Last year we found a bit of Christmas comfort in being at home a little more than usual. Here at South Wales Life we also discovered things we could all do which would be fun, frugal and involve the whole family. So here is another chance to look through those ideas we published last year.

What is on this page are a few things you can do, bake, listen to, download and enjoy, all from the comfort of your own home.

First of all let’s give you a few freebies you can download and us. There are a whole load of things for the kids in the Santa Letters file and a nice Festive Quiz you can all do after Christmas dinner.

Just click on the links to download to your device and use, print or edit as you feel.

THINGS TO DO ON CHRISTMAS EVE

  • Spend Time With Loved Ones
  • Sing Christmas Carols
  • Go For a Walk To Look at Christmas Lights
  • Close The Curtains and Turn On The Christmas Lights
  • Take Pictures and Post Them
  • Open ONE Pressie
  • Make a Special Meal
  • Dress Up Like It’s a Special Evening (which it is)
  • Get Snuggled Up On The Sofa
  • Watch A Festive Movie
  • Follow Santa – There are Apps Which Let You Track His Progress
  • TV Off, Christmas Music On
  • Leave a Mince Pie For Santa & Carrot For Rudolph
  • Drop In On The Neighbours
  • Bake. Whatever You Make, It’s A Great Time to Get in the Kitchen With the Kids
  • Make A Hot Chocolate With All The Extras. It’s Christmas After All.
  • Build A Snowman (If We Have Any Snow That Is)
  • Prepare What You Can For Christmas Dinner
  • Go To Bed Early

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS DAY

Be aware that restrictions may mean you can’t do some of these. We’ve left the list as it is with the hope some are still allowed.

Go For a Dip In The Sea

On Christmas Day, all across South Wales and indeed up and down the country, people are putting on their Santa hats, maybe fancy dress, or unbelievably, a swimming costume (unlikely to happen this year). They then race into the freezing sea for fun and charity. Like the lovely folk in Tenby. FESTIVE SWIMS

Get Out On Your Bike

If you get a bike off Santa, or maybe you have one collecting dust in the shed, Christmas Day (weather permitting) is the perfect time to take your two-wheeler out on the streets.

Go To A Christmas Service or Concert

If you’ve had enough of the TV and kitchen, then one of the many services and Christmas concerts are a really good thing to do. It’s sociable and incredibly festive. And really no one minds if you can’t sing, just join in.

Help Others

There are so many charities in need volunteers all year round, but especially at Christmas. If you have a few hours free and want to do something different and very good, why not offer to lend a hand. It could even be socially distanced dropping in to a neighbour who is alone on the day.

Tour South Wales

I know what you’re thinking, how ridiculous. Actually, there is no better day to tour this amazing region of ours. Very few cars, relatively empty streets, what’s not to enjoy? Our parks, beaches and countryside are all yours (almost). FOLLOW THE GAVIN AND STACEY TRAIL

Borrow a Dog

If you don’t have your own, trust us, a friend will gladly lend you theirs. While they veg-out, you can lead-up their pet and get out for a long walk in the fresh air. The dog will love you for it and you’ll probably love yourself enough to have another mince pie.

Pamper Yourself

This is precisely what it says on the tin. If you don’t want to leave the house why not flip things on their head and instead of pigging out in front of the TV, pamper yourself. Nice bath, music, candles, the whole works. All day Christmas PJ’s are so last year.

MAKE A SNOW GLOBE

The shimmering magic of snowfall is always transfixing, whether it’s outside your window or inside this classic toy. Homemade globes let you create a wintry scene straight out of your own imagination. Thanks to Martha Stewart, here’s a simple way that you and the kids can make your own globes. They are really easy too.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONGS

CHRISTMAS TOP TEN

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a good old festive tune. Noddy Holder has made a pension out of it for goodness sake. We walk into a shop and the same old favourites will be ringing out, but no matter what you think, I can guarantee you’ll be singing along to every one of them.

Mariah Carey continues to keep the Number One slot. Unbelievably though, her festive song never made it to the actual top slot in the charts on release. It played second fiddle to East 17 – Stay Another Day.

Strangely enough, in a list of the WORST Christmas songs, both Mariah Carey and Band Aid make it into the Top Ten there too. Number One by the way is the truly awful Proper Crimbo – Bo Selecta.

Here at SOUTH WALES LIFE we’ve been around the music game for a lot of years, and I mean a lot. While we would never disagree with the list, we think there are a few Top Ten omissions…….

CHRISTMAS RECIPES

FUDGE

We all love a bit of fudge, especially at Christmas. This recipe makes really soft, melt-in-the- mouth British-style fudge. A batch of super-creamy fudge makes a brilliant present for family and friends at birthdays and Christmas.

