Christmas Eve in Delfryn

The tangled vine around the door of Vine Cottage is laden with fairy lights.

It’s Christmas Eve in my fictional village of Delfryn, and you’ve arrived in front of a row of quaint cottages made of Welsh slate. A garland of holly and pine is artfully arranged above the doors of the three cottages.  The tangled vine around the door of Vine Cottage is laden with fairy lights. No one answers the door, so you decide to check the address stored on your phone. Reaching into your pocket, you find an envelope marked ‘Christmas Turkey Recipe’.

Once you are inside Vine Cottage, Sophie makes you some hot chocolate with a hint of cinnamon, ginger biscuits and marshmallows.  She returns to the pile of presents, wrapping paper and bows. ‘I’ve got so much to do,’ she complains.

Reaching into your pocket, you find an envelope marked ‘Christmas Turkey Recipe’.

Jack searches through recipe books and asks you, ‘Do you have a failsafe recipe to cook tomorrow’s Christmas dinner?  I’ve bought a free range turkey from Delfryn Farm but haven’t had time to perfect a recipe.’

You realise the magical significance of the envelope found in your pocket.  ‘There’s a recipe inside of this envelope,’ you soothe then hand over the envelope.

This will take around 4 to 4 ½ hours.

Ingredients

  • Turkey 3-4 kg (including giblets)
  • Bottle of dry white wine or sparkling white wine
  • Variety of fresh herbs (such as Thyme, Rosemary, Sage, Oregano, Marjoram, Bay Leaves) – 3 handfuls
  • 4 Juniper Berries
  • Pinch of Saffron
  • ½ pack of butter (leave out at room temperature before using)
  • 1 pack Bacon (225g) – preferably streaky
  • 2 lemons
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Beef Dripping / Fat or Goose Fat
  • Water
  • Potatoes for Roasting (such as Maris Piper, King Edwards) – approx. 1kg for 4 people
  • Variety of Root Vegetables (such as Parsnips, Carrots, Squash, Sweet Potato, Swede, Turnip) – approx. 1kg for 4 people
  • Wholegrain Mustard – couple of spoons
  • Cornflour – 2 or 3 teaspoons

Method

  • Take the turkey out of the fridge at least an hour before cooking
  • Remove the giblets from the cavity of the turkey and place in a pan with 2/3 wine. Add a handful of the herbs (no need to chop), the Juniper Berries and the Saffron, some salt and pepper. Put on a slow simmer. May need to top up with water as it dries out.
  • Peel and chop up the root vegetables and place in a large baking tray (needs to deep enough to take juices that will come out of the turkey).  Chop up a handful of herbs quite finely and add these, the remaining wine, juice of 1 lemon, salt and pepper. Then add some water to just cover the vegetables.
  • Chop up the remaining herbs and mix in with the softened butter
  • Pre-heat the oven to 165 C / 325 F / Gas Mark 3 (with a fan) or 180C / 350 F / Gas Mark 4 (without a fan)
  • Take the turkey and gently prise the skin slightly apart from the meat (but do not remove it). Take the herb butter and spread it between the meat and the skin as far as you can. This will help to keep the turkey moist whilst cooking.
  • Then take the rashers of bacon and spread over the top of the turkey. This will help to protect and baste the turkey further.
  • Place the turkey onto the tray of vegetables and cover with aluminium foil and place in the oven and cook for approx. 3 hours (A larger turkey will be at least ½ hour longer)
  • After approx. 1 ½ hours, whilst the turkey is cooking, peel and chop up the potatoes for roasting. Place the potatoes into a pan, cover with water, add salt and bring to the boil. Boil for around 15 minutes or until the potatoes start to break up slightly. Strain them and leave to dry out for a few minutes.
  • Whilst the potatoes are boiling add the beef dripping or goose fat to a roasting tray and put in the oven. Heat the oven to 220 C / 425 F / Gas Mark 7.
  • After 2 ½ hours, you will need to remove the foil and the bacon, so that you can brown the turkey skin
  • When the potatoes have dried, and just after the foil has been removed from the turkey, remove the hot roasting tray with beef dripping or goose fat from the oven and add the potatoes. Stir well to coat the potatoes and return to the oven. Ideally the potatoes will break up slightly, but don’t worry if they do not. This adds lots of crispy bits. Cook for about an hour or until golden brown and crispy at the edges.
  • Remove the turkey when cooked, cover with foil and rest for half an hour.  To test the turkey, pierce the turkey and check that the juices are clear. Add any juices that come from the resting turkey to the sauce (there may be a lot!). N.B. The potatoes should still have ½ hour to cook.
  • Strain off the liquid from the turkey and roast vegetables and place in a large frying pan.
  • Strain the stock from the giblets and add it to this pan.
  • Add the remaining wine, some grated peel from the final lemon and the juice of that lemon.
  • Boil the sauce rapidly and reduce it down. Taste the sauce to see if reduced enough. If it tastes watery or weak, leave to reduce longer. Skim any fat off the top and put aside in a bowl (to use later or discard). Put in into a jug to serve.
  • Mix the cornflour with a few teaspoons water and add to the sauce to thicken it, stirring well whilst doing it. Add the mustard to the sauce. Add some extra pepper.
  • Serve
Once you are inside Vine Cottage, Sophie makes you some hot chocolate with a hint of cinnamon, ginger biscuits and marshmallows.

