  leaving such sweet comments, both here and on Instagram. I very much appreciate it.

Love, Peace and Joy,

Madelief x

Photo's 1, 2 & 3 were taken in Bruges, photo 4 and 5 at the Exhibit 'With love to Audrey' at the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague, photo 6 to/incl. 12 at the Marienwaerdt Christmas fair. The other photo's were taken at my home. 

 

A Happy 2016

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas?! My daughters and I spent the days at home among family and friends. Which was lovely!

I am looking forward to the coming days. I don't have to go to work, which means I can spend extra time with my daughters: go ice skating, visit a museum or two and play board games.  The mild weather in The Netherlands is perfect for working in the garden as well.....I believe I need more days off from work. There is so much I want to do :-)

In today's post some photo's of our Christmas table and the Bundt cake, which I bake the day before Christmas and is slowly becoming a family tradition.

Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy and Creative New Year!

See you again in 2016.

Love,

Madelief x 

Christmassy chocolate cranberry muffins

Hello,

It feels good to be back. Taking a blog break was just what I needed. My energy levels are up once more. My brothers wedding was lovely. I never realised how special a December wedding can be, with fairy lights and Christmas decorations wherever you look. Unfortunately I cannot show you the photo's, as I don't want to intrude on my brothers private life.

Hope you are all well and looking forward to Christmas?! I love the weeks coming up to Christmas, when the house looks festive, there are jolly songs on the radio and heavenly smells come from the kitchen. I baked some Chocolate cranberry muffins last week. They are really good and low in calories. So perfect for when you are on a diet or just want a healthier version of ordinary chocolate cranberry cupcakes. The recipe originally came from the good food magazine, but I changed it a little.

* 250 g self-raising flour
* 1 tbsp cocoa powder
* 1tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp cinnamon
* 85g light muscovado sugar
* 85g cranberries
* 50g dark chocolate, chopped
* 145 yogurt (low fat)
* 125 ml skimmed milk
* 3 tbsp sunflower oil
* 1 egg, lightly beaten

Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas. Line a 12 hole muffin tin with paper cases. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder and cinnamon into a bowl. Stir in the sugar and cranberries. Heat the chocolate au bain marie until melted.

Mix the yoghurt and milk with the sunflower oil and the egg. Make a well in the centre of the dry mixture and stir in the liquid. Drizzle three quarters of the chocolate over the mix and gently fold until a swirling pattern appears. Don't overdo it, because otherwise the swirls may dissapear. Spoon the mixture into the cases. Make a swirling pattern with the remaining chocolate on top of the muffins in the cases. Bake in the over for about 15 to 20 minutes until risen and firm to the touch. 

I may post irregularly the coming weeks. As I am not sure if I will be able to put another post online before Christmas, I wish you and your family a lovely time.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Madelief x



 * The cupcake liners and toppers are by Meri Meri