Pomander

To make a pomander like the one Lucy is holding you will need,

One orange

A red ribbon

Some dress making pins

A jar of cloves

A bay leaf

Scissors

Fix the ribbon to the top of the orange using a pin. Measure a length of ribbon around the circumference of the orange and cut the required length. Lift the pin to secure the loose end of ribbon. Repeat this process so that there are two lengths of ribbon around the orange.

The ribbon has created four 'windows' to fill with cloves. Simply spear the orange skin with the sharp end of the clove. Lucy created a pattern by arranging the cloves in groups of three.

To complete your pomander fix a bay leaf to the top using a dress maker's pin.

Ragamuffins

The boys have helped with the meal this evening. Stuffed mushrooms and blueberry muffins.

I'm not a slave to recipes, all that measuring and weighing takes the pleasure out of baking for me especially when children are helping.

Muffins are so forgiving. The basic principle is about 200g/8oz of dry ingredients to 200 mls/8fl oz of liquid ingredients. the dry ingredients should include some baking powder and the wet ingredients should include something to lighten the muffin (cream, buttermilk, yogurt, egg). Don't stir them too much, you're aiming for a lumpy batter. Lovely at tea time and nice the following day sliced in half and spread with butter.

I am currently enjoying blueberry muffins made with frozen fruit from the supermarket, on special offer. One 350g tub is enough for four batches of muffins and because they are frozen they don't stain the batter.