This recipe is a gift from Delfryn. Thank you so much for stepping into Delfryn and my blogging world. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to my lovely readers and friends.  May your dreams come true in 2019.  In the meantime, happy reading and writing. Thank you for your support and friendship! You are all bright stars shining as I continue my writing adventure and it wouldn’t mean anything without your kind words.  So let’s raise our glasses to kindness this Christmas and New Year.

 

Please see all my food related posts at Writing on a Plate and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

Kindness of tweeters

Kindness of Tweeters

Twitter is such a polite form of communication that seems to promote that good old fashioned courtesy.  It is wonderful that good people can ‘like’ your comments and always thank you for a re-tweet; perfect strangers wish me ‘Happy Monday’, or tell me to have a good weekend.

Recently the lovely Diane Need wished me ’Happy Friday’ on Thursday and this prompted a string of humorous comments from others – all very courteous.  My phone beep, beeped for two days with various comments until it was indeed Friday and Diane’s birthday.  Here are some snatches of the conversation:

Sue Moorcroft‏ @SueMoorcroft

And the same to you! 🙂 (But isn’t it Thursday?)

 

Erin Green Author‏ @ErinGreenAuthor

If you want Friday… we will give you Friday – official

 

Diane Need Author‏ @dianeneed

Trust me, LOL. I think I’ll carry on with the Friday illusion! 🙂

 

Books in my Handbag‏ @BooksInHandbag

Always poised and ready for Friday with a cocktail in your hand – love the positivity! It made us all think of Friday!

 

John Jackson‏ @jjackson42

In the same vein, the sun is ALWAYS over the yardarm, SOMEWHERE!! Cheers!

 

Sue Johnson‏ @SueJohnson9

It’s your birthday – it can be whatever day you want it to be. x

 

Such interactions punctuate your day with positivity and make you laugh out loud in public places.  How, I wish that we could apply the same etiquette to everyday situations and people would walk past and share a positive greeting, rather than looking at their feet. Wouldn’t it be great if we could hand out cards with emojis on them, just to confirm our feelings?   They wouldn’t have to say anything just hold up a smiley face.  The only down side could be that one wouldn’t stop saying thank you.  In Twitterland, everyone keeps on acknowledging your comments and it is difficult to know when to stop: I haven’t yet learnt this etiquette as I like to have the last word.

I had a great dilemma when Angela Petch sent me a picture of an orchid from Italy and presented ‘an orchid in Tuscany for favourite Blogger.’  What could I do?  I couldn’t go on pressing the ‘like’ button forever and working my way through all of the emojis? I had to be courteous and creative so I sent her a picture of a cup with an appropriate message on it.  Does anyone know if that was sufficient or if I have missed something?

