the ultimate christmas book

The Ultimate

Christmas Book by Jodie King

Contents Poem: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Recipe: Christmas Pudding

Carol: Silent Night

Top Tip: Making Christmas tags

Carol: Jingle Bells

A Christmas Story

Carol: Oh Come Al Ye Faithful Recipe: Christmas Cake

Top Tip: Christmas Light Storage

Recipe: Cranberry Sauce

Recipe: Bread Sauce

What to Watch, Read and Listen to This Christmas

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'Twas the Night BeforeChristmas

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Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snowGave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!


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"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roofThe prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.


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The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good-Night!"

by Clement Clarke Moore(public domain)

Christmas PuddingRecipe

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Ingredients for the pudding:• 50g blanched almonds• 2 large bramley cooking apples• 200g box candied peel (in large pieces)• 1 whole nutmeg• 1kg raisins• 140g plain flour• 100g soft fresh white breadcrumbs• 100g light muscovado sugar(crumbled if it looks lumpy)• 3 large eggs• 2 tbsp brandy or cognac• 250g packet butter(Taken straight from the fridgeIngredients for the brandy andginger butter:• 175g unsalted butter, softened• Grated zest of half an orange• 5 tbsp icing sugar• 4 tbsp brandy or cognac• 2 pieces of stem ginger,finely chopped

Method:• Get everything prepared. Chop the almonds coarsely.Peel, core and chop the apples. Sharpen your knife andchop the candied peel. (You can chop the almonds andapples in a food processor, but the peel must be doneby hand.) Grate three quarters of the nutmeg (sounds alot but it's correct). Mix all the ingredients for thepudding, except the butter, in a large bowl.

• Holding the butter in its wrapper, grate a quarter of itinto the bowl, then stir everything together. Repeatuntil all the butter is grated, then stir for 3-4 minutes -the mixture is ready when it subsides slightly after eachstir. Ask the family to stir too, and get everyone tomake a wish.

• Generously butter two 1.2 litre/ 2 pint bowls and put adisc of greaseproof paper in the bottom of each. Packin the pudding mixture. Cover with a double layer ofgreaseproof paper or baking parchment, pleating it toallow for expansion, then tie with string (keep thepaper in place with a rubber band while tying). Trim offany excess paper.

• Now stand each bowl on a large sheet of foil and bring the edges up over the top, then put anothersheet of foil over the top and bring it down underneath to make a double package (this makes thepuddings watertight). Tie with more string, and make a handle for easy lifting in and out of the pan.Watch our video to see how to tie up a pudding correctly.

• Boil or oven steam the puddings for 8 hours, topping up with water as necessary. Remove from thepans and leave to cool overnight. When cold, discard the messy wrappings and re-wrap in spankingnew greaseproof or baking parchment, foil and string. Store in a cool, dry place until Christmas.

• To make the brandy butter, cream the butter with the orange zest and sugar. Gradually beat in thebrandy or cognac and chopped ginger. Put in a small bowl, fork the top attractively and put in thefridge to set. The butter will keep for a week in the fridge, or it can be frozen for up to 6 weeks.

• On Christmas Day, boil or oven steam for 1 hour. Unwrap and turn out. To flame, warm 3-4 tbspbrandy in a small pan, pour it over the pudding and set light to it.

Silent Nightby Joseph Mohr

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Silent night, holy nightAll is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and ChildHoly Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peaceSleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from heaven afarHeavenly hosts sing Alleluia!

Christ, the Saviour is bornChrist, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy nightSon of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy faceWith the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birthJesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Top TipMake Your Own Christmas Tags

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A very simple but effective tip for when you have run out of tags orjust cant afford the expense of buying matching tags for all thewrapping paper you use.

STEP 1 - Just take a sheet of paper or card and cut out a star, circle orif you are creative a reindeer/Santa shape.

STEP 2 - Take that template and drraw around it onto the wrappingpaper you are using to wrap that series of presents. Draw it out asmany times as you need to create the right amount of tags and thendraw around it on the paper/card to create the right amount ofcorresponding bases.

STEP 3 - Cut out all the shapes and attach each wrapping paper cutout to a paper/card version.

STEP 4 - Use double sided take, prit stick, cellotape or glue to holdthe two sides together.

Step 5 - Fold one end over which will be taped to the present andthen write your message on the clear side - hey presto tag created.

