What a wonderful weekend we had in chilly Cheshire, celebrating all things festive at Foodies Festival Christmas. Our mini-theatre was set amongst stalls selling all manner of delicious treats – the mulled wine and brownies for immediate enjoyment, as well as the truckle cheese and fancy liqueurs that I know I have already started stocking up on for the big day itself.
I was joined by old friends and new, amazing local talents creating amazing recipes to share with our crowds.
Watching Natasha from Nicely Kitchen’s natural approach to cake decorating – and feeling very inspired!
Natasha’s Vegan Spiced Bundt Cake – click on the picture to see more of Nicely Kitchen’s stunning bakes.
Enjoying Masterchef champion Jane Devonshire’s apple fritters!
Tackling important baking issues with Rob Allen and Jackie Heaton AKA The Baking Nanna. Butter or Stork in a Victoria Sponge?
A super fun approach to festive cake decorating and lots of laughs make the #twitterbakealong team a festival favourite.
Watching Sarah Wilson-Gibbons of Hey Little Cupcake working hard on delicate fondant details.
If you fancy having a go at making one of these stunning festive cupcake bouquets (or just ordering one whilst eating mince pies) click on this picture to visit Hey Little Cupcake.
Whipping up Christmas Pudding Scones.
Feeding our eager crowds who love having the opportunity to taste the sweet treats that we make!
And when I make a cake… I make a proper sized bit of cake!
This is me hoping that I can make the cake go round everyone in the crowd. You always notice a few extra faces as soon as you start dishing it out!
An alternative showstopping cake for Christmas. Packed full of California Raisins and macadamia nuts and almonds, as well as a little chocolate!
A very chocolatey Mint Chocolate After Dinner Tarte.
Delicious macarons from The Rolling Scone. Click to check out their website.
I absolutely loved this Kendal Mint Cake Liqueur. It was the perfect addition to my Chocolate Mint After Dinner Tarte! Click on the picture to check out their website.
I normally say no to Christmas Puddings because I’ve never been fond and they are traditionally made with suet. I am so glad that I tried Georgie Porgie’s puddings – the flavour combinations are delicious, they are ALL veggie, and many of them are VEGAN too. Hooray! Click to check out their website and order yours.
I ate a New Yorker brownie from The Yummy Yank and now I am in love. You can order these online! Click to visit the website and join me in drooling all over your computer.
I was lucky enough to be joined by a friend and Foodies Festival regular, Helen Cripps from the rather lovely blog Leewood Roots. Helen took charge of our crazy little prep kitchen and made sure that all of us chefs had the ingredients that we needed and the spoons that we had forgotten! Having her support was a treat AND she took all of the fabulous photos in this post. Click here to check out her blog and watch her career take off in 2018.
Helen captures an early morning catch up with Luis Troyano from GBBO
Helen and I with Jane Devonshire. Wish I’d brought my glasses!
Darling Helen, you are a star!
My bags are being packed one more time. The Foodies Festival Christmas Show will be at the EICC in Edinburgh this weekend! The show kicks off on Friday evening from 5pm and is then open from 10am – 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. I cannot wait to be back in Edinburgh! I am looking forward to a wander around the Christmas markets in the town and cannot wait to pick up the last few treats for my own Christmas table from Foodies.
Stay gorgeous!
Cxx