I adore the way in which Twitterland guides you down the path of courteousness, reinstates good old fashioned values and inspires creativity.  I want to share this love and hand out emojis as I walk the streets.  Of course, it would be even better if more strangers would just smile occasionally and pass the time of day – just as the lovely people do on Twitter.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone on Twitter for future re-tweets and any ‘likes’ that they want to share.  I like you all, with big hearts, and thank you!  I am happy, excited and winking simultaneously.

Please see my blog at jessiecahalin.com

The Sunshine Blogger Award – Nominated by Patricia Furstenberg

The Sunshine Blogger Award empowers bloggers to celebrate other bloggers who are creative and bring positivity to the blogging community.

A nomination from Patricia Furstenberg for the Sunshine Blogger Award greeted me on a drizzly day in Wales. Patricia is a talented author and blogger and her kindness shines.

The Sunshine Blogger Award empowers bloggers to celebrate other bloggers who are creative and bring positivity to the blogging community. 

Having blogged for three years in March, I am thrilled to receive this accolade and my first award.  I never dreamed my blog would lead me to a global community of sunshine people. Connecting with people via my blog has gifted me with some lifelong friends and gives me such a warm feeling. 

Here are the 11 questions set by Patricia for her nominees, with my answers:

Share one thing about yourself that would surprise your followers. I have a terrible fear of heights and once tried to get off a ski lift when it was ascending.  I soon came to my senses when I saw how small the pine trees appeared from the lift.

Which do you prefer, mountain or sea?

The sea, the sea!  I always visit the sea when I need inspiration.  I like to let my mind wonder out to the horizon.  I love to sit in a pier coffee shop when the weather is stormy.

The sea, the sea! I always visit the sea when I need inspiration.

What is the highest / furthest point you travelled to?

I have managed to walk up Pen y Fan one step at a time.  We travelled to Singapore to stay with friends.  What an experience! Singapore is so clean and never stops. The food markets were vibrant.  I would like to return and then travel on to Australia.

You stand on a 1m high brick wall. Would you jump off or climb slowly?

I was once chased by a bull, made the leap of faith from a high wall and was absolutely fine.  I may try it again!

If you would only start your writing career now, where would you begin?

I would begin by writing career by making an application to join the RNA News Writers’ Scheme.  The support from the scheme is wonderful for a new writer.

Which animals you feel it represents you best?

I am like a loyal dog who values friendship and kindness, but sometimes I like to be let off the lead to roam free and explore new territory. And at other times I like to crash out in front of the fire and sleep.

Are you an early riser or night owl?

I do get up early but tend to have my writing inspiration in the evening, and I am certainly more creative when I have had lots of sleep.

Was writing your first choice as a career? If not, what was it?

Writing was always my dream, but I pursued a career in education.  I thoroughly enjoyed making a difference to children’s lives and inspiring their creativity. I am blessed to have the opportunity to pursue my own creativity these days.

What is your comfort food?

Yorkshire puddings are my comfort food and the best ones taste like sunshine to me.  The taste and smell takes me back to the lazy Sundays of my childhood.

Best way to relax and recharge?

I walk daily.  Walking untangles any plot niggles, let’s me spend time with my characters and energises me.

What is your favourite word?

At this time of year my favourite word is hygge.  The quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being is evoked in one simple word – hygge.  Though I am not sure I say this word correctly.

I also discovered this lovely quotation from The Book of Hygge.

“Just living isn’t enough,” said the butterfly, “one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.” -Hans Christian Anderson”
― Louisa Thomsen Brits, The Book of Hygge: The Danish Art of Living Well

Congratulations to the shiny sunshine people I have nominated

Blogging takes me to a happy place, and I love it when people join me.  Thus, it is fitting to acknowledge some sunshine friends by nominating them for the Sunshine Blogger Award.

