Christmas may look a little different this year, but some traditions will never change.
As the fourth and fifth generation in this family business, this year, family is more important than ever. We are delighted to share some Temple family traditions, unsurprisingly for Christmas a lot of them involve food!
Since Design Director Charlotte was a child, she always loved picking and decorating the Christmas tree. Now, with small children at home it’s a very exciting time. “They are great little decorators and untangling lights and breaking a few baubles is all part of it.” Says Charlotte. “Listening to the Michael Buble Christmas album is obligatory and a vodka, fresh lime and soda helps with the happy chaos that unfolds.”
Charlotte’s Winter Salad
Chicory leaves
Stilton broken into small pieces
Walnuts caramelised with brown sugar
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Black pepper
Arrange the leaves on a serving plate, crumble over stilton and caramelised walnuts. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over salad and some cracked black pepper.
CEO of Magee Weaving, Patrick loves Christmas Eve “We are very lucky to have a local fisherman George who come wind, snow or rain always appears with lobster – so fresh lobster is on the menu for a fun family dinner with homemade mayonnaise and some asparagus, peas and beans.”
Rosy, CEO of Magee Clothing & Retail, loves the outdoors and never misses her Christmas Day swim, no matter how icy!
No Christmas in the Temple house would be the same without Lynn, family patriarch and Magee Chairman’s famous mulled wine. Although he rarely sticks to the recipe himself, he’s shared it here as an early Christmas present.
Lynn’s Mulled Wine
1 bottle of red wine
½ glass brandy
½ glass of Cointreau
1 pint water
Brown sugar to taste
Lemon or orange studded with cloves
Teaspoon of mixed spice
Cinnamon stick
Over a low heat, gently warm the wine and water, add brandy, Cointreau, mixed spice, cinnamon and lemon/orange. Simmer (don’t boil) to let the flavours mingle together, add sugar to taste.
Serve in heatproof glasses or mugs garnished with an orange slice and enjoy. (Especially good after the Christmas swim!)
And if you were to ask what’s on the family’s wish list this Christmas, Lynn picked the new Erne Coat with its rich autumnal checks – the raglan sleeves make it easy to style over a suit or jacket for chilly days. Paddy likes to layer so loves the Mullans ¼ zip lambswool knit, Rosy will be styling the Georgie gilet over a knit and chinos and Charlotte loves the Houndstooth Clooney Coat for its luxuriously soft cashmere-rich fabric.
This holiday season may well be different for you and your family, but from our family to yours we wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year. Thank you for all your support in 2020 and look forward to seeing you again in 2021.
