A NEW SIMPLE PLEASURE....

Anyone who read my post on 'Beating the January Blues' may recall me mentioning that I was keen to take up a couple of new creative hobbies at the start of this year, and one of those was candle making?  Well, I'm pleased to say that I have tried it, I have REALLY enjoyed it, and I don't think that after my fourth batch, it is going to be one of those passing fads (unlike other whims in the past!?)

It is my new 'Simple Pleasure'...

We all love candles don't we?  A simple pleasure, and yet the power of even a few tea lights has the ability to transform a room from soulless to warm, inviting and calming.

Growing up in the 70's here in England, with a Scandinavian mother, I grew up with lit candles being a big part of every day.  Candles were always lit at the table, even at breakfast on a school day, and this must have subconsciously instilled in me that need for a calm and special start to the day, whatever it held.  It always surprised me to learn at the time that most other people only used candles on 'high days and holidays' or a special meal, or otherwise as a practicality in the frequent power cuts in the 70's!  This was quite a foreign concept in our 'Swenglish' family home.

Then of course, the candle love spread in this country and steadily grew over time, to be the huge business that it is today!

Qualities as we know vary enormously.  From the cheap, overpoweringly scented variety (not to be touched in my opinion!) through to the beautiful quality of candles such as Diptique, Cire Trudon and Jo Malone which are just a few of my favourites.  They may cost more than cheaper versions, but their burn time and quality of scent make it so worth it.

Putting these above lovelies on one side, I have been keen for some time to try to recreate some of their lovely quality in my own home made candles.  So, after quite a bit of research, a bit of 'candle supplies' shopping and finding myself with a nice clear Saturday morning, my new little project began.  

Firstly, my research taught me the difference between different wax qualities.  I decided on a natural soya wax as opposed to a cheaper petroleum based wax.  Soya does not emit carbon so therefore much healthier for us in our homes, as well as for the environment.  It came in flake form which was easy to handle and use.

Then I chose which fragrance to use.  Wanting to make a top quality product, I chose pure essential oils for my candles.  I made half of them using Grapefruit and the other with Peppermint, both uplifting fresh scents and especially nice in a kitchen or bathroom.  I have since experimented with a gorgeous mix of 'Lavender, Chamomile and Vanilla' which is especially lovely in a bedroom and also 'Lime, Basil and Mandarin' which seems to appeal to most people and is so fresh and invigorating.

The wax was then heated in a double boiler.  I used a large jug that I bought especially for this purpose and stood this to melt in a large pan of boiling water.  When completely melted, the wax was allowed to cool very slightly before adding my chosen essential oils.  It is hard to say how much one needs, and advice varies, but experimenting and using you nose helps!  A good few shakes for a volume this size did the trick, and made the kitchen smell amazing!

Wicks with attached metal discs are the easy option (as opposed to long lengths of wick on rolls which you assemble yourself) and these were attached to my chosen candle jars with little glue dots especially for this purpose.  They come in different lengths, so choose the right length for the size of container you are using.  Choosing the containers is the really fun part.  Virtually any heatproof container can be made in to a candle.  I bought a variety of sizes of glass container, my favourite being these goreous larger ones which take three wicks.

Making sure the wicks were securely stuck to the base of the candle jar, I gently poured the melted wax in.  Kebab sticks or something similar can be used, to keep the wicks upright while the wax is hardening.  You will be able to remove these after about an hour.  Then let the wax fully harden for 24 hours.

Lovely silver, gold and bronze lids are not necessary, but complete the look of the finished candle, and protect it from dust when not in use.

I am so enjoying giving these away as gifts....as well as enjoying burning a number of them around the house too.

Many of you will know this already, but it is very important to burn any candle long enough for the first time, for the entire surface to pool with wax.  This helps the candle to burn evenly and to avoid 'tunneling' around the wick.

The Soya wax burns beautifully, and without any sooty vapour that cheaper alternatives create.  

The pure essential oils also smell wonderful! 

In all, a very satisfying new creative hobbie which I shall certainly be continuing.  I am looking forward to experimenting with new containers and scents and look forward to sharing those with you in the future.

