Fellatio's thread for a PONCETASTIC Xmas - PART 2!!!

[BudaisintheZONE]

Well we seem to have filled up the last one so I started a new one. Hope that is ok with everyone!

Jacaqueen - I finally remembered to have a look at my Angel Chime. It is small - about 10 inches tall. Very light metal. Easy to put together. Looks ok. Word of warning - was searching for who it was who asked me and came across a post from someone whose parents had one and it burnt their table! So they get v. hot.

Has anyone tried the cinnamon swirls things from the other thread?

Mine were super gloopy and didn't rise much. Any ideas?

That does sound lovely moomin. Our decs are also still in loft - dp always busy and i'm chicken.

I'm using mixed greens for my wreath i think, with the bits and bobs like cinnamon and orange, and i've bought some fake berries that come ready mounted on wires, so think should be pretty easy to wire them in.

For my garland (going over hearth) I've decided to cheat and use a fake garland as base (as recommended by Kirsty) then i'll add in real greenery, other bits as per the wreath, then one or two baubles too I think. We don't have room for a tree this year so am hoping that will be enough.

I remember in Kirstys homemade Christmas she wound it around the banister - looked lovely, i'd do that if I had a real banister!

No pics sorry but I loved it! DH thought I was completely mad.

Santa - do you mean the Nigella cinnamon buns? I have made them, they were okay, lots of work etc. Wouldn't bother again.

Made and froze my stuffing today.

I was asking for some ideas the other day for using red dogwood branches. Just want to report I daubed some pva on a few and sprinkled with red glitter. Not too much, still wanted the red of the branch to show up well. They look fantastic mixed with some greenery, really vibrant. So get looking for some!

oooh i've been looking for a stuffing recipe i can freeze taffetazatyousantaclaus can you share yours?

otherwise i'll just be buying at the butchers when i pick up the turkey which is still fairly poncy.

we're having a pj day today as ds is poorly (well he was yesterday but seems lots better now -just hoping breakfast stays put!) and the car is being taken for a service so we're stuck at home. i had planned to get paint and glitter out and get thoroughly messy with ds but don't fancy that is he's still got tummy bug.

tree is coming out tomorrow!
IF we get the new storage in the living room filled today as we can't put the tree up till that's done.

My tree is looking rather bald in places already - I knew I should've waited a little longer!

Soppy, refer back to your original post of Fri 19 Nov, on P.15 of the Christmas topic, there are 3 replies to 'Stuffing recipes that can be frozen'.

Sorry, haven't time to type it all again. Or you could look through the recipes topic for other stuffings.

Teal, when I had real cut Norway spruce trees, I never bought them before the 15 Dec. They did used to last well until 6 Jan with care. Obviously they dropped a bit, but not so that there were bald patches.

My tree is fine but we have no central heating - that's the killer I think. Is it near a rad, Teal?
Off today to steal branches from hedges - it's been too icy to get on the fields till now. I shall be wreath a-go-go.

oops! cheers girly

tis the curse of the preggy brain i think.

Yes, it's right next to a radiator, which I knew was not a great idea, but it's the only space that can accommodate it. Prob should turn it off and stop roasting the poor bugger.

It still smells very nice in here, though

Yes, that would do it. Turn it down maybe?
I am still drying batches of oranges so my house smells lovely too. Mmmmmmmm

Pineapple sorbet churning as I type. First outing for the ice cream maker.....I plan on making some mince pie ice cream with any leftover mince pies.....

soppy - its in Sarah Raven's Christmas book:

Pork and pancetta stuffing

50g butter
olive oil
2 onions, chopped
150g pancetta
900g good quality free range pork sausagemeat
50g chopped sage
150g breadcrumb
1 egg beaten
sea salt and black pepper

Melt butter and a little oil in pan add chopped onions ans dweat over low heat until transulscent and soft. Allow to cool. Fienly chop pancetta and mix into sausagemeat with sage and breadcrumbs with your hands. Add cooled onions, beaten egg and season well.
Pack into plastic box and freeze.

