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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

FN's Ponstastic Christmas Thread part Trois....

838 replies

FellatioNelson · 22/09/2012 06:43

....will be officially open for business on September 24th. I am just firing up the engines and dusting down the control room ready for action in case I forget to do it on the 24th

Do not post yet. Do not. Sit on your hands, ladies.

On your marks........................

OP posts:

Badvoc · 27/09/2012 10:00

Sigh.
You see?
Now you have made me buy both from amazon.
I will be an uber ponce this Xmas :)

BiddyPop · 27/09/2012 10:57

The boss of our whole organisation found me in the coffee shop this morning - checking my "Holiday Grand Plan" check lists and calendar (from Organised Christmas website), complete with Nutcrackers all over the place! Eek!

I still can't get DH to commit to where we will be. I am making enquiries about possible places to rent though, with a view to poncing them up as well as home.

And I am planning on buying vanilla pods today to start a couple of batches of vanilla sugar for my baking and for giving as presents. I think I will be making green tomato chutney this or next weekend as well (have not made this since 2007 and there is 1 jar still to be opened I had such a glut - but they were all eaten happily).

2 years ago, I made "cherries in honey rum", to use up the bottle I had bought in the Canaries a few years back (we were never touching it). I used those afterwards to go into chocolates, which were VERY well received. I have the last few to use this year (sitting in the rum ever since - delish!!). I just got a punnet of fresh cherries, stoned them (using my trusty olive stoner) and threw them into the rum in a spare kilner - which I then ignored, studiously, for about 3 months.

oreocrumbs · 27/09/2012 11:28

To make vanilla sugar do you just pop a few vanilla pods whole in a jar with granulated white sugar?

oreocrumbs · 27/09/2012 11:29

Badvoc, I am a bad influence . Equally I am easily influenced and am being led astray by other ponces!

Badvoc · 27/09/2012 12:36

:)
I shall refer to you henceforth as my Xmas budget nemesis :)

WineGless · 27/09/2012 13:41

I have a new Paperchase rollerball all ready to write in my new Carh Kidston organizer.

My local libraries don't have Sarah Raven. Am I missing out?
Really? Honest opinions please. She is a bit annoying tbh

BiddyPop · 27/09/2012 13:42

Oreocrumbs, I put 3 or 4 vanilla pods in a large kilner of caster sugar (cos I tend to use it for baking). I kinda mostly ignore it for at least 6 weeks, but shake it every once in a while when I remember to (to distribute the vanilla throughout the sugar).

I'd often just top up the one for my own baking, but every once in a while I take out the old pods and use those in a victoria sponge or some such. And then start off the jar again.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 27/09/2012 13:50

I went to Dunelm this morning and I can report that they had some nice Christmas things.

These fleece blankets were actually quite nice and really quite cheap, I thought

I managed to refrain as I was focused on what it was I needed to get, however I think I may be making a return journey.

bezzyk · 27/09/2012 13:57

If looking for vanilla pods, tesco had a deal this week (although you'd need to check its still on) on Schwarz spices. The vanilla pods were 1 jar for £2.55 or 2 jars for £2. Go figure! I ordered 4 and plan to get more with my next shop if they're still cheap x

FredWorms · 27/09/2012 14:35

Fleece?

Horrors!

CherryMonster · 27/09/2012 14:42

i have poncetastic stuffs!!!!! i made lemon and poppyseed soaps, and lime and coriander soaps. also, the basket i ordered for my mums christmas present has arrived and i luff it, and so will she.

girlywhirly · 27/09/2012 15:21

Iliketo, I have just bought two of the 'Gingerbread' fleeces from Dunelm, for the two Ikea chairs with cream covers that our Black Cat likes to sleep on! I could argue that the cat will think they are poncetastic.

Although not as smart as the pale gold bedspread that I bought in Dunelm's sale two years ago, and embellished (hand sewn) with beads and sparkly things from Hobbycraft.

skirt · 27/09/2012 15:24

Ive just googled the hydrangea wreath and the pic says it's dried but it doesn't look like that. The man next door has gorgeous hydrangeas on his bush that's hanging over our drive and I'm sure he will let me have some. Are they dried or can you preserve the colour some how or dry them out and spray them with silver. That's a bit 80's though, I think? Anyone have a clue?

skirt · 27/09/2012 15:36

Oh my, have found the method. Here it is for anyone who is excited thinking about doing this

"place the stems in boiling water for 30 seconds and then lay them in a bath of cool water overnight.