Jingle Bellsby James Pierpoint

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Dashing through the snowIn a one horse open sleigh

O'er the fields we goLaughing all the way

Bells on bob tails ringMaking spirits bright

What fun it is to laugh and singA sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bellsJingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to rideIn a one horse open sleigh

Jingle bells, jingle bellsJingle all the way


A day or two agoI thought I'd take a ride

And soon Miss Fanny BrightWas seated by my side

The horse was lean and lankMisfortune seemed his lotWe got into a drifted bank

And then we got upsot

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bellsJingle all the way



Oh, what fun it is to rideIn a one horse open sleigh yeah





A Christmas Story

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Our story starts a few weeks before Christmas as brightly lit trees fillbay windows, flickering lights adorn houses and gardens, andchildren around the world are starting to flip between hyper andovertired moods. Holly was 10 years old at the time so the holidayseason was consuming her every thought and feeling.

That building anticipation to the night Father Christmas would visitand leave the presents she was hoping for was almost too much!Holly had wide gorgeous blue eyes that were sparkling withexcitement. She had two tartan dresses, worn with long whitesleeved tops under, thick cream tights and shiny black shoes withsparkling jewels on top. Of course, she had to wear other items out ofher wardrobe but that was the outfit that made her feel like a trendyprincess and so if was never out of the wash for long.

A Christmas Story

Holly attended a large primary school in the middle of Lincoln citythat took her twenty minutes each morning to walk to. She walkedthe distance alone because her mum worked nights and got in fromwork just after Holly’s school day began. She was loved andsupported as best her mum could manage but Holly knew she didn’thave the same upbringing as her class mates. She wasn’t concernedwith phones, IPads and passing fads – she didn’t really notice them.

The TV in her home was rarely on. Her mum brought her books homefrom work, which was a large warehouse distribution centre for high-street bookstores, so she had a constant feed of imaginative materialto dive into. Holly excelled at school and actually enjoyed the walk toher school along the High Street in Lincoln’s city centre.

She would stroll over cobbles and past Lincoln Cathedral whichalways made her stop and look up in wonder. It was so big and so old– how it had been built so long ago bemused her and depending onthe weather it could look haunting, powerful, beautiful orinspirational. She was often entranced by its presence and amazedthat others could march past it without a second thought.

A Christmas Story

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One sunny morning Holly set off for school full of the excitement thatthe month of December brought with it. She had her favourite tartanoutfit on with a big brown fur lined coat and cream mittens. It was acrisp winter morning where the sun shines bright and the winds holdan icy edge. She took her time, looking in windows for sparklingdecorations, thick reams of tinsel and an assortment of traditional,funky and somewhat crazy displays of Christmas joy.

The journey to school was always a pleasant one for Holly, alone withthe world and her thoughts. The time she spent within the schoolwalls was unfortunately a different story. At the point she turned tenHolly had started getting bullied. Her refusal to disbelieve in SantaClaus had quickly led to teasing and on this particular day Holly’steacher had decided to confront the young girl and find out what wasat the root of the bullying.

‘Holly, why are you sat on your own again, do you not like yourclassmates anymore?’ Mrs. Heart asked simply.

‘I don’t think they like me very much miss,’ Holly replied.‘Why would you think that?’

‘Well they call me names and pick on me because I said I can’t waituntil Santa Claus comes…I was going to wait up to try and see himthis year,’ she said distantly as her thoughts turned to thatcomfortable idea.

A Christmas Story

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The teacher laughed, ‘Santa isn’t real Holly, and it is your parentsthat put your Christmas presents under the tree.’

Holly stood looking at her teacher. She seemed genuine and yet justdays ago her mother had said that if she believed something to betrue enough then of course it was. Holly believed in Santa Claus withall her heart – he came every year she was certain of it.

Mrs. Heart looked into Holly’s confused face and felt conflicted. Thegirl was incredibly intelligent and so compassionate to those aroundher. Her English stories would transport you into a perfect world fullof love and joy and yet here she was stealing what remained of hers.She knew Holly had a tricky home life. The school had decided not toinvestigate it because Holly was always respectably dressed,contributed in classes and just an all-round exceptional student.

‘Oh Holly, we all want Santa Claus to be true. He is celebrated allaround the world so he is more real than disbelievers would like toadmit. He has an address in the North Pole, he has a millionlookalikes, places are named after him, and how many people putmince pies out for him on Christmas Eve. I don’t want you to bedisappointed Holly but at the same time I think it is probably timeyou come to terms with the fact that he is a fictional character, but amuch loved one at that.’

A Christmas Story

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‘Thank you,’ Holly muttered and then stood up from her chair and leftthe room.

She wrestled with everything that her mum had told her since shewas tiny.

‘Hey Holly, I wonder if Santa has made your present yet’, one of thekids shouted.

Holly just looked at him unamused, an insult was sure to follow.

