Poncetastic 2016

[WaitingForEgg]

Ok this thread may commence from midnight in honour of Fellatio. I sadly abandoned last years mid run due to pre-eclampsia and early birth of my December baby and therefore fully intend to throw myself fully into this years festivities:

"OK, first of all, I know it's still September by we need to start this thread now because as you all know, having a truly Poncetastic Christmas involves precision planning, strategy, bravery, heroics, and frequently martyrdom. A bit like the war in Afghanistan, only with nicer food and sparkly shoes.

So, if you, like me, actually want to make the next twelve weeks of your life a misery by hand-crafting your cards, finding a huge bucket for Nigella's turkey in brine, pickling pears, shrivelling oranges in a low oven for those rustic au naturel decorations, dragging half a holly bush back from the woods, and just generally being a smug annoying jobsworth ponce, join me on this thread.

Feel free to post photos of previous tree-trimming, cake icing or table centrepiece triumphs, discuss this year's bauble colour themes, debate the merits of Delia versus Gordon, road-test a selection of canapes and cocktails, (all in the line of duty) and link to lovely inspirational photos/craft ideas for a truly Poncetastic Christmas.

Warning: If your idea of a good Christmas involves Pizza, ITV, gravy granules or anything with 'Aunt Bessies' on the packet, this is not the thread for you".

Let's surpass all poncestastic pasts please

Soooo enjoying this thread. I love it so much I've just re-read it from the beginning. have copied the link to the choc orange crochet covers. And seriously considering making a Christmas cake this weekend. Is it acceptable to have just one weekend in October to drink baileys & watch Christmas films?

Just given my blackberry and apple gin and blackberry vodka a gentle shake.

Apparently it's meant to be shared. I think not

Blackberry and apple gin recipe please

Fever I have seen herb garlands on Pinterest, you should check them out.

I have a glut of rosemary, but no other herbs at the moment, otherwise I'd be trying myself.

I am currently making:

• DS a fabric advent calendar;
• DS a felt tree with felt decorations;
• an Attic24 Christmas crochet wreath;
• I am signed up for a wreath workshop in December;
• DS and I are collecting pine cones to decorate. He's 18 months, it's one of his favourite things to do ;
• I like the idea of the Christmas puds made with a chocolate orange and Maltesers someone's posted recently! Think that's what DSIS is getting!
• DS and I will be making gingerbread closer to the day;

Nobody on my side of the family likes christmas cake, but DM loves to make and decorate cakes, so she makes one for DMIL.

I plan to get anyone someone else to cook my Christmas dinner, so no poncing there, but I think I'll have done really well if I get through my list!

Hello! I had a baby in September last year so was just a bit poncey. This year I'm planning to ponce up.

I've already got pant0, Santa visit and a trip to Kew booked and have just invited friends for a weekend and dh's family for a Christmas family party and my annual shopping pilgrimage worth dsm and dsis is planned.

I've just ordered the stuff to make my own soaps for people. The preschool staff will be getting some. Looking forward to doing that. I'm planning a quilted table runner and I'm getting the fabric advent calendar down.

I wanted to go on a wreath making course but it is very expensive. I think I'll do some cinamon and orange garlands and string Lindt balls and popcorn on the tree. For one day. Before my 3 year old sees 😂

This year we are having cinnamon rolls for breakfast again, it's my birthday in a few weeks and I'll be making them for that.

I'm not making pudding or cake this year but I might make some mince meat as the smell of that as amazing.

I'm planning to make fudge and truffles and decorated biscuits as gifts with the soaps. Trying to keep to a budget as I am now a sahm.

Blackberry and apple gin sounds amazing.

I will post the recipe for you later today. You've just got time to do it - it should have 3 months to ?brew? (Not sure what the right word is) so I would say that it might be for the best if you kept it just for you to drink as opposed to giving it as a gift just in case it is absolutely delightful and you regret giving it away

BLACKBERRY AND APPLE GIN RECIPE

This is a delicious blackberry and apple recipe that will make bottles of gin – perfect for parties. The apple can be swapped for pear in this recipe, and the gin for vodka.

