Oranges

I'll be honest, I'm not really feeling it today. I have a horrible head cold, my throat hurts, my joints ache. I can function just so long as I take cold and flu tablets - when they wear off, I know about it. I had a self-imposed and unusual (but very necessary) quiet day today. My parents are staying till Sunday. This morning, while they were out shopping and Bella was at school and Angus at nursery, I sat down on the sofa in the daytime and watched Downton Abbey and worked on my sister's scarf. Then, this afternoon, I sat down and caught up on three days of blog reading while my Mum (bless her!) did a huge pile of ironing for me. When she offered, instead of putting up the token fight like I always do I just said "Yes please." 

It's better to feel rubbish now than on Christmas day. 

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Anyway, oranges. They do seem to crop up a lot at this time of year. Last week John made the most amazing flour-less orange cake from the Polpo Cookbook. The sort of cake that makes you sit up and pay attention. It contains no butter either, just two whole oranges and lots of ground almonds, among other things. The lack of butter made me feel better about eating it with marscapone.

A while back, I dried some oranges. I cut them about 1cm thick and put them on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Put them your oven on the lowest setting you can. You want to dry them, not cook them. It may take anything up to 12 hours. If you have a warm, dry place like an airing cupboard or next to a range cooker, that would work just as well. They smell wonderful as they dry out. I fully intended to make a wreath or some tree decorations with them, but totally ran out of time. So I have used them to adorn Christmas presents. I like the simple effect with the brown paper and leftover wool. 

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I am desperate for some sunshine, I don't know about you. We've had the most dismal, grey weather the last few days. It doesn't ever seem to get properly light. Even at 1pm it is gloomy and all the lights are turned on. Thank goodness for fairy lights to add some sparkle and cheer to the house. And today is the shortest day of the year, so things can only get better.

I'll be back again before Christmas, hopefully germ free and full of good cheer, with a glass of either something mulled or something fizzy in my hand. Maybe both.