Especially because I feel like I haven’t done enough of these this Blogmas!
I do have another recipe up my sleeve, that I am hoping to make for our Christmas day dessert, so keep your eyes peeled for that one too ๐
Chocolate Orange is one of my absolute favourite flavours ever, but I also think its quite festive too.
I used a ‘Tasty’ recipe this time which I will leave a link for here
I obviously adapted it to make them Chocolate Orange flavoured.
I added some cocoa powder to make the cookie batter chocolatey, a little orange extract instead of vanilla and I used chopped up Chocolate Orange segments, instead of choc chips.
These don’t take long to make, honestly the longest part is refrigerating the mixture for a minimum of 30 mins before baking. They only take 15 mins in the oven.
This is how they turned out. The chocolate orange pieces were all gooey ๐
During December, me and my friend at work have been trying out different mince pies. We work together two days so on a Monday I would bring one in and on a Thursday she would bring one in.
We got to try six different mince pies during this time, and we rated them to see which ones we preferred.
We tried the following Mince Pies:
Aldi Specially Selected
Gregg’s Bakery
Sainsburys Shortcrust Bakery
M&S Puff Pastry
Waitrose Extra Special
Co op Locally Sourced
โข The Rankings โข
We went for a few categories to score each mince pie on, these were:
Appearance
Overall Taste
Pastry
Fillage
And then we gave them an overall taste each.
โข The Results โข
Aldi Specially Selected
Appearence: 9/10 & 8/10
Overall taste: 7/10 & 7/10
Pastry: 7/10 & 7/10
Fillage: 8/10 & 7/10
Overall Rating: 7/10 & 7/10
Gregg’s
Appearance: 8/10 & 8/10
Overall taste: 5/10 & 7/10
Pastry: 6/10 & 7/10
Fillage: 8/10 & 7/10
Overall rating: 5/10 & 6/10
Sainsburys Bakery
Appearence: 8/10 & 8/10
Overall taste: 8/10 & 8/10
Pastry: 9/10 & 9/10
Fillage: 5/10 & 5/10
Overall rating: 8.5/10 & 9/10
M&S Puff Pastry
Appearence: 6/10 & 6/10
Overall taste: 6.5/10 & 8/10
Pastry: 5/10 & 3/10
Fillage: 3/10 & 3/10
Overall rating: 6/10 & 7/10
Waitrose
Appearence: 8/10 & 8/10
Overall taste: 9/10 & 6/10
Pastry: 8.5/10 & 8/10
Fillage: 8/10 & 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10 & 8/10
Co-op Locally Sourced
Appearence: 6/10 & 6/10
Overall taste: 10/10 & 10/10
Pastry: 8/10 & 9/10
Fillage: 10/10 & 9/10
Overall rating: 9.5/10 & 9/10
So, the winner of our taste testing was… (drum roll please)
The Co-op Locally Sourced !
These are my favourite and even with trying others that hasn’t changed, and my friend agreed too.
I LOVE festive food (& food in general) and Christmas is one of those times of year where we indulge a little more, enjoy a few of our favourite snacks and have a nice time.
… I like having some of these, particularly, at Christmas as they make me feel super festive, but obviously alot of them can be had at other times of the year!
Here are some of my favourites…
A absolute festive staple.
This is one of my favourite chocolates. I would of course eat this at other times of the year but, I often just get the grab bags or bars, saving the actual chocolate orange for christmas time.
It always feels so festive, perhaps it’s the Christmas/clementine similarity.
And thanks to old Saint Nick, I always get one in my stocking.
Now I do only eat these ones at Christmas! Mince pies.
These are a treat that I have started to like only over the last five years or so, and I love them throughout November and December.
Me and my work friend did a mince pie taste testing this year so look out for that in a Blogmas post to come.
Shortbread is my favourite type of biscuit and I LOVE them at Christmas. I especially love the M&S Christmas, musical tins. These little packs of Chritmas trees are delish too.
Tesco’s Christmas shortbread selection tins are my favourite in terms of taste, super delicious and with lots of sugar on top.
PRINGLES! The ultimate crisps.
I try not to eat tooooo many because they really are addictive!! So I always get these for Christmas as they are a buffet essential ๐๐ป
Sour Cream and Chive are my absolute fave.
Hot Chocolate is a Christmas must have!
Perfect for the cold weather and these are a couple of my favourites.
I recently discovered the Cadbury hot chocolate and how good it is. I’m sure I’ve tried it before but not made it well, because I can’t get enough of it now!! I was definatly making it wrong Haha.
Mint hot chocolate is my favourite flavour and there is something about the minty taste that makes me feel super festive.