‘He could always buy it from Amazon!’ The boy shouted and hismates were happy to laugh at the little girl looking lost in the centreof the playground.

Holly endured the rest of the day and then began the walk home. Sheignored the decorations, passed the cathedral without a glance andtook herself up to her room when she entered her home.

Finding out that Santa Claus was not real wasn’t something she wasprepared to accept. The books she read were an extension of herworld. She didn’t escape from reality she allowed the fiction into it.December was a world of reindeers, frantic elves, adventures to seeSanta, singing, smiling and decorating houses to show everyone theextent of your belief.

A Christmas Story

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‘I just believe’ Holly said aloud as though she needed to hear thewords herself.

Holly braved the bullies and held her head high the next day. Sheexplained to Mrs. Heart that since it didn’t matter to anyone elsewhether she chose to believe in Santa Claus or not then she wouldcarry on believing until someone proved her wrong.

Mrs. Heart smiled to her and said ‘well they haven’t been able toprove or disprove other characters that have important roles in ourworld Holly, so I think your plan is a good one. I would sooner see youhappy and I think it is time I had a word with your classmates,’ shesaid with a sympathetic smile.

Holly went into break with a skip in her step and a grin on her face.When she finished school her mum was there to greet her as it washer night off. Holly was a chatter-box all the way home, explaining toher mum exactly why Santa Claus was real. Her mum listenedpatiently with a small smile enjoying her child’s enthusiasm.

‘I wish I had your confidence Holly’ she said honestly, ‘you never letthe world doubt you do you?’

‘Why would I?’ Holly asked.

‘Why indeed?’ Her mum replied smiling.

A Christmas Story

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Her life was a constant struggle. She loved collecting Holly fromschool but work had to come first if they were to keep their houseand have food, clothes and heating - especially heating. Gone werethe days that she believed in anything other than a relentless workschedule.

She tucked Holly in bed that night and read her a story that the girlhad listened to a hundred times. It was a story about a reindeer thatimpressed Santa enough to join the sleigh pulling team. Holly lovedstories where character overcame adversity and though her motherwondered if she was setting her child up for a harsh reality check oneday, she couldn’t bare to break her heart until it was absolutelynecessary.

Once Holly was asleep she switched off her night light and tookherself downstairs to read one of her own books. The heating wouldswitch off any minute so she put on her chunky slippers and draggedher duvet down so she could snuggle in the chair. Before collapsing inthe chair – where she would inevitably fall asleep she collected thecash from her coat pocket that she had made at the car boot thatday, something she did every Wednesday.

A Christmas Story

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She went to place it in the coin jar in the cupboard in the corner. Asshe opened the door she found something odd. There was a snowglobe sat in front of her coin jar. She glanced around the roomquickly to make sure nobody was around and then turned herattentions back to the globe. A beautiful red and green ornamentalbase supported a clear clad dome containing a miniature Santa Clausand snow. On picking it up she revealed a note sat under its base. Thenote said:

“This year I will be taking care of Holly’s presents personally. I hope youdon’t mind my interference. She has so passionately defended myexistence that this is the least I can do in return.

Father Christmas”

Holly’s mum looked at the note in disbelief.

A Christmas Story

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‘And of course I would also like to bring a little something for youtoo…since you are the reason she believes in me so strongly’ SantaClaus explained in person as he stepped through the archwayseparating the living room from the kitchen.

‘Please don’t panic – I am real – watch…’ he said and clapped hishands. As he clapped his hands the snow in the globe sprung up andthen fell gracefully to the base. He clapped his hands a second timeand the snow sprang out of the globe and filled the room.

‘Oh God,’ Holly’s mum proclaimed.

‘Not quite, but similarly clandestine some would say’ Santa said witha chuckle.

Holly’s mum sat down in her chair in pure disbelief.

‘I visit one person a year’ Santa said in earnest ‘so I want you toremember this and when Christmas Day comes you will not have toraise a finger. Just remember, life is full of hope and dreams, and ifyou will them to come true, some of them will, for you and for Holly.

Don’t let reality distract you from the impossible – that is where allthe fun stuff happens’ he said and then faded from view.

The End.

O Come All Ye Faithfulby John Wade

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O Come All Ye FaithfulJoyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels;O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,


Christ the Lord.

O Sing, choirs of angels,Sing in exultation,

Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.Give to our Father glory in the Highest;




Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,Born this happy morning,

O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;




Christ the Lord.

