Monthly Archives: November 2018

Christmas Gift Guide

While Christmas is about spending time with loved ones, sharing wonderful food and listening to great music, presents are also a great part of the fun.

It can be so exciting to unwrap a present to reveal that certain something you have had your eye on for months, but sometimes there’s nothing better than seeing the faces of family and friends as you treat them to something really special.

Whether it’s a gift for your nearest and dearest or a stocking fillerfor your office secret Santa, there are a wealth of great boutique stores in and around Chapelton that will bring festive inspiration, all whilst buying local.

Teacake Vouchers

What better gift to give than the gift of food? Popular Chapelton bistro Teacake offers vouchers that loved ones can redeem on treats like afternoon tea, lunch or seasonal meals from the ever changing dinner menu. Visit the website or pop into Teacake to get your gift vouchers.

Native Sister

Native Sister provides beautifully crafted, bespoke gift boxes filled with thoughtful, indulgent treats, guaranteed to put a smile on the face of whoever you are buying for. Choose from a selection of boxes that have various herbal teas, sweet treats, candles, socks and other goodies, to leave your loved ones feeling pampered and relaxed.

 The Lounge in Chapelton

For those who love to be pampered, gift vouchers for The Lounge in Chapelton are the perfect present. With a wide range of luxurious treatments on offer, choose from an ELEMIS facial, massage or face and body treatment. Manicures and hair appointments are also available. Vouchers can be purchased in store or treatments can be booked through the website.

Porters Gin

If the recipient of your gift is partial to a festive tipple, why not opt for a bottle of Porters Gin? Coming from an innovative micro-distillery in Aberdeen, Porters Gin distil botanicals at low temperatures to retain their fresh, natural flavour, creating a high quality gin that is refreshing and well balanced- perfect for craft gin connoisseurs.

My Beautiful Caravan

Local to Stonehaven, My Beautiful Caravan has a range of quirky gifts, cards and stationary along with some specially selected vintage items, perfect as stocking fillers. Their range of entertaining cards and mugs is sure to put a smile on the face of even the biggest scrooge!

Christmas Cookie Recipe

As we approach Christmas we all have our own routines that help us feel festive, be that curling up with our favourite Christmas films, listening to festive Christmas music or decorating our homes to inspire festive cheer.

Another great way to get yourself in the Christmas spirit is by baking some delicious Christmas goods. These tasty sugar cookies are so simple to make and can be used as ornaments to hang on your Christmas tree, wrapped in cellophane and given as a gift or simply enjoyed with a festive hot chocolate. Take a look at the recipe below.

You Will Need

 For the Biscuits

  • 100g of unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 100g of caster sugar
  • 1 free-range egg, beaten lightly
  • 1 tsp of vanilla extract
  • 275g of plain flour

Method

  1. Begin by preheating your oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5, then line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
  2. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar together until pale, light and fluffy.
  3. Gradually beat in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
  4. Sift in the flower slowly until the mixture comes together as a dough before rolling out on a flowered work surface to a thickness of 1.5cm.
  5. Using cookie cutters or a glass, cut shapes out of the dough and carefully place onto a baking tray.
  6. If you are planning to use the biscuits as Christmas tree decorations, this is where you would use a straw to cut a hole in the top of the biscuit. Remember that the dough will spread out when baking so ensure the hole is not too small.
  7. Next, bake the biscuits in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until they are a pale-golden brown. Take them out of the oven and leave them to firm up for 5 minutes before cooling them on a wire rack.

For the Decorations

  • 400g of icing sugar
  • 3-4 tbsp water
  • 2-3 drops of food colourings
  • Edible glitter (optional)

Method

  1. To make the icing, sift the icing sugar into a large mixing bowl and stir in enough water to create a smooth mixture. Stir in a few drops of your choice of food colouring until you are happy with the colour
  2. Carefully spread the icing onto the biscuits using a knife and sprinkle over the glitter or any other decorations you’d like to use. If using the biscuits for a Christmas decoration you could add bows, just remember to remove them before eating.
  3. Set aside until the icing hardens, then enjoy with friends, wrap as gifts or decorate your tree.

