Happy New Year….

Hi Vintage Lovers,

WoW!!!!!

Where has this year disappeared to?

I can't believe I am writing a post for New Year already.

I have really loved having a blog and with 53 blog posts for the year I have certainly found enough to talk and write about.

Although that has never been a problem for me!!

Have nooooo fear the Gilt Edged Vintage Blog will definitely continue in 2014, with lots more of what I love - Vintage, Vintage and more Vintage! Thanks to each and every one of you for popping in to see my going's on with my vintage antics as well as all your comments and emails, it certainly makes my day!
 

As for New Year's Resolutions, I don't tend to do them. Actually I have never have taken it all that seriously. 
There are a few things I try to do every year though - Be Happy & Do the Things that Make You Happy, Follow your Dreams & Passion, Go Some Place You Have Never Been Before, Be Kind, Smile and Laugh Often, Enjoy the Little Things, Spend Time With Your Loved Ones, Shine & Be Ridiculously Amazing On a Daily Basis.
Life is Far Toooooo Short!!!!!

 

You know all those things you have always wanted to do?

You should go do them.

 

Have an amazing year......
Mel xx

 

Gingerbread House Recipe

Here is the Gingerbread House recipe as promised.

I use this recipe when I make both my traditional Christmas gingerbread stars as well as the gingerbread men.

Gingerbread House

1/6 cup Margarine
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
3/4 cup Golden Syrup
1/3 cup Cold Water
3 cups Plain Flour
1/2 cup Self Raising Flour
1/2 tspn mixed spice
1/2 tspn ginger
1/2 tspn cloves
1/2 tspn cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 180C.
2.Mix through ingredients thoroughly.
3. Knead the mixture into a ball. Lightly flour a board and knead the mixture until it is smooth without any cracks.
4. Roll it out until it is about 1/2cm thick. Using biscuit cutters, cut the dough into shapes and place them on a foil covered tray.
 5. Bake for about 10 - 15 minutes or until golden brown.
6. When cool, ice and decorate.

Gingerbread House Icing Recipe

2 cups of icing sugar
1/2 tspn of lemon juice
1 egg white

1. Whisk the egg white and lemon juice together
2. Add the icing sugar and mix thoroughly until quite firm.

You will need two batches of the icing for the gingerbread house. One batch to put the house together (you need quite a lot on each piece as well as holding it for a few minutes until it sets) and the other to stick the lollies to the house. You can also use this icing to decorate the traditional stars or gingerbread men if you use a piping bag.

Enjoy.

Mel xx


 

Merry Christmas

Hi Vintage Lovers,

Santa is nearly here.....Our Santa sacks are ready and the Santa letters are written. There is milk, bickies and chocolates (along with carrots) on the kitchen table waiting. The jobs are all finished, presents all wrapped, and the kids are now tucked up in bed.

 

We are having Christmas lunch at home tomorrow, then we are making our way down to my brothers for dinner. I am soooooo looking forward to having our first Christmas at our gorgeous Old Lady. Homemade pizzas are on the menu. With berrymisu for dessert. YUM !!! Can't Wait !!!!!

 

Have your self a merry little Christmas.......
Mel xx

 

 

Christmas Baking.....

Hi Vintage Lovers,

 

Our Old Lady is smelling rather delicious right now.

I have been baking all afternoon, shortbread and gingerbread of course. Our Christmas just isn't right without the smell of shortbread and gingerbread wafting though the house. Christmas is literally in the air.

 

In addition to my traditional stars I have decided to try making gingerbread houses with the kids, to eat for morning tea on Christmas day.

Once we got the hang of the building process everyone had great fun...

... but the decorating was definitely the highlight!
 I don't think many of the lollies actually made it onto the house!

 

Here is the final result...

 

...proudly looked upon by the little bakers.

 

The only problem now is the tedious wait until the Christmas day tasting!

Mel xx

P.S. My shortbread recipe is already on the baking tab on my blog if you would like to try it. I will put the gingerbread house recipe on the blog for you soon. J
 

 

 

 

Christmas Decorations for Our Old Lady…

Hi Vintage Lovers,

Welcome to The Old Croft at Christmas Time!

 

 Over the last few weeks we have been busy decorating our old lady ready for Santa's arrival; nothing over the top (I try to keep it simple) but perfect for us.

 

 

Our Christmas Tree is in our front lounge room so that it can be seen from out on the street as people wander by.

I love seeing Christmas trees in windows. As kids we always had a competition to see who could count the most Christmas trees in windows.

 

 

 Our tree is living (I couldn't ever bring myself to have a fake one, it wouldn't seem right) and we have it decorated with all the kids ornaments that they have made at kindy and school. Which makes it so much more meaningful. The kids have even made paper chains (out of old Xmas cards) that we have instead of tinsel. The only bought item on our tree are the lights!

 

 The kids also made a paper chain (out of old cards again) for our advent calendar. Each of them wrote a special Christmas message on each one that we read out.........

 

 

 .......before we have a homemade chocolate.

Yum!

 

Our Santa Sacks have made their way to our kitchen fireplace.

The perfect spot for them, waiting for Santa to fill them.

 

 

 

I have also filled our Old Lady with candles.

Which looks so magical when they are all lit.

 

Santa has even made his way to our table and looks picture-perfect with tea lights surrounding him.

 

So, there's quick tour of our festive decorating for our Old Lady.

Simple yet Effective, but also Inexpensive.

Because Christmas comes from Heart, not from the Store.

I hope you enjoyed your tour.

Mel xx