If you have been inspired to have a go at making your own candles, then there are many candle material suppliers out there.  I found these two to be very helpful for both their supplies and advice:

Supplies4candles (click for link)

Candle Shack (click for link)

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Wishing you a very happy end to the week,

Sophia xx

A PRE CHRISTMAS SMORGASBORD!

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Good morning!

I do hope you have all had a happy weekend?

Ours has been a very special weekend all round!

On Friday we attended the most romantic and beautiful of family weddings in London….a lovely celebration of marriage and quite a party, with a wonderful feast and much dancing!

Although a little weary the next day, it was a dash back home to Kent so we could prepare for a special evening with our children, along with our eldest son's girlfriend, daughter's boyfriend and youngest son's best friend and of course my Swedish mother, without whom no 'Smorgasbord' would be complete!

One of the highlights of Christmas each year, is to prepare our traditional Scandinavian feast….a little earlier this year, as usually this is on Christmas Eve, but a lovely opportunity to introduce our guests to this favourite family celebratory meal and of course, the optional schnapps but compulsory singing!

Ham, meatballs, herring and 'Jahnsen's temptation' potato gratin are the highlight of the Smorgasbord, along with red cabbage, beetroot, cheeses and other delicious treats….

With the table set and candles lit…

 I felt so happy to have all my family and their lovely friends around me...

And I can report….that with song sheets in hand, and my dear mother leading the charge, and of course, a glass of schnapps or two, they all embraced the singing with gusto!

***

Wishing you all a very happy week!

Sophia xx

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

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We start our 'Swenglish' celebrations here this evening, with all the family home……champagne and presents by the fire, followed by a full traditional Swedish 'Smorgasbord' for dinner.  One of my favourite nights of the year!

May I wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas…..or rather 'God Jul' as they say in Sweden!  Thank you so much to all my lovely readers throughout the world for reading 'Sophia Home' this past year…. I have so enjoyed your company.  I look forward to sharing more with you in 2014!

Sophia xx

'LUCIA'

Today, 13th December is St. Lucia's Day!

Celebrated in Scandinavia and Italy, this feast day is dedicated to Lucia of Syracuse (d.304).

Legend has it that on 13th December 1764, a gentleman in Sweden was woken in the middle of the night by a beautiful voice.  He saw a young woman in white, singing and dancing through the room.  She had wings and was carrying a candle.  It was Saint Lucia.

She brought light, food and wine for comfort on what was, in the Gregorian calendar, the longest night of the year.  

This fabled event is still celebrated today in Scandinavia.  Girls dress up in long white dresses, and boys as 'star boys' and walk carrying lit candles, singing the beautiful Lucia carol, with the eldest daughter or a particular girl picked out to be 'Lucia' with her wreath of candles on her head.  I myself have fond childhood memories of celebrating Lucia each year, when my sister and I would go round to my grandparent's house very early in the morning for Lucia, and sing for them at the foot of their bed, dressed in our long white dresses and red sashes with candles and home made gingerbread.

As well as gingerbread, another traditional Scandinavian treat at this time of year is 'Lucia Bread'.....delicious little saffron buns, often taking the form of old Nordic mythological symbols, such as buckthorn and cats.

Here is a simple recipe for Lucia Bread, taken from Trine Hahnemann's beautiful book 'Scandinavian Christmas'.  The recipe should make about 22 of these lovely little buns....perfect with morning coffee and not too sweet to have for breakfast.  

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'Lucia Bread'

40g fresh yeast (or 15g dried yeast)

500ml lukewarm whole milk

1/2tsp saffron

200g salted butter, melted

1kg plain flour, plus more to dust

1tsp salt

100g caster sugar

75g raisins, plus more to decorate

1 egg, beaten

Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a mixing bowl, then add the saffron and stir until the mixture turns yellow.  Add the melted butter.  In a separate mixing bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then stir in the sugar and raisins.

Pour the yeast mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until the dough comes cleanly from the edge of the bowl.  Knead the dough on a floured work surface for 10 minutes, until it is shiny but not sticky.  Return it to the bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise for 1.5 hours at room temperature.

