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

[FellatioNelson]

....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........................

[WednesdayNext]

LordFlasharts - I have a marmalade pudding recipe if that's any good? That's what we have as we don't like Christmas pud in our house!

[LordFlasheartsCrackingNuts]

I would like the recipe (for me ), but...

DS does not like orange flavour, and DP does not like chocolate. Sigh!

[WednesdayNext]

Oh no! That's tricky! The only other thing I can think is a steamed jam sponge but that's not terribly festive!!

I'll search out the recipe and post it later for you though. I've done it in individual portions before and it works fine!!

[FreeButtonChristmasTree]

Could you do a berry meringue roulade type thing? Haven't got a recipe to hand but should be fairly easy to find and adapt.

Have just ordered meat from posh buthcers and DH has arrived back with the tree! Time to get the carols on and start decorating

[WednesdayNext]

Enjoy your decorating.

Our tree is up minus angel hair a DS thinks it's a nice snack I have my (very tasteful) show scene on the mantlepiece and my Christmas candles up. Got some ornaments to dot around the house.

Think I might attack wrapping tonight. Gone for red polka dot paper, white ribbons and miniature baubles to tie them up with. Not especially poncetastic, but will hopefully look good.

[WednesdayNext]

marmalade pudding

This is the recipe.

[TheElfOnThePanopticon]

I bought my lavender,baking with a 10kg sack of polished wheat and some gorgeous snowflake-patterned flannel.

[TheElfOnThePanopticon]

Along with, not baking.

[Anja1LikesChristmas]

Been busy baking: already made: Lebkuchen, other spicy biscuits (Alpenbrot & Zimtsterne), and Panforte, which I tested with my parents this weekend (quick dash across the channel to a proper German Christmas market) - YUM, can recommend the Nigella Recipe, and it was dead easy to make too.
Today one more batch of chocolate biccies to make, better get on with it before kids get home!

The first decorations are up, including the traditional Christmas Pyramid - I just got a nice Wreath, imported some candles and candle holders to make it a proper advent wreath (end result quite similar to this, but in red with a couple of decorative apples and cones.

Well buy our tree this week I think, to put up at the weekend at the latest.

[FredWorms]

Nigella panforte d'you mean Anja? I've been thinking of trying that one.

Can you freeze HBikers' apricot and almond stuffing, do you think? I've started a thread with this question and no-one answered, but I know one of you poncey dahlings will

[FredWorms]

Oi!

Ponceurs!

[FreeButtonChristmasTree]

I freeze everything. Am totally blase. Am sure it'll be fine! Are therre any soft fresh herbs in it like parsley - might be temped to add that when it's defrosted.

[girlywhirly]

Stuffing freezes fine, I use fresh herbs in mine and if anything, I think freezing improves the flavour.

[Anja1LikesChristmas]

FredWorms yes it's from the Nigella Christmas book - sorry can't be more precise I borrowed it from the library (economy poncing )

About freezing - most things will be ok, some pastries are nicer if frozen raw and baked later. My first experiment with preparing mini mince pies and baking from frozen a few weeks later was a definite success. I just need to make another batch now!

Things that 'change' (as I found out!) - whole boiled eggs eggs and cooked potatoes sort of separate and become kind of rubbery / grainy, but parboiled (ie raw) potatoes appear to be ok, as is mashed potato. Raw eggs are fine too, or cooked as parts of dishes. Any fresh fruit will look soggy and sort of 'cooked', which is fine if you're going to cook them anyway

[mathanxiety]

A lot more kitsching than poncing going on here right now. I found my ceramic plug in Christmas tree decoration in a plastic box of winter clothes (baffled as to how it ended up spending the summer there) so that is now plugged in and represents the sum total of my Christmas prep to date. [fshame]

[mathanxiety]

poop

[FredWorms]

Well I think you're in the right place here with that tree mathanxiety, did you not notice the festive loo roll up thread?

[PoppyAmex]

Can anyone recommend lovely wrapping paper?

I'm sick of the Kraft brown paper with things like cinnamon sticks or bells and big bows. I've also done holly in the past.

This year I wanted some proper wrapping paper so went to Ikea and got loads of rolls only to discover they are "plastic-y" and I hate it. (if you want the toughest paper in the world though, this could be for you).

I'm running out of time, please help!

[Anja1LikesChristmas]

I saw some scandinavian-type paper with red&white reindeers etc in Wilkinsons earlier this month...

[LaTrucha]

I made my own door wreath from pine that blew down when it was windy. Can I join for the last few days?

[LaTrucha]

I love the buttonbag website. I'm definitely going to make those advent calendars for the kids next year. I may have to start in january, though!

[IreneR]

I so wanted to make a holly-and-ivy wreath. I've been wanting to every year, we have masses of both, but it's such a pain to work with. I spent a half hour fastening sprigs of holly to those little wired floral picks, then the same routine with some ivy, only to grow annoyed with being jabbed by the holly and frustrated with the propensity of the ivy to twist the wrong way round each and every time. I.gave.up. I'm going to buy a wreath. A plain ole' evergreen one.

That's not the poncer's way, now, is it? I need to find my Christmas mojo.

[PoppyAmex]

Thanks Anja, will have a look - I know they had a lovely stag one but it's sold out.

I've spent far too much time looking at wrapping paper online and can't find a single one I like.

[twinklesparkles]

Absolutely love this thread!!

Sign me up for 2013!!!! :)

I'm on holiday this year, since we won't be here its minimum ponce I'm afraid.

Homemade gingerbread men, festive cupcakes and mince pies

Also embroidering/beading my dh and ds new christmas stocking.

That's about as poncey as I get this year. Next year will be maximum ponce overdrive!!!!!

See you guys in 2013

[DecktheHallswithTroughsofBolly]

Has anyone else got the Lakeland nativity cookie cutters ? I've done the cookies and made up a batch of royal icing last night, going to pickle myself in have a glass of mulled wine this evening and decorate them. Not doing a gingerbread house this year. Can't be bothered