Hot chocolates are so cosy ๐ฅฐ
Crackers & cheese are a Christmas must have. Great as a little snack or part of an epic buffet.
& finally…
Our tipple of choice!
It’s got to be a nice, ice cold fruit cidar. I don’t really drink casually, but I do love to have a few of these in the fridge, ready for the festive period ๐
It’s one of the times of year that I do actually fancy a casual one here and there.
I love a Coffee or drink from a Coffee shop and especially the festive flavours around at Christmas time.
So, here are some of my faves…
Costa: Terry’s Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate
This was yummy.
If you were one of the first wave of people who ordered this you also got a Terry’s choc orange segment with your drink.
This was a really, yummy, creamy hot choc… it could have done with a little more orange flavouring though!
Costa: After Eight Mint Hot Chocolate
This is my favourite festive drink by far.
Because what’s more festive than a hot chocolate.
And the mint syrup is super festive too.
Me and my twin sister get this every year, its sooooo good.
I think it’s usually just called a mint hot choc but, it’s been branded around After Eight Mints this year… I could be wrong though (it could always have been)… anyway, you also got a After Eight Mint on the side of your drink.
Again, I think there were limited number of these.
Starbucks: White Mocha Frappe with Peppermint Syrup
This is a new discovery this year thanks to Zoe Suggs Vlogmas! & my sisters recommendation.
The White Mocha Frappe is super delish and flavourful on it’s own, and the peppermint flavour makes it super festive.
It’s a really tasty drink.
This is great if you prefer a cooler, refreshing drink.
I’m really hoping I get a chance to try the Caffe Nero ‘Salted Caramel Latte’ & their ‘Mint Hot Choc’ before the christmas season is over!
So, here are my top 5 ways to well and truly get into the festive spirit!
1. Listening to Christmas tunes
Whilst I’m still at work, and there are still lots of restrictions in place for going out, this is one of the things that has made me feel the most Christmassy.
We have been listening to them lots at work and in the car.
If a Christmas sing along doesn’t get you into the festive spirit, what will!!
2. Watching a Christmas film ๐ฝ
I LOVE Christmas films for adding a bit of festive cheer into your life.
Even more so as the cinemas are closed. I miss it more than I thought.
I shared some of my faves in a earlier Blogmas post so check them out here !
Grab some popcorn, your fave festive chocs, a hot choc perhaps? And you’ve got yourself a super festive afternoon.
3. Reading a Christmas book ๐
As soon as November hits I start the festive reads and I don’t stop until February.
If you love festive books as much as me then take a look at these ones, they are some that I’ve really enjoyed.
Books are a great escape from reality and perfect for a bit of festive downtime during the Christmas chaos.
4. Christmas Day Prep ๐
I love wrapping presents, planning Christmassy activities and of course planning the Christmas eats too.
I know that this year is going to be a bit different in terms of Christmas, but its important to make the most of the situation we are in, enjoy what we can do and not focus on what we can’t.
And hey, you might even end up with a new fun tradition thanks to 2020!
I love stocking up on a few of our favourite Christmas treats, like mince pies and slowly picking up buffet bits and bobs, from various shops depending on what they have each year.
And wrapping presents for my loved ones always makes me feel super festive ๐๐
5. Festive baking ๐ฅง
I really enjoy baking and festive flavours (except you cinnamon ๐คข) so I always look forward to baking at this time of year, especially when you can indulge a little more, guilt free, and try all your efforts.
I’ve been looking up some yummy ideas to inspire my baking over the next week or so!
Here’s a festive recipe I’ve already tried out. They were super yummy!
I’ve always wanted to go to one of these and when I saw that they were doing showings nearby, OF CHRISTMAS FILMS, I thought it would be a fun little outing.
We went to see ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’
This is one of my favourite Christmas films, its lovely and hilarious.
Who doesn’t love the Grinch!
We grabbed a McDonalds beforehand as you can obviously take your own food in your car, they did have food services but it was a little pricey.
We also took some popcorn to have whilst we watched the film!
We were a bit worried that it would be freezing but I think we got lucky with the evening that we went, it had been a much milder day.
We did take a duvet to snuggle under anyway because it was still a little chilly and why not!
It was really great to find something fun and festive to be able to do together that was actually really COVID secure.
You stayed in your car the whole time (toilets were available but we didn’t need them, but apparently they were also cleaned after every use too) They have your Number plate registered so all you do is listen to a quick information brief (you stay in the car for) but obviously everyone is wearing masks, and then you obviously sit in your own car for the film, so very minimal contact with others.
