Once a year we get to cash in our 2 or 3 weeks leave (depending on what industry you’re in, definitely a no go for hospitality types), soak up the summer sun, host far-a-way relatives who’ve come to town, cook, shop up a storm and eat till our stomachs pop!
I turn into the busy baking Elf of the year, as my gift to my family is home-baked with love and not store-bought.
For the last 12 days leading up to Xmas I decided to share my #12DaysOfXmas on Twitter with everyone and here they are in one neat blog….Enjoy! (I might have skipped a few days on Twitter so forgive me)
Day 1
Freshly baked cookies
I love love love baking! I turn into the cooking Elf 🙂 My first batch of cookies for the season were these great chocolate chip cookies recipe thanks to Gimme Some Oven . Left some by the tree with some milk for Santa…promise I’ve been good-ish! 😉
Day 2
Xmas Movies
I love watching Xmas movies during the festive season. Classics and New ones alike, I’m not fussy. I recently re-watched ELF and it really made me smile. 🙂 Some more of my favourites can be found in my 10 TOP Xmas Movies to watch
Day 3
Xmas Craft markets
I just love Xmas craft markets! This year I discovered a new one in Edgemead/Monte Vista Community Hall in Cape Town. Lovely to see all the homemade wares from the usual fudge & preserves to a the little more unusual such as die cut vinyl record wall clocks.
Another great market to explore is Kamers vol Geskenke (Translation: Rooms full of presents) .This market can be found not only in Cape Town but Pretoria and Johannesburg as well! For those of you not in either city (or South Africa), explore their homemade treasures online.
Day 4
Perfect Xmas gift for her!
This is what I got my mom, sister and myself for Christmas from the stunning MOM Diary! Just Gorgeous, bound in pink, burgundy, purple and tan leather. Mine says WOW for Wonderfully Organised Woman, as I’m not a mom just yet 😉 Some other great gifts you could get her are listed here in 5 Top Xmas Gifts for Her
Day 5
End of Year Functions
This year I was fortunate enough to attend the Skal Cape Town & Skal Winelands Mardi Gras Year End function at the prestigious Lanzerac Wine Estate. Such a fun event with a photo booth, fabulous entertainment by Shake and Bake and delicious acrobatic ice cream dessert by Ice Cream Ninjas. This was a fantastic event and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Day 6
BreadRev – Bread Revolution
These guys are based in Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. They build wood fired ovens and teach people how to bake healthy, wholesome artisnal bread. Empowering people by teaching them new skills so they too can open their own bakery business with their very own wood fired oven (economical too!). Since 2013 they have opened 8 of these BREAD shops! to find out more about them just click on the above link.
Day 7
FNB Credit Card Customer R100 Yuppiechef Voucher!
Thank you to my favourite bank FNB for spoiling me with a R100 Yuppiechef voucher! So excited I combined this with another voucher I had received from my very first #Instafoodwalkct and got me a gift from me to me…..Zoku Pop Character Tools and Zoku Pop Recipe Book to go with my Zoku pop maker 🙂 I even received a handwritten Xmas card in the box! #awesomesauce !
My Zoku gift from yuppiechef & a handwritten christmas card!!
Thank you FNB!
Day 8
Giving Back
These guys are doing fab job over at Christmas 24 check out this awesome FREE presents campaign!
Day 9
Xmas Apps
Finding cool Xmas apps to use like JIBJAB and Elf Yourself ! You can get these apps on your phone and create them in a few simple steps. Go create some of your own to share with friends and family to spread holiday cheer!
Day 10
Xmas Tunes
What is Xmas without Boney M? Let me tell you, there’s no Xmas cheer in my home without them. Check out my other 5 Top Xmas Albums!
Day 11
Pumpkin Pie
Easy as Pumpkin Pie! I love pie! Since my time living in the States, I looked forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas every year mostly because of this delicious pie! So when I returned home to sunny South Africa, I brought this favourite with me and since then it has become an annual tradition. Every Xmas I give my family Pumpkin Pie! This year I decided to share the recipe with all of you, as my gift to you:
Day 12
Family
I saved the best for last…as clichéd as that may sound, what would Xmas be without family? The one time of year when we should (in my humble opinion) set our differences aside. Just one day to celebrate with our loved ones. United in our food-obsessed family, I know that we can always count on trifle and at least 4 kinds of meat to see us through till New Year. Whatever happened to the mince meat pies and Xmas pudding? I guess we could always resurrect these next year!
Merry Xmas Everyone & a very Happy New Year to you all!
#WishYouWereHere
Jax
