It’s apple pie weather – cold and damp, and my thoughts always turn to food and sharing it with those I am closest to. Besides, it is nearly the weekend and time for a treat after a busy week.

Traditional Apple Pie from Martha Stewart

Every weekend is a celebration in our house and we usually take the opportunity to cook something delicious on at least one afternoon. The fun of assembling our ingredients and making the pastry from our special recipe containing almond meal, egg, sugar and butter and then baking ‘blind’. Cooking the apples with spices perfumes the house and piling them into the cooked pastry shell and covering with a ‘lid’ or strips of pastry. Icecream or cream in a glass jug, the makings for a cup of tea or coffee at the ready. Family exclaiming at the delicious smells coming from the kitchen.

Draw the curtains, pull up the chairs and indulge. Its time to re-connect over an apple pie! Try this Martha Stewart recipe for a traditonal take

Winter is the time for us to enjoy comfort foods. Long slow cooking of stews, casseroles and roasts bring us back to the table and leisurely meals enjoyed with family and friends. A bowl of chicken soup with really good bread, jam roly poly or golden syrup steamed pudding – all foods to warm the body and the soul.

Sunday Suppers Grilled Corn Soup (full recipe here)

These recipes will adapt well to a winter wedding. If you have fond memories of a  favourite dessert that your mother cooked regularly during your childhood, what better tribute to her than to include it in your wedding reception menu. Grandma may have been a whiz at sponge cake making or apple pies, or Dad may have been adept at pancake cooking on a Sunday morning.
Your caterer will be able to come up with suggestions as to how to bring your favourite recipe into the 21st Century. From a simple change of ingredient, a different way of plating the food, a variation in the main ingredient e.g. duck instead of chicken, barramundi instead of mullet, or adding different herbs or spices, our favourites can be modernised and made as elegant as you desire.

Sunday Suppers Bittersweet Chocolate and Orange Pot (full recipe here)

Crepes instead of thick pancakes, steamed puddings served in individual pots and turned out onto a plate with extra sauce on the side, soup served in small glasses or cups. A dessert table could incorporate an ‘afternoon tea’ area featuring all those old fashioned cakes and biscuits, beautifully iced and presented on vintage platters and cake stands.
Suddenly ‘old’ could be ‘new’ again!

We’re loving the quirky nature of strips dotted throughout a wedding today. Something a little different, a little modern and very fun!

Striped Wedding Cake from Martha Stewart, Le Boutique Wedding Invitation from Alannah Rose Stationery, Striped cake from Baking Arts, Bridesmaids photo by Stacey Kane, favor boxes from Martha Stewart Weddings, Candy buffet from Amy Atlas, Caramel corn in bags from Martha Stewart Weddings,

On this cold Melbourne morning, this photo by One Love Photo captures all that we’re longing for.

A wedding with loved ones, long, beautiful conversations and wine in the sunshine under a beautiful old tree.

Found on one of our favourite ever wedding blogs A Practical Wedding

Engraved pebbles are not a new idea, but if you are looking for a fresh take on decoration this could be just the thing.

The Oathing Stone by SJEngraving

Try them sitting amongst plain stones as a ‘river’ running down the length of your tables. Perhaps inscribed with a meaningful word, they would make unique favours. Use them in place of cards at each table setting, inscribed with the particular guests’ name and the date of the wedding.

Personalised wedding favors by sjengraving

Try looking at the man-made varieties rather than those that are picked up from river beds. Much more ecologically sound and perhaps you could pick a particular colour to match your décor.
Try  a local pottery who might be able to fire ‘pebbles’ in clay imprinted with your special saying or word. These look really elegant in white or cream with the words ‘stamped’ on,  and could be hung on a bare branch in the middle of the table or placed on the guests’ plates.
In Australia try Entanglements – contact them for ordering via their website.