The next day, shake them off and then stand in a solution of 1 part glycerin to 2 parts hot water. Once they have sucked it all up, they should remain soft and retain their colour. This might take as long as a month."

So if I did that now, would they just stay looking nice forever?

oreocrumbs · 27/09/2012 15:39

Thanks BiddyPop, I fancy making some up for my own use, and if I get stuck for gifts I might do some for the Aunts.

I'm doing a tesco order later bezzyk so I will keep an eye out for them, thanks!

SuePurblybilt · 27/09/2012 15:39

Darker hydrangeas hold their colour better - I did a blue one and a dark red on last year and they both lasted well - the blue went a lovely mottled purple.They were dried, but not as brittle as dried flowers usually are, if that makes sense.
I've not tried the glycerin method but I don't know about forever - they;d get awful dusty.

skirt · 27/09/2012 15:44

Thanks - his are a pink/green colour but beggars can't be choosers! When did you cut them and did you just put them in a case in your garage or somewhere till you needed them?

girlywhirly · 27/09/2012 15:48

Have just looked at drying flowers, and it says that woody stemmed flowers are best preserved by standing the cut stems in a solution of 50% hot water and 50% glycerine and leave for at least a week. The stems suck up the glycerine which makes the flowers supple, but can undergo colour changes the book says. However they wont be crispy and shrivelled like most dried flowers.

You don't have to completely spray them with silver or gold, sometimes just a light waft from the aerosol is enough to give a light sparkle. Or you can spray the paint directly onto a sheet of polythene, and while still damp touch the edges of the petals to it and then let them dry for a more subtle effect.

SuePurblybilt · 27/09/2012 15:48

At my last house (just moved) i had lots of bushes so had them all over the house - they last for ages cut. I had no idea SR did them - I'd seen in in Country Living years ago - and I did it as an Autumn wreath . It lasted up for about a month outside and I did another for my kitchen wall which was up until it got dusty and too dry - 3-4 months. I cut them as the colour was going over - so about now for me in the SW - and just weaved them onto a wire wreath - no oasis or owt.
here - I just googled to see if I could find a pic of her ones and I think hers look dried or on their way. They still look good - just more muted so praps not so Christmassy.
No hydrangeas for me this year so I haven't tried - let us know how you get on!

skirt · 27/09/2012 16:11

I'm going to wait until the chap next door comes home from work then I will pop up and as he will obviously be desperate to get inside, he will say yes ravage cut my bush.

I think I might theme my wrapping paper also with brown paper and hydrangea stencils to look like baubles and small heads, spray painted green.

Oh Yes.

MrsBovary · 27/09/2012 16:26

Marking place. Rather late this year!

I've been looking at fruit dehydrators and wondering if they might prove a waste of money (very likely), as I'm wanting to dry fruits (and flowers), whole and sliced, for decorations. My oven attempts have always turned out slightly singed.

MrsTwinks · 27/09/2012 20:12

if anyone making bits is near a 99p store, not sure if its just my local but they have really nice BIG kilner-style jars in there at the moment. But don't try Haywards Heath I think I cleared them out lol.

Having to wait until payday to continue on the gift front, working on my food stocking up at the minute. Anyone have a really good mincemeat recipe?

Badvoc · 27/09/2012 20:15

Hairy bikers one is supposed t be good mrstwinks

Original poster

FellatioNelson · 27/09/2012 20:30

Right. I am back.

I made the mince pies with orange pastry last year and to be honest I prefer plain mince pies. The orange pastry was a bit too sweet. They had dobs of mascapone, or creme fraiche or something inside as well, which was ok, but not as good as just a common or garden mince pie with plain shortcrust pastry and cold cream poured over. Sometimes you can get too poncey for your own good.

OP posts:

WineGless · 27/09/2012 20:41

Dunelm Mill is good for the big kilner jars here

Fellatio -wash your mou out

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