I’d never really thought about how the logistics would work in terms of the sound, I’ve only ever been to a Outdoor Cinema screening, but you just set your radio to a particular station and the sound of the film plays through your car radio and you watch on the big screen that they have up.
It was really good fun and this was my first Christmas film of the festive season.
I really enjoyed doing something ‘normal’, this was an ideal festive activity during the current climate.
These came out so well, are super chocolatey (I always add extra chocolate ๐คฆ๐ผโโ๏ธ) & look how cute they are!!
I’m not as great at the finer detail when it comes to decorating things like this but, even I could do this haha! and I love how they turned out.
These would be great for a Christmas buffet table (and yes I am still having one even though there won’t be many of us, because come on 2020 or not… it’s Christmas & who doesnt love a buffet!!)
As I have said many times, Autumn/Winter are my favourite seasons!
I know its chilly but hey, its England, we were made for this weather.
Plus, it’s so pretty ๐
Theres nothing like a crisp autumn walk, frosty, leaves crunching under foot, trees fire bright against a pale sky, wrapped up in cosy jumpers, a hot beverage in hand.
Now tell me that isn’t a delight!?!
Here are some of the ways I’ve been enjoying the Autumn so far!
โข P U M P K I N โข P I C K I N G โข
Me, my sister and my nephews had a great time pumpkin picking, at a local patch ๐
We went early Oct to get the most out of our Pumpkins.
I’ve used them to dot around the lounge to create a cosy, autumn vibe. Some will of course be carved on Halloween.
โข A U T U M N โข W A L K S โข
I definitely have a new appreciation for walks since the lockdowns and the pandemic in general.
Theres alot of enjoyment to be had in the fresh air, amongst the trees and pretty plants. I loved our sunny summer walks but in Autumn it’s an even more beautiful experience.
โข C O S Y โข R E A D S โข
…because I could read anywhere… but, theres nothing better than in my little reading corner, in autumn and winter, because it just feels even more cosy.
โข H A L L O W E E N โข F U N โข
I am a big horror film fan so I enjoy the spookiness of Halloween.
Lockdown no 2 was announced this Halloween (Horror!) So I wanted to make it even more fun, because if you can’t enjoy the little things, (even when stuck at home) during a global pandemic, when can you!?
Over the weekend I ended up watching eight different horror films!
โขNightmare on Elm St (New) โขFriday the 13th โข Psycho (New) โขAnabelle โข Freddy Vs Jason โขNightmare Before Christmas โขIT (The Original) โขHocus Pocus
We like to carve a pumpkin each year, because its just some harmless seasonal fun, and since I had a few from our picking spree, I carved a few.
As well as the films and pumpkin carving, we also listened to some Halloween tuness (until the X-Files theme freaked me out ๐คฃ๐ฑ) we had Spooky, mummy sausages and jacket potatoes for dinner (because why should kids have all the fun) and Halloween Hot chocolates to round off the evening.
And a spot of Halloween Animal Crossing!
It was really good fun and it made us forget about the pandemic a bit, a fun weekend/evening spent together.
โข P U M P K I N โข C A R V I N G โข
Because you have to do one of these every year! Come on now.
‘Parry’ By me & Tim My slight fail, HP lightening scar and glasses attemptThis was really flippin’ hard ๐คฃ Yes, I’m that cool.
… and yes I am indeed wearing a Bat onesie in this picture, my traditional Halloween costume/pumpkin carving outfit! ๐ฆ
Don’t hate me cause you ain’t me!
โข A U T U M N โข N A T U R E โข
โข H U N T โข
As a fun little pre lockdown 2.0 activity with my nephews, we went on a Nature Hunt.
They love running about in the park and exploring and they enjoyed it even more than I thought they would (so did I!!)
โข B A K I N G โข
I spent another lovely pre lockdown day with my niece ๐
What’s more cosy (and delicious) than baking!?!
We had a lovely time together โก
Gotta love a Unicorn Cupcake ๐ฆ๐ง
& finally…
โข B O N F I R E โข N I G H T โข
Again, due to Lockdown (thanks Rona!) we won’t be seeing people for a bit, but its timing did coincide with Bonfire Night and so we resurrected a Byford tradition, and got together to celebrate.
Outside, wrapped up, enjoying other peoples fireworks, sparklers, s’mores, soup, jackets, bangers, log burners and catching up!
A great evening! We missed this tradition last year as there was alot going on, so it was great to do it again.
It’s been a little while (probably the Summer hols) since I’ve done a little ‘life’ update and I love capturing memories on here. I think I forget to use my blog this way sometimes when I get carried away sharing about my hobbies.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Roseanne Byford 