I made half the amount as I may do a veggie one I did last year - pecan apple and celery as its nice and we have a veggie. I also substituted pancetta for streaky bacon as I forgot to buy any.

I have a smallish ice cream maker, taffeta, we are having vanilla with our mince pies for pud on Christmas day. The real deal, with an egg custard base and organic double cream! It is the business. I can't make it too far in advance because the recipe states 'best eaten within two weeks', how will we manage?

Strawberry ice cream with fruit from the pyo farm is also divine in summer.

Does it really not last that long, girly? I naively thought as it was frozen, it would be okay....my recipe ( St Nige ) says can make a month ahead so should be OK. Although DS taste tested a little and is now hovering by the freezer.......

The mince pie ice cream is a custard/double cream base, but I can't make that til the last minute as I don't know how many mince pies, if any, will be left.....although if anyone brings round any dodgy shop bought ones, I guess they would be perfect ice cream fodder.

Right, I've been really energetic today and have bought presents and food and a wreath. I cheated and bought a ready-made base, and I've wound stems of red cornus, holly and eringium (don't know how to spell that! - sea holly flowers) through it. It looks pretty damn good if I say so myself - we have a dark red painted door and it looks very festive.

Can I ask plead for approval ask for some advice now?

I'm having people round and making mulled cider tomorrow. I'm very new to this entertaining lark as we're all students (albeit postgrad), and have only just got past the idea that a good night is limited to going down the pub for a pint.

So, I have cider, I have apple juice, and I have mulling spices. I have a big bowl of clementines, lots of dark chocolate and nibbles of one kind and another. And I plan to make a cardamom and cinnamon bread (the kind where you spread the dough with a mix of creamed butter, sugar and cinnamon and then roll it up).

Does that all sound nice, or does it sound like too many spices all at once/not tasty enough? Some people will have eaten and so won't, so I don't want to do as much as a full meal.

Loudrowdyduck, what time did you say you're expecting us?!!!
That all sounds lovely, very christmassy!

Thanks! Hope it goes ok, if there's no sign of me for days I'm probably prising larger bottle caps out of the carpet and booking the industrial cleaner ...

(No, not really. I hope!)

My recipe is from Rosemary Moons Ice Cream Machine book. I think that because there are none of the thickeners/emulsifiers etc in it that commercially made ices have, the texture may alter after prolonged freezing, especially as you keep taking it out to soften up before serving, and re-freezing. So perhaps if you make it and leave it alone it is OK. You really do need to let the ice cream soften up before scooping, as it is like rock just out of the freezer! To be honest, I've enjoyed our ice cream after a fortnight, it's fine, but she has to warn people in case anyone becomes ill.

I wouldn't risk putting a sorbet with raw egg white in and out of the freezer for a fortnight though.

LRD, your wreath sounds fab.

girly - no egg in the sorbet, just sugar syrup and pureed fresh pineapple.

LRD - sounds wonderful, the wreath and the festive fodder. Lucky friends you have. I might add in a savoury nibble as I get salt urges when I've had a few, but maybe thats just me.....

poncey - I feel your pain. We put ours up today, and the more gareish decs I have surrepticiously moved to the back.....DD (4) bless her has hung up a gold medal on one of the lower branches that the kitten is taking quite an interest in....

Picked masses of bay which is now nestling amongst my Maroq lights and silver alliums looking and smelling amazing. Also picked lots of pittosporum and choisya for my silver container which is now draped in wee baubles sitting happily on the island.

Ah poncey I'm with the DDs - we have 2 trees. DH does the (red) dining room one in tasteful red and gold. I do the hallway one with DS1 (4) and we unpack the 'story' decs (each one has a story) and load 'em on. DH found our decs this afternoon (hurrah, I was worried) so we've done them this evening. No scheme at all just pigs, cows, gingerbread men, cats and LOTS of hearts. Love it.

Did the wreath too - was going to make one but then I got my sewing swap surprise thru the post - a beautifuled and white stocking made for me by a very kind lady I've never met. I went well with a red berry wreath we had already - et voila! Might wind some ivy in too - haven't decided. WHat do you think?

Just re-read my post, the dining room is red not the tree