Lightly knead the dough again on a floured work surface.  Divide it into about 22 equal pieces.  Roll them into sausages, then form them into different shapes, as in the picture above, curling up the ends.  Stud each with a few raisins.

Place the breads on baking trays lined with baking parchment, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise again for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/350 F/gas mark 4.  Brush the risen breads with the beaten egg and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown all over, then leave to cool on a wire rack.

Eat them as they are, or spread with chilled butter.

*****

Delicious!

To all my lovely family in Sweden, and to all my Scandinavian readers, I wish you a very happy Lucia celebration today!

Sophia xx

IT'S THE WEEKEND!

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Happy Saturday!
However much it is a treat to go away for a few days or longer, there is nothing nicer than coming home......whether it is renewed inspiration from travelling or the comfort of the familiar......it's always good to return to the sanctuary of home.

Like many of you, I just love the month of December, with the run up to the festivities.  Amongst the various carol concerts, trips to London and pre Christmas get togethers with family and friends, my favourite time is spent quietly getting the house ready for Christmas.  Usually our two large trees are up and decorated by the beginning of advent, but this year I am resisting a little longer, with maybe the first being done this week, and the second shall wait until next weekend as I have promised our daughter that we shall wait until she comes to stay for a couple of days so that she can still enjoy the tradition of the tree decorating.....so lovely that in her early twenties, that novelty hasn't disappeared!

I am however, enjoying bringing out various smaller decorations, fairy lights and extra candles and filling the house with my favourite paperwhite narcissi and white hyacinth bulbs....always so fresh in amongst the traditional sparkle.

I also love to plan a few new recipes for the coming weeks......this one caught my eye in the forthcoming January issue of 'House and Garden' magazine.  A delicious looking Jerusalem Artichoke soup, with Pancetta and Chestnuts.....perfect for this time of year, whether a relaxed kitchen supper or for over Christmas or the New Year celebrations!

'Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with Pencetta and Chestnuts'

Ingredients:

800g Jerusalem artichokes

Juice of 1/2 lemon

50g butter

1 medium onion, finely chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

800 ml chicken stock

Generous grating of nutmeg

250ml double cream, plus extra if needed

35g pancetta

8 cooked, peeled chestnuts (vacuum packed or in a jar), roughly chopped

Peel the artichokes and cut them into chunks, roughly 1cm square. As you cut them, immediately drop them in a bowl of water to which you have added the lemon juice, to stop them discolouring.

Melt 40g of the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over a medium heat and add the onion.  Add 2 tablespoons water, cover and sweat for 10 minutes, then add the drained artichokes, some seasoning and a splash more water.  Cover and sweat for 15 minutes more.  Check every so often to make sure the vegetables are not burning - you may need to add another splash of water.

Add the stock, nutmeg and cream and more seasoning if necessary.  Cook for another 10 minutes or so.  Leave to cool, then purée in batches in a blender - you want to end up with a completely smooth mixture.  If it's not smooth enough after blending, push it through a sieve, which will produce a better texture.

Just before serving, fry the pancetta in its own fat until golden all over.  Quickly melt the remaining 10g butter in a small frying pan and sauté the chestnuts until glossy.  Spoon a little of the pancetta and chestnuts over each serving.

Bon appétit!

*****

Happy Saturday!

Sophia xx

CANDLES AND FLOWERS.....

.....what more does a girl need?

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Candles and flowers......my all time simple pleasure and everyday luxury.

Flowers bring a room alive with their living freshness....and candles create a calm and welcoming atmosphere at any time of day.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I burn a lot of candles.....must be my Swedish blood!

Breakfast through to the evening, there are at least one or two gently flickering away throughout the day here at home......and many more lit, 

once night falls.

Candles and flowers..... even more special and enjoyable, when given as gifts by dear friends and daughters!

Thank you to our lovely friends Sarah and James who came to stay at the weekend, for the gorgeous pink Cyclamen display and to my wonderful daughter Georgie for the beautiful Lavender scented candle that arrived as a surprise in the post today!

Feeling very spoilt.....

Do you too love flowers and candles?

***

Happy Wednesday!

Sophia xx