Disclaimer: Please note the recipe for these Christmas cookies was adapted from BBC Good Food’s recipe here.

Move into Your Dream Home in Chapelton this Christmas

Whether it’s hanging a traditional wreath on the front door, an indulgent dinner around the table with family and friends or cosy nights by the fire, everyone has their own version of a perfect Christmas at home.

In Chapelton, we have a selection of gorgeous homes available to move into ahead of the holidays, allowing you to turn your dream Christmas into reality.

With homes suitable for first time buyers, families and retirees, there’s something for everyone here in Chapelton. Take a look at some of the town’s best properties available to move into for Christmas.

A Cosy Christmas

Christmas is the perfect time to relax, unwind and get cosy and award-winning housebuilder Stephen’s two bedroom Ardwall offers the ideal setting.

A traditionally designed cottage priced at £230,000, this property offers an entrance hallway, two spacious bedrooms, plenty of storage, an open kitchen and dining room and a lounge where favourite seasonal films can be enjoyed with blankets, tree lights twinkling and lots of chocolate.

Entertaining Friends and Family

For many, the festive period is a time to celebrate with nearest and dearest. If you find yourself hosting this holiday, make the most of Aboyne-based housebuilder AJC’s spacious three bedroom detached home, The Fife, which is kitted out with everything needed to create a flawless Christmas meal that can be celebrated round the table.

The large dining kitchen features fully integrated appliances including a stainless steel oven, hob, extractor hood, dishwasher and fridge freezer, ready to cook up a festive storm.

Priced at £345,000, this home also offers buyers free flooring and part exchange, making it the ideal home for a hassle free move this Christmas.

A Bustling Household

If your typical Christmas is more Home Alone than The Holiday, then you’ll be looking for a house that can fit the whole family.

Stephen’s four bedroom Melfort, priced at £329,500, is the ideal space for hosting guests with its large bedrooms, open plan kitchen, dining area and sitting area, three bathrooms, landscaped garden and boot room where muddy shoes can be stored.

Looking Forward to 2019

While you may not be quite ready to move this Christmas, there’s nothing to stop you from thinking ahead to 2019.

The showhomes of Chapelton’s four housebuilders can be viewed by getting in touch with the sales teams to arrange an appointment. Visit the town during the festive period and enjoy a browse of the homes available for sale, a festive bite to eat in Teacake, or a walk in the crispy countryside along the Chapelton Trail.

Brio Retirement Living’s new show apartment is also set to be revealed to the public before the end of the year, so to see the apartment, or one of the show cottages, for yourself at the exclusive preview event on 6 December, speak to a member of the Brio sales team on 01224 042378.

Spicy Squash and Apple Soup from the Liberty Kitchen

There has certainly been a chill in the air in Chapelton recently as Jack Frost has arrived just as the clocks have gone back.

If you are looking for something a little more warming than just a sandwich for your packed lunch, why not try this recipe for spicy squash and apple soup from the Liberty Kitchen? Using seasonal winter vegetables, this delicious soup is comforting and sweet with a spicy kick, perfect to take in a flask to work or enjoy later at home by the fire.

For the Soup You Will Need:

1ltr vegetable stock

1/3 of a large butternut squash/pumpkin

1 x red onion

1/4 of a red chilli

4 x apples

1 x red pepper

Small piece of fresh ginger/teaspoon of ground

1tbsp coconut oil

Method:

  1. Lightly fry the finely chopped onions, chilli and grated ginger in the coconut oil until soft
  2. Add the remainder of the chopped vegetables and soften.
  3. Add the stock and simmer for around 30 minutes then blend.
  4. Squash seeds can be rinsed and lightly toasted on a baking tray with a little olive oil or coconut oil until crunchy, then sprinkle with sea salt as a lovely crunchy topping. Enjoy!