AVIES HOME MADE CHRISTMAS

DECORATING THE TREE


Edible Christmas tree decorations are traditional,inexpensive and easy to do what could be better.

POP CORN GARLANDS

Buy a bag of popping corn and cook as the instructions direct,you do not need a popcorn maker ,just a sauce pan with a well fitting lid. My own tip is if using butter to cook the corn add a little corn oil,this will help prevent the butter from burning and is quicker than clarifying. When the corn is cooked add a little food colouring if you wish,I think it looks lovely left white.

Using a needle and cotton thread the corn to make long streamers which look like snow and are every bit as nice as tinsel.

GINGERBREAD MEN.

Not just gingerbread men but stars,angels hearts anything you like and all made from the same simple recipe.

8oz self raising flour

half a teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of mixed spice

2 teaspoons of ground gingerbread40z butter or margarine

3 oz light brown sugar

3 tablespoons of milk plus extra for brushing

Sift the flour,salt and spices into a mixing bowl. Rub in the butter then add the milk and form into a stiff dough,

Roll out the dough on a floured surface then cut in to the shapes of your choice,collect the trimmings and roll then into a ball ,roll out again until all the mixture is used.

Using a skewer make a hole at the top of each biscuit them place on a greased baking sheet and brush with a little milk.

Bake in the oven at 200oC for about fifteen minutes .or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool.

DECORATING THE BISCUITS

make a little glacé icing and use it to stick silver balls or small coloured sweets on to the stars .outline the holly leaf or tree shapes with the icing and sprinkle with a little edible glitter. I like to make gingerbread men and before I put them in the oven give them currant eyes ,a currant nose and currant buttons,if you feel artistic you can give them a smile using a sliver of glacé cherry.

Once icing has dried thread with a little ribbon or string and hang on your tree..magical.

Boiled sweets in bright coloured wrappers can be made into streamers by threading cotton through the paper twists and use as swags for the tree.

These decorations are fun to make as a family a few days before the tree is decorated I well remember the fun and excitement of making these simple goodies,the only limit is your own imagination.