Whether you have just moved into your new home or have been a Queanbeyan-Palerang resident for years, christmas is without a doubt the best way to bring joy, love and laughter into your home all season!

The Bredbo Christmas Barn

We all know that Christmas is all about traditions and whilst every family and household will celebrate in a slightly different way, one tradition that all Queanbeyan and surrounding residents can share is the exciting and heart warming road trip to the Bredbo Christmas Barn! Whether you are looking to christen your new home with some stunning decorations or are looking to spruce up your current Christmas display with an ornament or two, the Bredbo Christmas Barn shopping trip is an experience all should share at least one or ten times in their life!

What inspired Leanne and Neville de Smet to open a Christmas shop in the tiny town of Bredbo, some 50 minutes south of Queanbeyan? The journey began when the de Smets opened ‘Unique Boutique’ in Woden Plaza, Canberra, in 1979. Then, some years later they expanded into Christmas, opening a second store, ‘Unique Boutique, It’s Christmas’. During that time, the de Smets had moved out of Canberra, seeking a more relaxed country lifestyle. From there, the idea of opening a semi retired business just down the road in Bredbo was born, and the rest is history.

Leanne has always had a fond love for Christmas and the joy that it brought to her home throughout her life. She recalls that as a child, it was all about the presents and the food. Her father was Hungarian, and her grandmother was the most amazing cook so food was always associated with love in her home. As Leanne got older, the tree became more important to her, as she was allowed to trim the tree. She explains that It was a lot harder back then, as there “wasn’t a lot of Christmas available in the 60’s”. Leanne would watch all those old American Christmas movies, where the decorations looked magical, and even back then she would wonder why they had so much christmas in America and she didn’t. All of that changed for Leanne in the early 80’s when she started doing the trade shows in America, and there was an abundance of all that Christmas she had always dreamed of having. So she bought and bought, and then they opened that first Christmas.

If you asked Leanne what she loves about Christmas now, she would say, “I love the look on our customers’ faces when they come into our shop. I love that we are now a part of our customers’ tradition of visiting us ever year to pick a special ornament (or 2 or 3)”. Christmas is now all about family and friends and making memories. When asked what colours evoke that Christmas tingle, Leanne automatically thought of red, green and gold. However, at the Bredbo Christmas Barn, they do every colour, every year. Christmas has no bounds and can come in any colour and theme. Why stop at one tree, one wreath, or one garland? Leanne believes that too much is never enough. “Less is less, and more? More can be perfect, or perhaps, not quite enough.”

Christmas pudding delights

These delicious Christmas treats are super easy to make with no baking required and are even easier to eat! This is a family Christmas recipe that has been adapted and tweaked over the years, so no need to stick to exact measurements, you may add or remove ingredients to your hearts’ content!

Ingredients:

1x large mixing bowl
1x large ziplock bag
1x large rolling pin
1 x woolworths chocolate mud cake
2 cups of crushed Arnotts arrowroot biscuits
1/4 cup of condensed milk
1/2 cup of strawberry jam
1 block of cooking white chocolate
1 pack Jaffas lollies
1 pack spearmint leaves lollies
1 tbs Brandy (optional)

Method:

1. Take approximately half of the arnotts biscuits in the packet and place them into your large ziplock bag. Using your rolling pin, smash and roll the biscuits until they are finely crumbed. Once they have been crushed, add these to your large mixing bowl. Next, take your chocolate mud cake and break it into smaller pieces, crushing and crumbling it into the bowl using your hands.
2. Once the mudcake has been crushed, add in your condensed milk, strawberry jam and optional Brandy to the bowl. Once all ingredients have been added it’s time to really get your hands dirty and mix it all together until it forms a sticky, dough-like consistency.
3. Next, line a baking tray with paper. To begin making your pudding balls, take a table-spoonful of mixture from the bowl and roll it with your hands until a smooth, neat ball is formed. Place this on the tray and repeat until all of the mixture is used.
4. Once the tray has been filled with pudding balls, place them into the fridge to chill.
5. While the puddings are chilling, use this time to melt your white chocolate block over the stove until it is completely runny.
6. Once the chocolate melt is complete, remove your pudding balls from the fridge and place a dollop of white chocolate on top of each pudding, letting it drip down the sides.
7. Finally, decorate your pudding balls by placing a jaffa ball in the centre of each. Using a knife, cut the spearmint leaves in half and place one half on either side of the jaffa ball. After you have decorated your puddings to your satisfaction, place them back into the fridge to chill until the white chocolate has fully hardened and enjoy

