When do we ponce?

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

It can't just be me pinning ideas for Christmas greenery baskets for the front porch? No? I'm alone?

I can't remember how early the poncetastic thread starts!

Ooh me!

Started cutting up some lovely fat quarts to make dd2's stocking. It's a pinwheel design of my creation... it's super simple! She simply can't a fourth Christmas with a bought babies first Christmas stocking!

Morning everyone, how did the chilli jam turn out @NoWordForFluffy?

A homemade stocking is very poncetastic @Kittykatmacbill post a picture when you are done 🎄

I'm not sure the consistency is quite right. It's firmer than sauce but not like a fruit jam. It has a good kick to it though (mix of Purple Gusto and jalapeño chillies).

I'm distributing it round some guinea pigs to test!

I feel like I'm ahead of the poncing game as I've still got last year's Christmas cake so don't need to make a new one (spare wedding cake that didn't make the grade and I was too ill with morning sickness to decorate it) and we've got 750ml of Christmas pudding vodka that I made early last November before finding out I was pregnant! Can't wait to strain it and use the raisins for bread and butter pudding.

How do you make Christmas pudding vodka? How long does it keep?

I strained last years limoncello again yesterday (I add the juice as well as zest of lemons so there is sediment int he end result, ugh) but there will be some of that.

I intend starting a batch of mincemeat this week, and maybe making a few bits next week when I have a couple of days off.

This may finally be the year I ponce!

Ooh. Mincemeat! Can I have your recipe please?

I think I need to make Christmas pudding vodka!

Fluffy, I've used the Hairy Bikers one for the past few times, and Darina Allens too, both are nice. My books are at home but I'll try to remember to add the recipe tonight.

Is this the HB one?

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/oldfashionedsweetmin_90635

Fluffy =- yes that looks familiar (particularly the orange pastry part - although I haven't yet made that). I left it maturing for at least 3 months last time and twas nice. (Not quite as nice as my previous batch - but I had a final jar to use that was 2 years maturing at that stage!! )

The other one I use has gran marnier in the ingredients list (as I bought it for this purpose and have never used it for other reasons, including drinking!). There;s still about 2/3 of the bottle left after at least 5 batches of that recipe over the years.

Here's the Christmas pudding vodka recipe: www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/christmas_pudding_vodka_45343 It seems to keep for a while.

Triskaidekaphilia spiced arancello is a good thing to make, added to hot chocolate it's the perfect Christmas drink. I've made it for Christmas every year since it was first in BBC Good Food, it's lovely!

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8025/spiced-arancello

If you are making flavoured alcohol how 'good' does the vodka/ gin thst you use need to be??
Thanks

That's a good question @LostMyRubySlippers. I've been wondering the same thing. I started some blackberry liqueur yesterday, I used Smirnoff because I had almost a litre of it sitting in the cupboard (we don't drink Vodka unless I use it for cocktails). If I get more brambles then I'm going to make it with gin but I've been wondering if I should use a supermarket own brand or somthing mid shelf like Gordon's.

I've looked at lots of recipes online and they are really mixed.

I am also patiently waiting to officially ponce. Pre-ponce thread a fab idea to cover the late summer preserving jobs. I hasten to add that I have grand ideas of fresh flowers/pine house decoration, decluttering and home made presents every year, which never quite come to fruition...virtual poncing?
I do manage lots of preserving, though, and have made a start - plum brandy, damson gin and quince vodka as last year (though my garden tree is quinceless this year - using quince jelly and frozen fruit instead. They were all lovely, easy (fruit/sugar/cheapest booze from Aldi and give it 3 months to steep!).
I am also repeating creme de mures (blackberry liqueur) from foraged fruit, red wine, sugar and vodka - used River Cottage recipe for creme de cassis but a bit less sugar as blackcurrants are tarter. This makes a lot, is much cheaper as less spirit than wine, and makes brilliant gifts in a small bottle (I use those single serve ones), with instructions to add a dash to a glass of prosecco or cider, or just sip neat.
As you need to strain the fruit without pressing, am going to use the pulp for a spicy blackberry chutney. Will be using a hybrid of recipes so let you know how I get on.
I bought Sarah Raven's Christmas book , which I understand is the Mumsnet Christmas Bible .... good God, I now feel totally inadequate, as wasn't planning on multi-course drinks and nibbles parties or stately home scale winter floristry. Some fab ideas, though, and superlative recipes, as ever.
Now to try and tidy and clean the house ... 4+ months should allow enough time!

Thanks- I was wondering if own brand/ maybe aldi would be ok or not but sounds like it should be.. Thinking of making something for ourselves & for couple of gifts. Not trying to 'save' money as such but equally don't want to end up adding unnecessary expense when I'm not sure how impressed the recipients will be...

So highlighting my obvious non ponce self....can someone please explain why the kellybronze turkey? Are they far superior? thank you

God I hope they are superior @Sparklefarts. This is my last try with turkey since I've just never really liked it when i've cooked it before so I've ordered one from the Scottish farm (KellyBronze Scotland) which is really close to us and I'm hoping that it really is as good as it's supposed to be.

The idea is that the turkeys take much longer to reach maturity so they have a better flavour, they are hung for longer and they have a really good quality free range life. They also only take a couple of hours to cook because of the fat that runs through them.

You can get "bronze" turkeys in the supermarkets but they're not necessarily a "Kelly Bronze".

According to the poncetastic rules I believe you get extra ponce points for having a KellyBronze!

This will be my first year poncing!
I have just ordered a glue gun for the various wreaths and crafts.
I'm planning on making my own jams/chutneys, can anyone tell me what jars they use? I have a mountain of baby food jars that I have been collecting, will these suffice?

Oh viva I think I'm sold 🍗

Ive never made jam etc, only mincemeat, but I think you can use any old jars- jam etc- as long as they've been sterilised. Think you can do this by putting them through dishwasher as the steam sterilises them.. Guess only thing with baby food jars is that the lids might be a bit stained? depending on what the contents have been...

I recall seeing in the past that sainsburys sell half price Kilmer jars, bottles etc at this time of year but haven't had chance to get there yet to check this out.. I'm sure it was around back to school time I've seen it before though

This Friday is a Rudolph Day. My best frrend and I will be meeting to start sewing Christmas-themed wonders. I am actually making her 3 felt Star Trek tree decorations for her present, on the sly, and have already started them.

We are a fireplace-free house and am tempted to make this: and if i do, must decide where to put it not got an awful lot of free wall space!

I'll be making rosemary shortbread and spiced ginger biscuits for gifts this year as we are 100% broke. I have a nice set of cutters to create a layered bell with holly leaves. They always go down well.

I already have a big 3D felt campfire with 3 logs to go in the fireplace