My nominations:
Jena. C. Henry
Veronica Cline Barton
Angela Petch
Brigit Gallagher
Lizzie Lamb
Anne Williams
Jo Lambert
Judith Barrow
Shelley Wilson
Jan Brigden
Jan Baynham

Congratulations to the shiny sunshine people I have nominated.  I want you receive recognition for reaching out with your creativity and kindness.  I appreciate you may not have time to respond with a blog so do not feel under pressure.  I am happy for you to simply enjoy the glory and celebrate with coffee and cake.

If you choose to accept the Sunshine Blogger Award nomination, there are a few rules:

  • Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you and link back to their blog.
  • Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
  • List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your blog post.
  • Nominate 11 new bloggers & their blogs. Do leave a comment on their blog to let them know they received the award and ask your nominees 11 new questions.

Here are 11 questions for my nominees:

Which three photographs would you present to capture your life?  Feel free to include these in this post if you can.

I believe laughter is one of the best tonics in life.  When was the last time you could not stop laughing?

Explain the last act of kindness you showed to a friend or stranger.

Do you prefer the winter sun or the summer sun?  Explain your response.

Describe your perfect Saturday evening.

What sorts of characters do you prefer to meet in novels?

Give one sentence of advice to yourself when you were sixteen.

Is there a friend from the past you would love to get in touch with and why?

What is your food heaven and food hell?

Share your favourite recipe.

If you could travel back in time where would you visit and who would you take with you?

 

Please see all my Handbag Adventures and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

A copy of my novel is available here.

Kindness on your Doorstep

I am sending you all a big wave, a smile and hope you’ll grab yourself a coffee and send me a message.

Step inside my virtual front door to celebrate kindness, pop in for a virtual chat and see if you want to accept a doorstep challenge.

Chatting with friends and family on the phone and via social media made me realise how much we value the freedom to interact with each other and strangers.  Everyone said they missed daily interaction when out shopping, and even commented on how they loved to chat at the bus stop. To bridge the ugly social distancing gap, I have telephoned people so they can displace anxiety then embark on a happy chat. Others commented on the fact they were going for walks in the countryside, but people were walking metres away from them and it made them feel as if they didn’t exist.  Today, I shouted greetings at other people on their walks and loved the smiles beaming at me.

Let’s open a virtual door to celebrate the kindness of neighbours.

As the books in handbag lady, I considered how books have always been my companion and a welcome escape.  I will place books in bags and take them to neighbours who want a collection of good reads to help them escape. A friend here in Cardiff has decided she will bake Welsh cakes, wrap them up beautifully and leave them on neighbour’s doorsteps.  Obviously, we will telephone them to see if people want the gifts first.

A bag of books ready for delivery

Other friends are pooling their resources and swap goodies rather than fighting for goods in the supermarkets.  Again, we place them on the doorstep.  It makes sense and does encourage us to dig deep into the cupboards for those unwanted items.  I have found home for all those cosmetic gifts sets I have been storing for years.  It’s like Swap Shop all over again, and now I am showing my age.  Nod now if you remember that Saturday morning show from the eighties.

Kindness is free so let’s share it.  I have left a recipe for you on my virtual doorstep.

Welsh cakes for neighbours

Here is a Welsh cake recipe.  Feel free to share another recipe via the comment boxes.
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/welsh-cakes

Here is my virtual kindness challenge.

Could you call on someone who is self-isolating and leave them a bag of goodies on their doorstep?  The challenge is you can’t buy anything new and must create something from whatever you can spare in your home?  Sharing really is caring.

Wishing you all good health! You are always welcome to visit my blog and leave a comment, or you can find me on Facebook and Twitter.  I make of point of responding to comments, so there is no need to be alone.  I am sending you all a big wave, a smile and hope you’ll grab yourself a coffee and send me a message.  Stay safe, everyone and we’ll get by with a little help from our friends!

 

Please see all my Handbag Adventures and also my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

A copy of my novel is available here.