Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2021 i Woman's Weekly Living Series

We’ve had so much fun putting together this very special issue of W oman’s Weekly Christmas. Our experts have worked harder than Santa’s little helpers to add a sprinkle of pixie dust to celebrations. From do-it-yourself decorations to the cutest ideas for handmade gifts, there’s everything you need to create the Christmas of dreams. Plus, there’s every recipe you could wish for, from plates that feed a crowd to the big feast itself – and don’t miss our showstopper puddings! We hope our magazine helps you to have a wonderful time – and we’re sending out a festive hug to anyone who has felt isolated over the last couple of years. It’s time to look ahead and enjoy the happiest Christmas ever.…

MEASUREMENTS Finished blanket measures approximately 95cm x 115cm/37½in x 45¼in. MATERIALS Emu Classic DK (100% acrylic), 100g (282m); 2 balls each of Softmint (103), Ivy (145) and Biscotti (111) and 1 ball each of Ruby (120), Sunburst (148), Cream (102), Fog (121) and Seafoam (144)*. A 4mm crochet hook, stitch marker. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 17 sts and 10 rows, measure 10 x 10cm, over treble crochet, using 4mm hook. ABBREVIATIONS Ch(s), chain(s); ch-sp, chain space; dc, double crochet; dtr, double treble crochet; htr, half treble crochet; ss, slip stitch; st(s), stitch(es); tr, treble crochet; trtr, triple treble crochet; yrh, yarn round hook. SPECIAL STITCHES RdtrF, raised double treble front (work a dtr around stem of st indicated, inserting hook from right to left and from front to…

1 Snip about twelve 9cm lengths of wool for the fringe. Fold the lengths in half. Starting and finishing 1cm either side of the darts, catch each fold of the wool along the top of the head seam with a backstitch. 2 Starting at the bottom of the dart, lightly draw a 3cm-long line along the centre of the back head with a pencil. Snip 35cm lengths of wool for the hair. Fold the lengths in half. Starting at the top of the dart, catch each fold of the wool along the centre back with a backstitch. 3 Lay the first four lengths on the front head, framing the face, and the remaining hair smoothly across the back head. Lift the hair to glue it sparingly in place. 4 Bunch…

GEOMETRIC TRIO It’s so easy to transform shop-bought candles into a striking centrepiece that will add instant wow to your table! YOU WILL NEED 1 Remove any wrappers or labels or from the candles and use a soft paintbrush to remove any loose wax. 2 Apply masking tape at an angle to the top of the candle to create a geometric shape towards the base. 3 Using a clean paintbrush, apply some gilding adhesive to the area below the masking tape and allow to dry for as long as the pack instructions suggest. 4 Once tacky, delicately place a sheet of the copper leaf on top of the glue and gently lift away the paper backing. Continue, working around the candle until it’s been completely…

MINI CHRISTMAS CAKES Boozy, fruity and perfectly proportioned. Top up your sherry and get stuck in. PER MINI CAKE 283 cals, 9g fat, 4g sat fat, 43g carbs MAKES 12 ✷ 375g (13oz) mixed fruit – dried cranberries, raisins, chopped apricots, chopped dates ✷ 5tbsp brandy, whisky or rum ✷ 80g (2½oz) butter, softened ✷ 75g (2½oz) light muscovado sugar ✷ 2 medium free-range eggs ✷ Zest of 1 orange ✷ ½tsp mixed spice ✷ 90g (3oz) plain flour ✷ ½tsp baking powder ✷ 200g (7oz) marzipan ✷ Apricot jam, warmed for glazing ✷ Writing icing, to decorate You will need: ✷ 12-hole silicone cupcake/muffin moulds or a muffin tin double-lined with cupcake cases 1 Mix together the fruit and alcohol, cover and leave to soak overnight. 2 Heat oven…

TWIG TREES YOU WILL NEED 1 Using the 5mm bit, drill a hole into the base of the log slice and fill it with glue from the hot glue gun. 2 Slip the 4mm dowel into the hole, clean off any excess glue and allow to dry. Make sure to hold or prop the dowel upright as the glue sets. 3 Taking the thick wooden twigs and coping saw, cut off a 5cm length piece. Drill a hole lengthways through the centre, the rough ends smooth and slip onto the dowel. Push the twig all the way down to the bottom of the base to form the trunk of the tree. 4 For the horizontal sections, use the saw to cut…

YOU WILL NEED 1 Fold a piece of black card in half and lay on a flat surface with the fold to the left. Or if you prefer, use ready-made card blanks. 2 Use a pin and self-healing cutting mat to carefully make a small hole in the centre-top of the card front, then continue to make 10-13 equally spaced holes diagonally towards the bottom edge. Mark with a pencil first if you prefer. 3 Repeat to make holes working in the opposite direction on the other side of the card to create an upwards arrow shape. Try to make the holes horizontally parallel. 4 Carefully thread fine jewellery wire through the top hole and continue to work it in and out of the…