Makes about 800ml
10½ oz (300g) granulated sugar
1 apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped
8¾ oz (250g) blackberries
750ml gin

Method

Using a funnel, pour the sugar into a large kilner jar that has been sterilised (sterilise it in a very hot dishwasher, or boil it in a pan of water for 10 minutes).

Add the fruit and then the gin.

Seal tightly, then label with the date and store in a dark place.

Turn the bottle as often as you can to dissolve the sugar gradually.

After three months, strain off the alcohol and pour into dry, warm bottles that have been sterilised as before.

Seal and label with date.

The drink will keep well (if you have enough willpower...

So I could give this for Christmas just? I have a bottle of gin that I didn't make into sloe gin last year. I'll do this today. Thank you. Sounds brilliant.

Yas!! I am in full poncing mode, started in August when the Victorias were in season so made xmas plum chutney, x12 jars, have set a few liquors to infuse, fig and cardamom, christmas spice, ginger and honey and blueberry basil.
This weekend I am making Chilly Jelly(savory), Herb Jelly(savory) Chai Tea Jelly(sweet) and Mulled wine jelly(sweet).

Hopefully the first frost will be soonish so I can go and get sloes, rosehips, hawes and crabapples for my hedgerow gin.

I make hampers for friends and family and it has become a bit of a military operation over the last few years. DP says the spreadsheet is terrifying!

Starting my pouncing early with Christmas pie trials. Looking to make stockings and an adventure calendar this year.

Diamonds - I need more information on both of those things!

Stollen as attached!

Oh wow! Ahh! Dh bought me a nigella awesome cake tin for Christmas last year to make a wonderful cake in. www.hartsofstur.com/acatalog/Nordic-Ware-Pine-Forrest-Bundt-Pan-89737.html#SID=33 Looking forward to that!

Apple and blackberry gin made

HairSpraybabe the hedgerow gin sounds great - do you just put the rosehips in as they are? I made rosehip jelly once and spent an age scraping out the little hairs inside them, so want to avoid that.

By the way, for the last few years we have picked our sloes around this time of year and just pop them in the freezer - no difference as far as I can tell, and no need to prick them as they just split open as they defrost.

Disneyprincess that wreath looks fantastic.

Gin looks good. I'll post a pic of mine later but yes you could give it at Christmas as a gift. I picked up some bottles in ikea which will be perfect I'll post the link if I can find them.

These are the one I've got.

I've just remembered (I do this a lot) seeing that picture that last year I made gingerbread syrup for coffee / hot chicolate. That went down well!

I'll work up to IKEA again, i took a 3 year old and a 1 year old yesterday.

houseoftreats.org/gingerbread-latte-syrup/ This is the closest I can find to last years recipe. I think I put vanilla in mine.

BayeauxT
Hedgerow gin works like sloe gin but with other things added, made it up one year when sloes were thin on the ground! But it sounds delightfully poncetastic!

Pick your fruit and freeze it if you haven't waited till the first frost! (the ice crystals burst the cell structure of the fruit and makes the infusion better) I stick the gin on the radiator to warm it a little before adding the sugar and fruit for a better dissolve.

After it is infused 2 months or so strain out the fruit and put the liquid through a britta filter because this will strain out any tiny impurities such as rosehip hairs!

TeaPleaseLouise
Herb Jelly - put it on red meat or game before roasting, add to gravy or enjoy with cold meats and cheese.
Works with what ever herbs you have available if you have lavender you could do Herbes de Provence jelly!

prospectthepantry.com/2010/04/19/mint-and-rosemary-herb-jellies/

That is a good basic recipe but I am lazy and just use pectin from a packet!

For those making infused gins, what sort of quality of gin do you use? Would a cheaper supermarket brand be ok or is it better to get a decent one?

I use supermarket mid range brand e.g Tesco London Gin not Tesco Value Gin. Or I go to Aldi and by their faux Gordons!

You are filling it with sugar and fruit anyway so the flavor of the gin is less important than if you were having G&Ts IMO.