Sophie Whitbread has a really simple recipe which uses the iced water hack meaning you won’t need a sugar thermometer.

Ingredients

  • 397g tin condensed milk
  • 450g/1lb light brown soft sugar
  • 120g/4½oz butter, cubed
  • 125ml/4fl oz milk
  • pinch salt

Method

  1. Line a 20cm/8inch square tin with baking paper. Place a glass of cold water in the freezer (or in the fridge with ice cubes).
  2. Place all of the ingredients, apart from the salt, into a large, dry saucepan over a low heat. Continuously stir until the butter has melted and the sugar has completely dissolved.
  3. Slowly bring the mixture to a rolling boil over a medium-high heat for 10 minutes. Stir continuously, especially around the edges, to stop the mixture catching on the bottom of the pan and burning. Be very careful as the mixture is very hot.
  4. Once the mixture has reduced and darkened, carefully dip a teaspoon into the mixture and drizzle it into your glass of iced water (remove the ice cubes if using.) It should become a soft, pliable ball you can squash with your fingers when dropped into the iced water. If it sticks to the glass or your fingers when you press it, continue to boil and test the mixture every 2–3 minutes, or until it passes the test.
  5. Add a pinch of salt then beat the mixture well. Leave to cool in the saucepan for 10 minutes. Beat the thickened mixture again, breaking the top that will have started to set until it starts to lose its shine. Leave for another 5 minutes and beat again. Pour into the lined tin and level with the back of a spoon.
  6. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or until completely firm and you can cut through it easily with a knife without it getting stuck. Remove the fudge from the tin, transfer to a chopping board and slice into 36 pieces (6×6) with a sharp knife.

INCREDIBLY GOOD EGG NOG

  • 34 fl ozs milk
  • 5 whole cloves
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 12 egg yolks
  • 320g sugar
  • 21 fl ozs cups light rum
  • 33 fl ozs cups light cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

What To Do

Instructions Checklist

  • Step 1 Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan, and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes. Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil.
  • Step 2 In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes, or until thick. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour.
  • Step 3 Stir in rum, cream, 2 teaspoon vanilla, and nutmeg. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

DISNEY INSPIRED YULE LOG

We may not be able tot ravel as easily this year to places like Disneyland Paris, but what they have done, is brought us the most fantastic Yule Log – Minnie inspired of course.

Ingredients:

  • Chocolate ganache (ideally prepared the day before):
  • Chocolate 64% – 300g / Single cream 35% Fat – 900g.
  • Chocolate sponge:
  • Flour – 150g
  • Sugar – 150g
  • Whole eggs – 5
  • Cocoa powder – 19g
  • Genoise syrup: Sugar – 80g
  • Water – 100g
  • Vanilla pod – 1.

Recipe: Chocolate ganache (ideally prepared the day before):

  • Crush the chocolate into small pieces. Heat 300g of cream, and turn the heat off as soon as it starts to boil.
  • Add the chocolate and stir until the mixture is smooth. Gradually add the remaining 600g of cold single cream while stirring. Stir for 1 minute and refrigerate for at least 5 hours.

Chocolate sponge:

  • Place a sheet of baking paper over a baking tray.
  • Preheat your oven to 180°C.
  • In a bain-marie, whisk the whole eggs with the sugar by hand.
  • The mixture should heat to an even temperature of 40°C. Then leave the bain-marie and whisk until completely cooled.
  • Using a fine sieve, sift the flour and cocoa over the mixture.
  • Gently stir with a spatula in a circular motion.
  • Pour the mixture onto the baking tray and spread into a 1cm-thick layer.
  • Bake at 180°C for 15 minutes.
  • Check if done. Remove from the oven and place a sheet of baking paper on top.
  • Gently turn over the sponge.
  • Leave to cool.

Genoise syrup:

  • Slice the vanilla pod in half.
  • Place the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil.
  • Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 1 hour.
  • Remove the vanilla pod and set aside.

Presentation:

  • Take the ganache and whisk it in the mixer for 3 to 5 minutes until it has the appearance of Chantilly cream.
  • Place in a piping bag with a yule log nozzle.
  • Cut the Genoise sponge lengthways: 2/3 for Minnie’s head, and 1/3 for Minnie’s ears.
  • Cover the Genoise with 0.5 cm whipped ganache, then roll the two yule logs over and completely cover each yule log with whipped ganache.
  • Cool for 5 hours.
  • Cut 1.5 cm slices on the larger yule log to make Minnie’s head, and 1.5 cm slices in the smaller yule log to make Minnie’s ears.
  • Assemble the 3 slices on a plate as shown in the video and decorate with your chocolate or marzipan decorations.

Take a look at our other Christmas related features below……

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