STAMPED GIFT WRAP YOU WILL NEED ✷ Wool ✷ Offcut of timber ✷ Clear tape ✷ Roll of brown or white paper ✷ Metallic paint ✷ Paintbrush ✷ Ribbons 1 To create a stamp, tape a length of wool to one side of a timber block, then wind it around the block, allowing it to cross over in places and making sure there are gaps left between the strands. Tape in place on the back and trim any excess wool. 2 Roll out the paper and use paperweights or other heavy objects to hold in place. Apply metallic paint to the wool using a paintbrush. Be generous, but try to keep the paint on the wool rather than getting large blobs of it on the wood. 3 Gently press the…

SERVES 20 ✷ 250g (9oz) dried stoneless prunes, chopped ✷ 200g (7oz) dried ready-to-eat dates, chopped ✷ 450g (1lb) raisins or sultanas ✷ 250g (9oz) dried apples, diced ✷ 250ml (9fl oz) mulled wine ✷ 250g (9oz) butter, plus extra to grease ✷ 250g (9oz) dark muscovado sugar ✷ 5 medium organic eggs, beaten ✷ 250g (9oz) self-raising flour ✷ 1tsp vanilla extract ✷ 1tbsp mixed spice ✷ 1tbsp ground cinnamon ✷ 100g (3½oz) blanched cobnuts or hazelnuts For the decoration: ✷ 3tbsp apricot jam, sightly warmed ✷ Icing sugar and cornflour, for dusting ✷ 500g (1.1Ib) pack marzipan ✷ 1kg (2.2Ib) pack ready-to-roll icing ✷ Silver edible lustre You will need: ✷ 20cm (8in) square deep cake tin, lined ✷ Snowflake cutters in varying sizes ✷ Ribbon and a…

SAUSAGE BEAN CASSEROLE This hearty casserole includes chorizo for a spicy kick. Mashed potatoes make an ideal side dish. PER SERVING 823 cals, 55g fat, 19g sat fat, 32g carbs SERVES 4 ✷ 2tbsp olive oil ✷ 6 pork sausages ✷ 300g (10oz) cooking chorizo, cut into chunks ✷ 1 red onion, sliced ✷ 2 yellow peppers, sliced ✷ 2 garlic cloves, crushed ✷ 1tsp sweet smoked paprika ✷ ½tsp hot smoked paprika ✷ Small bunch of parsley, stalks and leaves chopped separately ✷ 125ml (4fl oz) red wine ✷ 125ml (4fl oz) chicken stock ✷ 500ml carton passata ✷ 400g tin cannellini beans, drained 1 Heat 1tbsp oil in a casserole, brown the sausages and remove. Add the chorizo, cook for 2 mins and set aside. 2 Reduce the…

BAILEYS AND CHOCOLATE ROULADE We added clementines and physalis to give this a wow factor. PER SERVING 392 cals, 20g fat, 11g sat fat, 28g carbs SERVES 6 ✷ 4 egg whites ✷ 100g (3½oz) caster sugar ✷ 1tbsp cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting ✷ 2tsp white wine vinegar ✷ 1tbsp chocolate spread ✷ 3 clementines, peeled and broken into segments ✷ 2tbsp toasted flaked almonds ✷ Physalis, to decorate For the Baileys cream: ✷ 200g (7oz) mascarpone ✷ 3tbsp Baileys Irish Cream ✷ 25g (1¾oz) icing sugar You will need: ✷ 33 x 21cm (13 x 9in) Swiss roll tin, lined with oiled baking parchment 1 Heat the oven to 160C/Gas 3. Whisk egg whites until stiff, gradually add the sugar and whisk until thick. Sift over cocoa powder…

WATERMELON, HAM AND FETA STICKS A refreshing nibble perfect for accompanying cocktails. PER STICK 33 cals, 2g fat, 1.5g sat fat, 1g carbs MAKES 28 ✷ 350g (12oz) of fresh watermelon ✷ 14 slices of serrano ham ✷ 200g (7oz) feta cheese ✷ Fresh mint leaves 1 Chop the watermelon into chunks and set aside. Cut the ham slices in half and roll up. Drain the feta well, then cut into 28 cubes. 2 Assemble by threading the melon, ham and feta onto mini skewers, interspersed with mint leaves, and season with black pepper. INDIAN SPICED PRAWNS Marinating the prawns adds so much flavour. PER SERVING 59 cals, 3g fat, 0g sat fat, 3g carbs SERVES 12 ✷ 350g (12oz) raw jumbo peeled king prawns ✷ 80g (2½oz) rogan josh…

