Stephanie's Festive Blog

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, even if the weather stops me getting into the Kitchen Garden there is always plenty to make and do in the kitchen.

Every year we plan well ahead to try and have fresh produce from the garden for our Christmas Dinner. This year along with the all important brussels we should have parsnips, carrots, leeks, kale, chard and celeriac. We are also hopeful for our new potatoes grown in potato bags in the greenhouse - they were such a success last year we had to try these again. 

In the build up to all the festivities I enjoy trying out some new recipes in the kitchen using fruit and vegetables from the kitchen garden where possible. Homemade Jam and Chutney can make a great Christmas gift - especially the ones containing brandy!

Here on my Festive Blog, I wanted to share a few of my festive ideas and favourite recipes to help you make this Christmas an extra special one!

Decorations

This year we have thought of a number of ways to decorate our stunning garden structures. Our Pyramid Obelisks make a real statement either side of a doorway wrapped in Christmas lights and our Roman Arch Pergola makes a festive walkway or tunnel a real feature in your garden when lit up. 

We have put seasonal planting into one of our Mini Manger Planters to add some much needed colour to the garden through the winter.  

We have also selected a number of solar lighting products to add some extra lighting to the garden during the long winter nights. 

Our Christmas range includes a new collection of stylish decorations perfect for the tree and Christmas table as well as faux flowers and candles to create a festive feel throughout the home. We also have Christmas lights ideal for around the home.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for the gardener in your life we still have our best selling Sneeboer tools. These exceptional garden tools will be appreciated by any gardener and you can get the tools engraved for a personal festive touch. We also have a range of practical gardening gifts including garden tools, gardening gloves, garden kneelers, potting shed essentials and lots more.

Enjoy browsing our Christmas range, whether you are looking for decorations or the perfect gift for a gardener we hope we give you some festive inspiration.

Festive Recipes

I love trying out new recipes over the Christmas period, but wanted to share some of my tried and tested recipes that I seem to make every year simply because they taste great! Hope you try some of the following recipes out and love them as much as I do...

Christmas Pudding - This has been a family favourite for many years - sometimes the older recipes are still the best!

Mulled Wine - I love having Mulled Wine gently simmering when guests arrive during the festive period and the aromas in the kitchen are fantastic. This is my favourite Mulled Wine recipe by Delia Smith. 

Broccoli or Cauliflower & Stilton Soup - this great tasting soup is one of my favourites and I usually add extra stilton to make it a really hearty soup!

Simple Brussels Sprouts - one of my favourite vegetables and a must have for Christmas dinner. I love the simplicity of this recipe and adding the smoked bacon and using goose fat to saute the sprouts is delicious.

Christmas Pudding Ice Cream - this is a fantastic way to add a seasonal twist to ice cream and always receives rave reviews from guests. 

Simple Preserves & Chutneys - a few of my favourite preserving and chutney recipes, all nice and simple to make but packed full of flavour!

I hope you like some of the ideas and try some of the recipes - if you have any Christmas favourites you would like to share then please let us know - webteam@harrod.uk.com

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!