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  My granddaughter doesn’t like cake so asked if I could make her an ice cream cake for her birthday. It was made entirely out of ice cream and she absolutely loved it, so much so that she has now asked for an ice cream Christmas cake, so that is my next challenge! I’m sure it will become a new Christmas tradition. Author:  Jo Nicholson  

  Author:  Jo Nicholson

  Here is another variation of a Christmas ham.  My late brother made this for his daughter's 18th birthday party many years ago.  He got it out of the oven, and as he was carving it people were taking slices.  Absolutely delicious.  We normally have ours on boxing day, with home made chunky chips, crusty bread, salad, coleslaw, salad and pickles. CHERRY COKE HAM   BASED ON A 5LB GAMMON HAM.   EMERSE THE HAM IN WATER IN A LARGE POT FOR 12 HOURS MINIMUM TO DRAW OUT THE SALT. REMOVE THE HAM FROM THE WATER, DRAIN THE WATER AWAY, RINSE THE POT AND PUT THE HAM BACK IN THE EMPTY POT. COMPLETELY COVER THE HAM IN CHERRY COKE. ADD A LARGE ONION AND 20 PEPPERCORNS. BRING THE POT TO THE BOIL, AND THEN SIMMER THE HAM FOR 2 ½ HOURS ON THE HOB. TAKE THE HAM OUT AND LET IT COOL DOWN. WITH A SHARP KNIFE REMOVE THE THIN TOP LAYER OF FAT THAT HAS BECOME DARK IN COLOUR AND RUBBERY FROM THE COOKING, BUT LEAVE ENOUGH FAT ON THE HAM FOR SCORING. SCORE IT ALL OVER. PUT THE H...

Jamie Oliver's Jerk Ham, Rubbed with Spices and Glazed with Rum-Spiked Marmalade Add a spiced twist to your baked Christmas ham with Jamie Oliver's recipe from his Christmas cookbook, featuring a flavour-packed jerk seasoning and a marmalade glaze. I have been making this delicious ham every year since 2008 and I must add, it is unbeatable..... You need to order a gammon from a first-rate butcher. I have hosted Christmas Eve soirees and Boxing day lunches using this wonderful recipe. The ham remains succulent and so tender due to the exquisite Christmas spices, good quality dark rum and finally, the correct poaching/roasting time.  I guarantee that your family will love this recipe .In fact you will be hailed for it year after year! It's slightly fiery too due to the scotch bonnets (in the original recipe back in 2008) It is super with rosti, or sauteed potatoes/ baked potatoes, salads, coleslaws, beetroots...and of course, mustards Delicious with a fresh glass of white Bur...

    MONDAY TIP: LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR WORK WEEK   As you look forward to the work week ahead, what are you thinking?   Are you dreading the week that’s just begun, thinking about all the hard work, unpleasant encounters and unfinished business?   Or are you looking forward to doing great work and having fun with the people around you?   Everybody’s work week contains a little of both, and how you feel about the week ahead may mostly depend on which parts of the week you focus on.   So your Monday mission is to make a list of all the things you look forward to this week. It can be anything: An exciting meeting, a fun project, your favourite live lesson.....   Make a list of at least 5 things you look forward to regarding work this week and write them down on a piece of paper.   The very act of making the list may lift your mood and make the week more fun – even the less fun bits. Author:  Sam Gill

 Thank you to all who gave me their choice of favourite flower. I have created below a lovely wall of flowers from everyone's choice and have added a couple of extra photos at the bottom which I couldn't resist sharing with you.  The first one is the first flower of a hibiscus plant on Jo Took's parents' veranda in Emita Nueva which is near Granada in Spain.  The last picture is of a beautiful wisteria strategically grown in the front of a white town house in South Kensington, absolutely gorgeous.  Enjoy! Author:  Trace Mann

 Surrealism is my favourite genre of art.  I have pasted some really lovely works of art below for you to enjoy.  What I love about this kind of art is that each time you look at it you find something else you didn't see before. Author:   Trace Mann