{"id":12897,"date":"2021-12-18T19:35:54","date_gmt":"2021-12-19T03:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/?p=12897"},"modified":"2025-08-18T11:46:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T18:46:53","slug":"simply-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/simply-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Simply Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Unwrap the new year with us.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Enjoy our premium, unique selections from TrooRa marketplace<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHome Design\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Simply Christmas\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Written by: Mandy Allen<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Stephanie\u2019s Christmas. A large, twiggy branch found on a forest walk has been appropriated as an eco-friendly, sculptural Christmas tree. <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Return to the simple things this festive season: a table decorated to evoke a sense of comfort and nostalgia, a humble colour palette, and homespun decorations that weave in the wild spirit of nature\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cI find that big holidays and events make me a little anxious. So I like to break them up a bit over a couple of days and leave space for serendipity.\u201d This is Cape Town-based Stephanie Wolhuter Inggs\u2019 serene and sensible philosophy to surviving the silly season. No pressure, no expectations, no disappointment. \u201cFor instance, take Christmas. It can be a Christmas Eve dinner with a few friends and family, a large Christmas Day brunch with family, or just a simple Boxing Day lunch with one or two friends\u2026 There\u2019s no pressure for one day or one meal to be extra special. If the cake flops I can always serve it the next day for breakfast with lots of yoghurt!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

It\u2019s an approach that is part temperament (friends and former colleagues will all attest to Stephanie\u2019s composed nature) and part of the legacy of her professional past\u2014one that required a balance of creativity and pragmatism during a career that spanned clothing designer, fashion editor and stylist, as well as head fashion buyer and marketing manager for a leading local retailer. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Stephanie prepares her signature pear-and-apricot spiced cake<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The interiors in Stephanie\u2019s beautiful heritage home are reflective of her fashion choices, which she describes as \u201cplain and understated but with unexpected cuts or proportions.\u201d It is filled to bursting with stylish ideas, personalised elements, and reams of character.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cMy daughter, Alice, describes my house perfectly as being full of lots of nice stuff that\u2019s being rearranged all the time,\u201d she laughs. There\u2019s also the presence of Stephanie\u2019s menagerie of \u201cvery important animals.\u201d Animals, more specifically birds, play a leading role in Stephanie\u2019s next creative phase; one that also involves writer\/editor\/daughter, Alice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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freestanding staircase leads to son Dax\u2019s bedroom<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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freestanding staircase leads to son Dax\u2019s bedroom<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Cozy and atmospheric, this inviting area of the living room.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The bird theme has beaten its way into this tranquil bedroom.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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A fireplace mantlepiece offers myriad styling opportunities and can be easily transformed for seasonal decorating.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bird-Dog-Bokkie (the Afrikaans diminutive for deer) is her self-described \u2018side hustle;\u2019 a creative project that\u2019s \u201cmainly just for fun\u201d encompassing her many passions including styling, sourcing, antiques hunting, baking, and sewing. \u201cAlice embroiders these lovely, intricately detailed birds on linen that I bought from The Cloth Shop in London.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

As it turns out, Stephanie has a special affinity for our fine-feathered friends and has made birds the central theme of her Christmas decor in the form of embroidered napkins and decorative cushions, hand-carved wooden figurines and ornaments, as well as printed place and gift cards. These have been set alongside simply wrapped gifts, found bird nests, a vintage tablecloth, and beautiful vintage glassware filled with gold-tinged Sauternes, a sweet French wine that is the perfect accompaniment to Stephanie\u2019s signature spiced pear-and-apricot cake.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The colour palette has been kept warm and neutral\u2014inspired by old-school tradition, winter woodlands, and a rustic farmhouse aesthetic. As is her way, Stephanie has effortlessly woven together a fusion of homespun and sophisticated, timeless and fresh. You might just say it\u2019s a Christmas celebration that\u2019s practically (im)perfect in every way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Homeowner Stephanie Wolhuter Inggs\u2019 new creative venture, the whimsically titled Bird-Dog-Bokkie, includes experimenting with embroidery on linen.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Various wine and cordial bottles have been filled with water and fynbos springs<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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FRUIT FILLING<\/b>
* 6 pears with pips removed (use a melon ball scoop)
* 12 dried apricots softened in boiling water\u00a0
TIP<\/b>\u00a0We used Beurr\u00e9 Bosc (also known as Kaiser) pears which are particularly suited to baking.

CAKE BASE<\/b>
* 4 large eggs
* 1 cup plain yoghurt
* 160ml vegetable oil\u00a0
* 80g melted butter
* 1\/3 cup milk
* 2 \u00bd cups self-raising flour (two and a half)
* 1 cup Muscovado sugar
* 1\/2 teaspoon salt<\/em><\/p>

SPICY GINGER TOPPING<\/b>
* 3 large eggs
* 100g melted butter
* 3\/4 cup Muscovado sugar
* 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
* 1\/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 3 tablespoons chopped glac\u00e9 ginger\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Stephanie Wolhuter Inggs preparing her Christmas table. <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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METHOD<\/b>
* Set the oven at 170 C (338F or Gas Mark 3)
* Lightly butter a 26cm springform tin and line the bottom and then sides with a high collar of baking paper
* Wash and dry but don\u2019t peel the pears. Remove the pips with a melon ball scoop
* Slice the bottom of each pear so that it will sit flat and not fall over
* Stuff the hollow of each pear with two soft apricots
For the cake base:
* Whisk the eggs in a bowl and then add the yoghurt, vegetable oil, melted butter, and milk
* In another bowl, sieve together the flour, sugar, and salt
* Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until combined
* Whisk together all the ingredients for the spicy ginger topping
* Pour the cake base into the baking tin and arrange the pears to sit upright in a circle
* Pour on the topping beginning at the outer edges of the cake and working towards the middle
* Bake at 170C for approximately 1 and 1\/4 hours or until a skewer comes out clean. \"\"<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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TrooRa Magazine<\/p>\n

Words<\/p>\n

Mandy Allen\n<\/p>\n

California, USA<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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SHOP<\/span><\/BR> \nTrooRa\nMarketplace<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Baroque Pearl Earrings<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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$80.00 usd<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Archer Bag Copper Metallic<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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$265.00 usd<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Mini Trio Candle<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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$50.00 usd<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Archer Bag Blue Steel Metallic<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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$265.00 usd<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSHOP NOW<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Return to the simple things this festive season: a table decorated to evoke a sense of comfort and nostalgia, a humble colour palette, and homespun decorations that weave in the wild spirit of nature<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":363,"featured_media":41616,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-design"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/363"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12897"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44832,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12897\/revisions\/44832"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/troora.com\/team\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}