Work in Progress

The Christmas Cake you will be glad to know is now well under way, despite the sleepless nights I have had worrying over it!! Unfortunately I cant tell you what the design is, as that is now

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The chefs work extremely hard this time of year especially with our Holly & Mistletoe breaks running from November through December, they have to cook Christmas Dinner twice a week and the smell of the Turkey cooking is sublime. The aromas of the turkey, mince pies and puddings etc waft up into the office and make our mouths water on a daily basis but unfortunately we never get to sample them

 I popped down to the kitchen the other day and Simon one of our chefs was just bringing out a batch of delicious homemade shortbread. so I cheekily asked him for the recipe. With a lot of arm twisting he finally gave it to me so I thought you might like to try it and have a go of baking it yourself!

I made a batch over the weekend and they disappeared so fast I will now have to make some more.

Simon's Shortbread ( makes approx 16 biscuits)

            8 oz Butter

            4 oz Castor Ssugar

           12 oz Flour

• Preheat the oven to 325°F/170°C/Gas Mark 3.
• In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar. until light and fluffy and pale in colour. This can take at least 10 minutes. Alternatively use a food mixer.
• Sieve the flour into the bowl of butter and sugar. Mix quickly and thoroughly to bring all the ingredients together but do not over mix.
• Tip the mixture onto a lightly floured work surface and  knead lightly and quickly to form a loose dough. then either:
• Roll out the dough, prick the surface all over with a fork. Cut into desired shape or rounds using cookie cutters. Place the Scottish shortbread's on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 25 mins or until pale brown and crisp. Sprinkle the warm Scottish shortbread's with fine sugar and leave to cool on a wire cooling rack.
• Alternatively grease a Swiss roll tin 9" x 13"/23 x 33cm with butter. Press the dough into the tin and press with your fingers to level the surface, prick all over with a fork. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown. With the shortbread still in the tin, cut into squares or fingers, leave to cool for 15 minutes then carefully remove to a wire cooling rack.
• Store in an airtight tin or box.

Starting to panic!!

It is that time of year when the panic starts to rise and becomes ever more real,

What is it I am panicking about you may be asking!!

THE CHRISTMAS CAKE DESIGN!!

For those of you who are regular guests during the festive period, will know that over the last few years the making of the St Kilda Christmas Cake has been left to me ( I make novelty birthday cakes as a hobby).

I feel very privileged to have this honor, and I actually love doing it, but by this time of year I have made up my mind as to what design the cake will carry. This is where my problem lies do I go down the novelty route as I did last year or the more traditional one that I did the years previously?

The fruit cakes are made, I have done that much and they have been fed with the obligatory booze each week, so are smelling delicious, but design !!!

The pressure is on, cakes need to be marzipaned this week so will need to be cut to size depending on yes you guessed it the design!

My son is a chef in the Army and he was on the phone last night telling me that his cake is well under way,  but then his cake has to be judged by the CO, at least I don't have that pressure thank goodness,

 just all of you!!

I think its time to do some snooping and see what ideas I can come up with this week

Wales Rally GB 10-13 Nov 2011

The town of Llandudno was alive with rally enthusiasts over the last few days as people turned out to watch the Wales Rally GB hold its stages around the Great Orme. The last time the rally was in Llandudno was 1981 and I can remember it well watching with great excitement as the cars went flying past me. Unfortunately I did not manage to get out to see them this time due to work commitments!! but I had all the excitement fed back to me from my youngest son who had come home especially to watch it. " Truly Awesome" I think he said. Conwy County Borough Council are to be congratulated, they worked hard to get the rally back into Llandudno and to close all the roads to keep drivers and spectators safe. For more information on the rally please go to their website. www.walesrallygb.com

We'll Meet Again Breaks

Our popular We'll Meet Again Breaks have now come to an end until February next year, once again they were a roaring success with our guests who enjoyed the Ration Books that gave them all complimentary extras!! 1940 it may have been but there was no rationing here!!

The fancy dress competition was another great hit and keeps getting more and more competitive each time we hold it!!

If anyone has any photos of the fancy dress costumes and would like to share them with us please email them to me and I will post them on the blog.

Today sees the first day of our Holly & Mistletoe breaks and we are all busy putting up the trimmings, decking the halls with holly and the Christmas trees are being festooned with baubles and twinkling lights, ready for our guests joining us this week.

 The mince pies are cooking in the kitchen and the smell that is wafting up into the office is tantalising my nostrils!! I do so love Christmas and I am so glad that I get an extended one working at the St Kilda.

Each year we see the return of familiar faces who are meeting up with family and friends, to enjoy the festive atmosphere and of course we love to welcome all our new guests who have yet to enjoy the spirit of St Kilda.

If you are coming to stay don't forget to bring your cameras and then send me some

 fab photos for the blog please.