Christmas Yule Log

Ingredients:

CAKE

4 Egg yolks
45g Milk (3 tbsp)
50g Vegetable oil (3 tbsp 1 tsp)
35g White sugar (I) (2 tbsp)
15g Cocoa powder (2 tbsp)
75g Cake flour (¾ cup)
4 Egg whites
50g White sugar (II) (¼ cup)

Whipped Cream:

400ml Thickened/heavy cream (1 cup)
100g White sugar (½ cup)
1 tsp Vanilla extract

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

150ml Thickened/heavy cream (½ cup)
150g Semi-sweet chocolate, roughly chopped

Method:

Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 160C/320F and line a large baking sheet with baking paper (approx. 16″ x 13″ /40cm x 33cm.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar (I), milk, and oil together.
3. Sift the cocoa powder and cake flour into the milk/yolk mix and whisk until combined.
4. In a large mixing bowl whisk the eggs and sugar (II) until stiffened. Fold the egg white mixture into the yolk mixture in small amounts until combined.
5. Pour into the lined tray and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cake bounces back when lightly pressed. Next, remove it from the oven and invert onto a sheet of baking paper.
6. Remove the baking paper and replace with a clean kitchen towel, then flip the cake so the towel is on the bottom and the baking paper is on top.
7. Roll the cake from one short end to the other, place seam side down, and allow to cool completely.

Vanilla Whipped Cream

1. Combine the cream, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Whisk on medium-high until stiff peaks are formed.

chocolate ganache

1. Heat the cream in the microwave or a small saucepan until steaming.
2. Place the chocolate in a medium-sized heatproof bowl and pour over the hot cream. Cover with a plate and let sit for 5-10 mins, or until melted.
3. Stir until smooth and cover with cling wrap
4. Allow to sit at room temperature for 1 hour, or chill in the fridge for 30 minutes until the mixture is smooth and spreadable, keeping an eye on it and stirring occasionally.

assembly

1. Unroll the cake, then remove the baking paper and kitchen towel.
2. Spread the cream evenly over the cake, then roll again, following the curl of the cake.
3. Wrap the rolled cake in cling wrap and let rest in the fridge for 1 hour (during this time you can prepare the chocolate ganache).
4. Unwrap the cake and trim the edges. Next, slice the cake diagonally ¼ of the way across to form the small tree arm. Connect the sliced section with the larger log, and trim the angled end of the larger log.
5. Using a palette knife or butter knife spread the chocolate ganache all over the cake, using long strokes to recreate bark.
6. Decorate your log to your heart’s content, serve and enjoy!

christmas in the queanbeyan/palerang region

FAIRYTALE CHRISTMAS BALL
Date: Sunday 3rd december
Time: 10am – 2pm
Location: Bomfunk Dance Studio, 5 High street, Queanbeyan

Calling all Princes and Princesses – your royal invitation to the Fairytale Ball awaits! This event will be hosted by some of your favourite Fairytale princesses and story-time characters! AND because this is the Christmas Edition, we might be lucky enough to have a visit from Santa as well! The ball will feature a Royal performance where attendees will get to join their favourite characters on the dance floor for some festive carols and join in for singing and dancing! There will also be meet and greet photo opportunities and craft and glitter stations so you can get to know your favourite fairytale friends and get INCREDIBLE Christmas photos!

MERRY KIX MAS SHOW BY HIGH KIX CABARET
Date: Saturday 16th december
Time: 4pm – 9pm
Location: Queanbeyan community christmas party, crawford street
TICKETS: FREE

Celebrate the festive season with this stunning Christmas Cabaret Soiree. Sing carols and enjoy the splendour and joy that comes with Christmas! Join us at the Queanbeyan Christmas Street Party!

Visit the iconic christmas light displays across Jerrabomberra and Queanbeyan.

Fill up your car with your friends and family, grab some hot (or iced) chocolate for the road and get ready for an evening of magic, lights and fun! The Jerrabomberra region is particularly renowned for it’s decadent and impressive Christmas light displays. Do your research prior and enjoy listening to Christmas carols with loved ones while you take a tour around the streets of Jerrabomberra and Queanbeyan!

Visit Santa and get your annual christmas picture at Riverside Plaza in queanbeyan!

It wouldn’t quite be Christmas without the annual Santa picture!

Visit Riversida Plaza this Christmas season with your family, friends and loved ones and grab your special souvenir!