Sign up for my newsletter if you enjoy easy recipes anyone can make, ideas to help you make the most of your home, travel stories and tips, and inspiration to help you embrace your own unique style.
Share
A Little Joy, a Little Nostalgia… Hello December
Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hello December!
There's always something so magical about this time of year - even the rainy, grey days seem to hold a little extra promise. Kitchens begin to warm with the scent of cinnamon and ginger, strangers greet each other in the streets like in days gone by, and the bright lights and sparkle bring a little bit of excitement to each day.
Whether you are getting ready to celebrate Christmas, St Nicholas Day (6 December) or celebrating Hanukkah, I hope that this month is bringing some time for relaxation and fun alongside all the planning and preparation.
I'm enjoying decorating and spending more time in the kitchen, making recipes that bring my family and I comfort and joy.
In My Kitchen
A Little Taste of Christmas Tradition
Family recipes bring more than flavour to the table - they carry memories, family stories and a sense of continuity and connection from one generation to the next. As promised in my last newsletter, this week I brought my late Mom's Suet-Free Mincemeat recipe to the website.
Mom created this treasured family recipe, adapted from my Grandma's traditional mincemeat, when she needed to find lower-fat versions of her favourite Christmas treats. It's wonderful in mince pies and tarts, but it also shines in some of the cakes we love to bake at this time of year, including one of my absolute favourites - Mincemeat Cake with Brandy.
Mincemeat Cake with Brandy
If you are looking for a festive bake that feels wonderfully old-fashioned without the fuss, my Brandy and Mincemeat Cake might be just the thing. It's quite easy to make and it smells amazing while it is cooking. This is the perfect recipe for people who love the flavours of Christmas but are not keen on traditional Christmas Cake - or to enjoy while you are waiting for your Christmas Cake to mature!
It's also a lovely way to use the mincemeat you have made - or any good quality store bought mincemeat you have on hand.
A Cosy Christmas Chat - My Podcast Conversation with Claire Melvin
I'm delighted to share that my episode on Claire Melvin's Discovery Corner podcast has just been released. I really enjoyed our warm, thoughtful conversation, full of gentle inspiration.
We spoke about:-
✨ Creating a Christmas that feels good for you
✨ Celebrating unconventionally (and why that is more than okay)
✨ Much loved traditions and simple joys
✨ Finding comfort, connection and a little sparkle along the way
If you enjoy listening to something uplifting while you bake, walk, decorate or wrap gifts, I would love for you to join us.
If you are looking for even more holiday gift inspiration, please visit my Amazon Storefront*.
Links marked with an asterix (*) are affiliate links - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This week I'm...
Working on my latest project, a culinary memoir shaped by the recipes and stories that have travelled with me across continents and decades, curating ideas and inspiration on Pinterest, baking, decorating and planning holiday outfits.
Reading - The Christmas Companion* by Skye McAlpine, a gorgeous, gentle book full of recipes, crafts and inspiration. (affiliate link)
Watching - Man on The Inside Season 2 on Netflix
Planning - A gentle approach to the festive season - taking my time to really enjoy it. Click here to see how our house is shaping up for Christmas in one of my latest Instagram reels.
Looking forward to - an at home in person iPhone photography workshop with Kathryn Fell on Sunday. I'm always trying to up my photography game so I can share better images with you!
That's all for now. Wherever you are and however you celebrate, I hope your December is filled with warmth, comfort and joyful moments. May your kitchen be a happy place, your home cosy, and your holiday traditions — new or old — bring you joy.
Thank you, as always, for being here. I’m so grateful for you.
PS - If you make any of the recipes I have shared, I’d love to hear how they turn out. Your messages and photos always brighten my day 😊
Thank you so much again for being a subscriber. Remember you can reply to this email with any questions, comments, suggestions or just to say hi. I love to hear from you.
Warmly,
April x
April J Harris | Helping you make the most of life at home and away
Helping you make the most of life at home and away
Sign up for my newsletter if you enjoy easy recipes anyone can make, ideas to help you make the most of your home, travel stories and tips, and inspiration to help you embrace your own unique style.
Hello! Have you noticed a lot of people talking about the fact that 'we are half way through January already' and sharing that they are 'incredibly behind' too? It's hard not to feel unsettled by their musings. And honestly, I have had similar thoughts myself. Yet, as I write this, sitting in my cosy study with a warming cup of tea beside me, looking out at a grey and rainy day, I'm feeling encouraged by the beauty of this in-between time of year. Yesterday I discovered a small clump of early...
Hello and Happy New Year! Every January, we are encouraged to reset everything, start over and become a new version of ourselves. But this year I have been considering the idea of beginning things a little more gently - building on what already works and feels good, rather than focusing on the negative and trying to change everything all at once. We don’t necessarily need grand plans or sweeping changes. Sometimes it is enough to step forward with intention - just as we are. Care to join me?...
Hello! It’s Christmas week, and if you are anything like me, you may have opened this newsletter during a quick pause between baking, writing and wrapping. I hope there’s a lovely hot drink in your hand, and that you can relax for just a few moments while we catch up. I also hope this newsletter finds you well, and excited for Christmas as well as the fresh start the New Year brings. I’m so looking forward to the celebrations to come, and yet, as much as I love Christmas, I know it can also...