so its only....

[RabidCarrot]

364 days till Christmas

fuzzpig - it's too late for me to put the audio on the computer but is one of them "Fairytale of New York" ?

ignores judgey looking DS who should be asleep

:o

To my Christmas addict shame - I have never tried mulled wine! Is it actually wine? Also always wondered what eggnog is?

I made mulled wine years ago- large pan, low heat, slow cooking-
red wine, sugar, lemon and orange slices, cloves and cinnamon.
Then a splash of brandy just before serving.

It smelled gorgeous.
I had one shlurp and had to shave my teeth.

(Don't drink alcohol at all and this was when I didn't drink much. So not something I'd repeat)

I don't even like regular wine and hate the smell of red wine in particular so mulled wine is a nono for me! I just get Baileys and premixed cans like archers and lemonade, malibu and coke type things for xmas as we rarely drink throughout the year so no point in getting big bottles of spirits, much as I like cocktails.

149

into the one hundred and forties

I have been on eBay again, and have bought a couple of new decorations. They are much cheaper at this time of year - that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it!! Plus I was on Pinterest so that was inspiring me.

Yes! What is eggnog and what does it taste like?

I forgot to ask 70s, did you get much on QVC? I meant to watch it but forgot it was on!

Anyone like to link their favourite Christmas Pinterest boards?

I've been starting to prepare for the Christmas cake - by phoning family and asking if they liked the cake I saddled them with last year enough to want one this year, or if they only ate binned it out of sympathy because I gave it to them. I don't like dried fruit so I've no idea what they tasted like.

My uncle apparently liked it so much he was having sneaky slices of it in the kitchen so there was none left when his wife was after a slice. They're definitely in for this year then - I apparently made his day when I offered to make one for this Christmas! Will start soaking the fruit when I get back from holiday in late August as it needs 8 weeks to soak the fruit and up to 8 weeks to feed the cake.

Anyone started theirs yet?

No-one except me eats Christmas Cake PeterParker.
Or Christmas Pudding

I make a last minute Maderia Cake with cherries, sultanas and nuts soaked in Amaretto for a couple of days. No spice and caster sugar not brown.
I do a Delia Smith recipe marzipan with Amaretto rather than sherry and decorate half the cake . The other half gets served with crumbly cheese.

I did a syrup sponge pudding last year (because I have a Portmerrion 'Holly and Ivy' pudding basin and jug that were demanding to be used.

The cake for relatives is a brilliant idea.Tastes sooo much nicer than shop cakes which are 99% too heavy and too dark.

148

DH and I don't like Xmas cake, Xmas pud or mince pies!

70isalimit I just spent years feeling I should get them a gift - they give DS loads of clothes at Christmas (my aunt works in a well known supermarket so gets staff discount) - but tea towels, hand soaps, Christmas decorations etc were wearing a bit thin, and I didn't think a tin of biscuits was original / thoughtful enough. The cake works quite well as a "thought of you at Christmas" gift. I'm doing Paul Hollywood mice pies to go with them as well.

Paul Hollywood mice pies

Sounds scrummy but as a vegetarian, I'd bypass

What does PH do with his pie recipe? (Thinks of Heston B pine floor cleaner dusting sugar)

Ah 70 somebody brought those Heston pies into work last xmas. Pine floor cleaner is exactly what it smelled like. Ugh.

147

That's song isn't it?
"One four seven , is my idea of heaven...."
Something to do with snooker.
Is that the maximum score for clearing the table?

*70isalimit8 no shaving required, I promise . The recipe is here. They're bigger than usual and have tangerines and apple with the mincemeat.

146

I looked up PH mince pie recipe. I like the apple and tangerine idea (and they were deep pies as well).

Does Mr Hollywood have cold pastry-maker hands ...........

Thinks about Anthony Worrell Thompson to cleanse brain of chef lust.

AWT thought merit immediate brain bleach

Oh Pinch Punch First of the Month BTW

It's AUGUST!

We're on the home straight! Yay!

Can't believe it's August. DS turns 4 at the end of the month (and then starts school of course).

I only just noticed the mice/mince pie typo

And yes 147 is maximum break (or whatever they call it) in snooker. :)

I can't believe it's August once September gets here they'll start putting Christmas things out in the shops can't wait!

I can't wait either.

Am I the only one who doesn't like this sunny weather? Apart from many more serious reasons, it's just seems longer to Christmas and all the magical bit.

I remember having Christmas in a hot country when I was younger and the hot weather for me spoilt it - maybe it's because I associate the cold, gloom, grey, wind, rain and snow with the magic. Maybe it's a childhood thing.