Friends of Putnoe Woods and Mowsbury Hillfort

When information becomes available it will be posted here.

Here WE Come A Wassailing

Here we come a-wassailing, amomong the leaves so green
Here we come a-wand'ering, so fair to be seen.

Love and joy come to you , and to your wassail, too
And God bless you, and send you a Happy New Year
And God send you a Happy New Year

We are not daily beggars that beg from door to door,
But we are neighbours' children whom you have seen before.

Good master and good mistress, as you sit beside the fire,
Pray think of us poor children who wander in the mire.

We have a little purse made of ratching leather skin;
We want some of your small change to line it well within.

Bring us out a table and spread it with a cloth;
Bring us out a cheese, and of your Christmas loaf.

God bless the master of this house, likewise the mistress too;
And all the little children that round the table go.

Wassail Chorus

Ooooooh Apple Tree bloom, Oooooo Apple Tree bear
That the bees might make honey,
And we shall make money, from our cider every year!

Roman Honey Cakes

A recipe from Roman times.

Ingredients 200g/7oz of self-raising flour
half teaspoon ground nutmeg
half teaspoon ground cinnamon
80g/3oz ground almonds
80g/3oz sugar
1 egg
milk
runny honey
chopped nuts.

What to do:
a. Turn the oven on for you to Gas mark 5 or 190 degrees C. Fan ovens, check manufactures instructions.
b. Put the flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, almonds and sugar into a mixing bowl and mix them up.
c. Break the egg into another bowl. Add a little bit of the milk and whisk them together with a fork.
d. Add the egg mixture to the flour and mix.
e. The mixture should be quite firm, but pliable. If it's too wet and sticky, add a little flour. If it's too dry, add a little more milk.
f. Dust your hands with a little flour, then gently squash the mixture into 12 small cakes and put them on a greased baking tray and space them out.
g. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until they are golden brown.
h. While they are still hot, spoon a little runny honey over them and sprinkle some chopped nuts over the top.
i. Let them cool before eating.