Christmas has come to an end

Once again another Christmas has come to an end, we have eaten enough for a small army, our cloths have miraculously shrunk two sizes, eyes have become square from watching reruns on the TV.

Table loads of Bombay Mix mixed with chocolate oranges, baking hot sausage rolls and lace topped minced pies coated in rum butter washed down with vintage port and Baileys Irish Cream, and that’s just for breakfast.

We roll into a New Year with great expectations. Having filled our stomachs to overflowing, its time for a regime. 

Within a very short time the two Parkers will be sylphlike.

Alcohol free, a diet of  all those things that are good for you. Within two or three years  on a strict fasting diet we will be  rearing to go – to what we are not quite sure!



We are both looking forward to meeting the new us. 












Looking for a great non alcholic cocktail

Spiced Punch served hot or chilled

Ingredients 70 portions
9 whole Oranges
35.whole cloves
7 litres apple juice
4 whole cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
17 tablespoons honey
13 table spoons lemon juice
2 Litres pineapple juice

Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas mark 4. Stud the whole oranges with cloves, and bake for 30 minutes
In a large saucepan, combine the apple juice and cinnamon stick. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the nutmeg, honey, lemon juice and pineapple juice

Serve hot in a punch bowl with the 2 baked clove-studded oranges floating on top

Just as good served iced with the oranges squeezed into the main liquid thinned down with a little sparkling water.