Countdown to Christmas 2017

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365 to go

Then you beat me. My earliest foodie job is making mincemeat when I have enough apples and pears off the trees. Normally at the beginning of Sept.

I make 2 types a river cottage pear and ginger one and delia's traditional one. Both are delicious. I make loads because I supply both sets of parents and several friends.

I make plum and port chutney in August when they are all falling off the tree in my parents garden! I use delia's recipe as a basis but just chuck in whatever I have about really.

House stinks for days mind you!

The mincemeat and chutneys sound delicious. I usually make crab apple jelly in the autumn/end of summer but it is eaten by Christmas. I make chilli jam as one of my December tasks.

I would love to make jam / chutney but never seem to get around to it.
My garden is full of blackberries so plan this year is to use them for jam and attempt a caramelised onion chutney. I was also going to try pickling my own onions but FILs were lovely last year and I think he felt bad not giving any away so he's promised me several jars

Is chutney / jam relatively easy to make?

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I'd love to make chutneys and jams, I've never been quite that organised though! Maybe this year I'll get around to it :)

@HandbagCrazy it's really easy. Jam is a bit more temperamental in my experience but having access to a jam thermometer takes most of the guesswork out. As for Chutney the hardest thing is getting the smell of vinegar out of your hair afterwards!

I'd highly recommend the river cottage preserves handbook as it explains why you do things not just what you have to do. www.amazon.co.uk/River-Cottage-Preserves-Handbook/dp/158008172X?tag=mumsnetforum-21

My Harry Potter makeup brushes arrived yesterday. Even DD2 was impressed and she is a makeup snob expert.

Thanks mrsmortis ill take a look. I'm not holding out much hope - my baking is atrocious and I'm quite slap-dash in my approach to things so if it needs to be specific I might be rubbish but I'll give it a go.
I love the homemade stuff - we were given jam and chutney from a lady DH knows in work last year and it was delicious.

Feeling festive today - I'm wearing the dress I wore on Christmas Day as I'm out for food later

I saw some lovely coffee mugs/flask things in Starbucks yesterday that my DDs would love. Bloody £19 a piece though. And they already have fancy pants mugs/flask things, so I'm not sure.

One of mine is also a make-up snob expert Wholly methinks the kid is deluded 😁

I saw some lovely coffee mugs/flask things in Starbucks yesterday that my DDs would love. Bloody £19 a piece though. And they already have fancy pants mugs/flask things, so I'm not sure.

One of mine is also a make-up snob expert Wholly methinks the kid is deluded 😁

don't know why that posted twice, sorry.

@HandbagCrazy

Then I suggest you start with Chutney or relishes (unless you want to make mincemeat at this time of year as that is even easier). If you happen to have access to rhubarb there is a spring rhubarb relish recipe in that book which is delicious and really easy.

Blackberry Vodka!! It's yummy. Will post recipe in a sec.

Have been missing in action. Mr D and I carted M of to her grandparents while we disappeared for a few days R & R. Obviously having had the baby for 5 hours now it feels like we've never been away but hopefully the memory of a few prosecco fuled nights will linger for a couple more days!

Well the recipie is for blackberry and apple gin... but it is also very nice...hic!*

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...)

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Must go to bed... 😴

Chutney is super easy to make, dissolve sugar in vinegar chop up veggies, add to pan simmer for a few hours till it is good and thick, stick into sterilised jars and it is ready to serve in 2 months!

God 290 ! It is going quickly .....
I have been vere busy so not posted for a few days ........
Hope all well , the weather has been glorious 17 degrees here just wonderful !

MrsD I may have to add that to my repertoire! I don't really drink vodka but flavoured gin sounds amazing...

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I was in The Range today , they had a small Table of Assorted Tat including some Christmas bits.
I resisted (I did have a look though )

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288 seems such a long stretch to go
Last night the evening was stretching far too long for me so I closed the blinds just after 6pm and with some new lights I purchased during the week along with all my other fairy lights going on I lit up the room!! Didn't bother putting the lamp on and with the fire roaring I was in a good place :) I just miss the xmas tree

Mmmm blueberry gin- may have to try.
hi ladies, haven't been on for awhile had probs with the internet.
haven't bought any pressies but have £150 saved and the 50p and £2 tin are filling up nicely.
my baby sister is 21 today so we are taking her for lunch before she gets sozzled with her friends tonight. Ahhh remember the days of a child free hangover

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My £2 jar (tin) this year is the £2/10p/5p/2p/1p (I usually collect the coppers in a jar but all together this year)

Anyone with tins though - the £1 coins will cease to be legal tender in about October. The new £1 coins are released this month then we have 6 months to change over. (This was in the paper )