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Christmas CakeRecipe

Ingredients for Christmas Cake:• 1kg mixed dried fruits (use a mix ofraisins, sultanas, currants, cherries, cranberries, prunes or figs)• Zest and juice 1 orange• Zest and juice 1 lemon• 150ml brandy, sherry, whisky or rum,

plus extra for feeding• 250g pack butter, softened• 200g light soft brown sugar• 175g plain flour• 100g ground almonds• ½ tsp baking powder• 2 tsp mixed spice• 1 tsp mixed spice• 1 tsp ground cinnamon• ¼ tsp ground cloves• 100g flaked almonds• 4 large eggs• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:1. Put the dried fruit, zests and juice, alcohol, butter andsugar in a large pan set over a medium heat. Bring to the boil,then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins. Tip the fruitmixture into a large bowl and leave to cool for 30 mins.

2. Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Line a deep 20cm caketin with a double layer of baking parchment, then wrap adouble layer of newspaper around the outside – tie withstring to secure.

3. Add the remaining ingredients to the fruit mixture and stirwell, making sure there are no pockets of flour. Tip into yourprepared tin, level the top with a spatula and bake in thecentre of the oven for 2 hrs.

4. Remove the cake from the oven, poke holes in it with askewer and spoon over 2 tbsp of your chosen alcohol. Leavethe cake to cool completely in the tin.

5. To store, peel off the baking parchment, then wrap well incling film. Feed the cake with 1-2 tbsp alcohol everyfortnight, until you ice it. Don’t feed the cake for the finalweek to give the surface a chance to dry before icing.

Why not try these great cake recipes as well

Stollen: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/stollen_27553

Christmas Cake Pops: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/christmas_cake_pops_03112

Chocolate Fruit Cake: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chocolatefruitcake_84675

Gluten Free Christmas Cake: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/search?dishes[]=christmas_cake

Top TipChristmas Light Storage

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When you store your Christmas lights you will be in a rush to tidyaway all the Christmas Clutter and restore some semblance of orderto your house.

DON'T RUSH IT

Otherwise next year you will have to spend an hour (or longer)untangling Christmas lights and dampening your Christmas spiritbefore it has even got going.

STEP 1 - Take them off the tree and then lay them on the floor in anice neat line (no kinks, no dogs as they have been shut into anotherroom, and no missing this step)

STEP 2 - Find a used Christmas wrapper inner cardboard tube andthen carefully wrap your Christmas lights around it. Use a little tapeto secure the end and then wrap them in a bag and place them in acardboard box.

STEP 3 - Make a cuppa and smile at your achievement.

Cranberry Sauce Recipe

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Ingredients for cranberry sauce:- 100g light muscovado sugar- 100ml orange juice(fresh or from a carton)- 250g pack of fresh orfrozen cranberries

Method:1. Top the sugar and orange juice into a pan, then bringto the boil.

2. Stir in the cranberries, then simmer until tender butstill holding their shape, this will take about 5 minutesif using frozen cranberries or 8-10 minutes if usingfresh.

3. The sauce will thicken as it cools, keep it in the fridgefor 1 week.

4. On the day, bring to room temperature beforeserving.

Bread SauceRecipe

Ingredients for Bread Sauce:• 600ml milk• 50g butter• 1 chopped onion• 6 cloves• 6 peppercorns• 2 garlic cloves• 1 bay leaf• 3 thyme sprigs• 100g white breadcrumbs• 4 tbsp single cream or mascarpone• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Method:1. For 20 minutes simmer the milk, butter, onion, cloves,peppercorns, garlic and herbs in a pan for 20 minutes.

2. Strain and return the liquid to the pan.

3. Add the breadcrumbs and leave to simmer for 3-4minutes.

4. Stir in the cream or mascarpone.

5. Add the nutmeg and season.

6. Serve!Tip: The sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance andthen heated on the hob or microwave on medium for 3minutes.

What to Watch, Read &Listen to This Christmas

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There are some classics that you simply cannot overlook when itcomes to Christmas viewing, reading and listening. So here are our

top five for each category to keep you entertained! Everyone hastheir favourites - it is what makes the season unique and personal to

everyone! Whatever you enjoy - have a great Christmas!

Top Christmas Books- A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

- How the Grinch stole Christmas! Dr Seuss- The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg

- The Snowman, Raymond Briggs- Letters From Father Christmas, JRR Tolkien

Top Christmas Films- Elf

- Miracle on 34th StreetNational Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

- Home Alone- A Charlie Brown Christmas

Top Christmas Songs- All I want for Christmas is you, Mariah Carey

- Santa Claus is coming to town, John F Coots & Haven Gillespie- Last Christmas, Wham!

- Merry Christmas Everyone, Shakin' Stevens- Winter Wonderland, Felix Bernard & Richard B.Smith

the ultimate christmas book

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