If you haven't booked yet, it is not to late we even have some special offers on that might interest you,

so give us a call so we can let Santa know you are coming stay!!

Congratulations

We have a couple of Congratulations we would like to share with you, as we have some family members that deserve a mention for recently wining awards.

Mr Ken Jones' cousin Alan Jones who runs a family business based in Wrexham.

You may of heard about their business, it is a well known bakery called "The Village Bakery", they had been nominated in several categories in the True Taste of Wales Competition.

Mr Alan Jones along with his son Robin and a party of employees came to stay at the St Kilda Hotel so they could attend the True Taste of Wales Award Ceremony that was held in Llandudno in October.

We are pleased to announce they won  the coveted Gold Award for the "Welsh Export Achievement"and we would like to congratulate them on this prestigious award.

.

 If you would like to know more about the Village Bakery please click the link on the right hand side to get all the information of this family run business.

The next mention goes to Mrs Jones' nephew/ godson who has set  up business

selling fresh fashion, home ware and gifts  in Biggar.

Anthony and Clare won "Best Newcomer for the North and Scotland" in the Greats Independent Gift Retailer Awards 2011.

The awards recognise the top independent and multiple retailers in the country and the competition is very stiff,  winning this award at such an early stage in the life of their business has given them a huge confidence boost and we would like to

congratulate them both.

To visit their shop Plaisir, please click the link on the right hand side.

Dates for your Diary

After letting you know about the Gwledd Conwy Feast  22- 23 October (see previous post) I came accross some more information and dates that might be of interest to our guests especially if you are planning a short break at the St kilda during the next few weeks.

 

 

28 & 29 October, Special Events, Bodnant Garden

Fungus Foray is Bodnant Garden’s special interest walk (2 Hours) on 28 October where you’ll learn all about the many varieties of fungus and mushrooms from specialist Nigel Brown. On 29 October, Bodnant is holding a “Final Burst of Autumnal Colours” which includes a garden tour/lecture followed by a two-course lunch. Booking Required as places limited. Contact Bodnant Garden on 01492 650460 or visit www.bodnant-garden.co.uk for details on all its planned events.

 

1-4 November, Welsh National Opera, Venue Cymru

Welsh National Opera’s Autumn run features productions of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, The Barber of Seville and Katya Kabanova – definitely not to be missed. 

 Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk for more details or phone 01492 872000.

 

This one I simply have to mention as the other half is competing as part of the Colwyn Male Voice Choir (bit of a plug there) and it just wouldn't be worth my while to leave it out!!

 So if you like choirs this is the one for you.

 

5 & 6 November, STENALINE NORTH WALES CHORAL FESTIVAL 2011

Expanding at a rapid rate of knots, the 2011 North Wales Choral Festival will see choirs competing from across the UK and Ireland.
Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk for more details or phone 01492 872000

14-19 November, Scrooge the Musical, Venue Cymru

The ideal winter treat, SCROOGE is a heart warming family story with stunning sets and costumes, specially created illusions by magician Paul Kieve (acclaimed for the magic effects in the Harry Potter films) and a fantastic musical score which features the Oscar nominated hit Thank You Very Much. Don’t miss Ebenezer, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future and a whole host of Dickensian characters in the award winning, international smash hit musical SCROOGE!

Visit www.venuecymru.co.uk for more details or phone 01492 872000.

 

17- 20 November, Llandudno Celtic Winter Fayre, Llandudno

A large Christmas market with over 100 food & craft stalls including continental foods & cooking demonstrations using local produce every day. Phone 01492 574504 for more details.

 

If you would like to check availability for a short break for any of the above dates just call or email us and we will be happy to help.

The Feast is Back!!

The third largest Food Festival in Wales is back, Gwledd Conwy Feast a two day event held on the 22nd & 23rd of October within the town walls of Conwy and the Quayside.

It is not to be missed!! I have attended every year since it began in 2003 and it is for all you foodies out there. Start your Christmas shopping early or just take it all in and enjoy the ambience, with over 150 stalls there is sure to be something for everyone. The top welsh chefs hold demonstrations, there is music, entertainment and workshops to whet your appetite here is a flavour of what you will find.

The Welsh Celebrity Chefs from The Great Brittish Menu- Bryn Williams, Aled Williams and Hywel Jones will be cooking up a storm in the True Taste of Wales kitchen.

A Champagne and Oyster tent and a 30 mile Cafe where Toby Watson will be creating a delicious three course menu of the best food produced within a 30 mile radius of Conwy.

The popular Beer Tent and Quay Music Stage hostd by a group of local brewers will be open all weekend with bands performing on what promises to be another lively show.

In the food halls, the True Taste of Wales Winners, Castle Food, River Food and the local producers tent, you can shop to your hearts content for the best local and regional produce, as well as foods from around the world make sure you bring lots of shopping bags!

Why not make it a date and I will see you there!!