Downstairs at Downtown Abbey & Spreading the Joy!

33 days to go till Christmas everyone!!!  I'm always so excited about Christmas and like to start spreading the joy as early as possible.  I've been working really hard to make The Nostalgic Kitchen Christmassy from all angles.  I spent all day yesterday decorating my space at the antiques centre making it full of sugar and spice and all things nice!  I was so proud of my little area when I left and hope it inspires people to buy some nostalgic kitchen bits to take home and make it look all festive!  Here are some pictures......

 

 

 

 When I got home I finished putting all the stock I had been collecting for ages that was of the right age to fit in with my Downtown Abbey section on my online shop.  So many people love Downtown and I thought it would be a nice thing to do for Christmas to have a section dedicated to all kitchenalia inspired by Downtown Abbey's kitchen.  'Downstairs at Downtown' has a mixture of items dating from 1900 - 1920's.  It was not easy to gather such items but I think there is enough there to get people excited.

 

I now have gift vouchers available to buy for use on my online shop which I'm quite excited about!  I'm excited about everything I know!!!!  If you would like to receive a £5 gift voucher for www.thenostalgickitchen.co.uk then all you have to do is comment below and I will contact you to get your address and send you one.  So easy! and yes I am generous at Christmas!!

 

Yummy Winter Pudding!

I love cooking!  My love of cooking and all things vintage explain my company The Nostalgic Kitchen I suppose!  Anyway I'm so busy nowadays that I don't have much time for proper baking.  I cook our tea and that's it!  Anyway I made time yesterday to make a yummy winter pudding for my family. I only remembered to take a photo of it when we had already tucked in but I think you can get the idea from the photo.

Marmalade Bakewell Tart

 

I got the recipe from Country Living Magazine.  Sweet pastry base baked blind then spread with marmalade and topped with an orange bakewell mixture of 175g butter, 175g sugar, 2 eggs, orange zest, 175g ground almonds and 50g self raising flour.  It took 30 mins in the oven at 180 and you had to sprinkle flaked almonds on top half way through cooking.  I was supposed to dust with icing sugar before serving but we forgot as I'd got warm think custard and thick clotted cream on the table and we just had to dive in!  It was really yummy and I think the recipe could be adapted to so many different flavours.  Lemon curd with lemon zest, cherry, blackcurrant, strawberry and even chocolate orange!  I wish I had more time for baking.  I've written to Father Christmas and asked him for some more time for Christmas!

 

Find all you need to bake your own yummy winter pudding at www.thenostalgickitchen.co.uk