MEASUREMENTS Approximately 18cm/7in wide by 191cm/75¼in long (after blocking). MATERIALS 3 x 100g (155m) balls of King Cole Timeless Chunky (90% acrylic; 10% alpaca) in Duck Egg (2910)*. Pair of 6mm knitting needles; cable needle. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 14 stitches and 20 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 6mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS St(s), stitch(es); k, knit; p, purl; C4B, cable 4 back (slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, k2, then k2 from cable needle); C4F, cable 4 front (slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, k2, then k2 from cable needle); T3B, twist 3 back (slip next st onto cable needle and hold at back of work, k2, then p1 from cable…

PREPARING THE WREATH Fill a large bucket with water and place the Oasis ring on top, allowing it to soak up the water for two minutes. Remove from water and, using a craft knife, cut away the edge of the inner and outer ring. This will help soften the arrangement. If hanging the wreath, knot florist’s wire in a loop at the top. YOU WILL NEED: ✷ Oasis wreath ring (31cm) ✷ Spruce or conifer cuttings ✷ Green foliage – we used Buxus, Viburnum and Ruscus ✷ Spray roses ✷ Red Hypericum ✷ Holly sprigs with berries ✷ Pinecones ✷ Green florist’s wire ✷ Florist’s scissors ✷ Wire cutters ✷ Buckets ✷ Cut-flower food (Optional) ✷ Craft knife ✷ Wide red velvet wired ribbon (optional) If you can’t find the…

CHOCOLATE COINS Get creative with flavour combinations for these classy, coin-shaped bites. MAKES 24 ✷ 200g (7oz) good-quality dark chocolate, broken into pieces To decorate: ✷ Crystallised stem ginger, dried rose petals or edible gold leaf – you can also try chopped nuts and chocolate coffee beans You will need: ✷ 24-hole mini muffin tin, lightly greased (no need if using a silicone ‘tin’) 1 Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until smooth. 2 Put 1tbsp of chocolate in the base of each mould. Firm up in the fridge for 5-10 mins, but ensuring the chocolate is still a little tacky so that your toppings will stick. 3 Add toppings. Return to the fridge until fully set, then remove from the…

MEASUREMENTS  To fit ages 2-3 (3-4) (4-5) (5-6) years. Actual chest measurements 66 (70) (73.5) (77) cm/26(271/2) (29) (30¼) in. Length to shoulder 35 (39) (43) (47) cm/13¾ (15¼) (17) (18½) in. Sleeve seam 24 (26) (29) (32) cm/9½ (10¼) (11½) (12½) in. MATERIALS King Cole Merino Blend DK (100% wool), 50g (104m); 4 (4) (5) (5) balls of Red (Scarlet 009), 1 (2) (2) (2) ball(s) of White (001) and 1 ball of Charcoal (Graphite 702)*. Oddments of Blue and Yellow double knitting yarn of similar fibre content. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 22 stitches and 28 rows, to 10 x 10cm, over stocking stitch, using 4mm needles. ABBREVIATIONS  K, knit; p, purl; st(s), stitch(es); skpo, slip 1 st, k 1 st, pass slipped st over knitted st…

YOU WILL NEED 1 Roll out the air-drying clay to a 5mm thickness and cut out as many coasters as you want with a cookie cutter. Allow to dry completely for 24 hours. 2 In a well-ventilated area, spray-paint both sides of the coasters with white gloss paint, allowing to dry between each coat. 3 Fill an old plastic container halfway with water. Spray the surface with the white, light pink, dark pink, burgundy and gold paint so it forms a film. 4 Quickly dip one side of the coaster onto the paint mixture. Turn over and set aside, paint-side up to allow the marble paint effect to dry. 5 Repeat for each of the coasters, refreshing the paint and…

HERB GARDEN SPRITZER Infusing water with herbs and cucumber adds so much flavour to this non-alcoholic refresher. MAKES 8 1 Put a handful each of mint, basil and rosemary into a jug with 1tsp salt and 1tsp sugar. 2 Pour over 200ml (7fl oz) sparkling water and add half a cucumber sliced into ribbons. Leave to infuse for at least 2 hrs. 3 Top with sparkling water to serve. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary. TIP Use a peeler to make easy cucumber ribbons. NEGRONI SPUMANTE If you are a fan of the negroni you will love this classy iteration with the addition of sparkling wine. MAKES 1 1 Fill a wine glass with ice, then pour over 25ml (0.8fl oz) each of dry gin, Campari and Martini Rosso, and…