Poncetastic 2017

[Annwithnoe]

Since there doesn't seem to be a poncetastic thread, and to avoid confusion with thread titles, would I be out of order to start this one?

First order of business, a toast to our dearly missed Fellatio Nelson, wherever she may be and a quote from her original thread:

^
"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".

^

My Christmas Pudding is having it's eight-hour steam today, after our stir-up Sunday with wishes yesterday.

Whole house smells wonderful.

Congrats cookie my DC3 is just about to turn 1 and I'm crafting in the car after driving him to sleep !

My other two have the Chris bug and have already been making snowflake decorations and colouring in Christmas cards!!

Ds and I collected some pine cones today and they are currently soaking in vinegar/water as per instructions up thread! Not sure what we'll make with them yet. I do like that Christmas tree but not sure how well it will hold together with my very amateur skills

I am glad you like the mittens. I am a novice crocheter having only ever done granny squares before. I don’t have a pattern just you tuned it and scaled it down to the size I wanted.

I love the socks they are lovely. I haven’t got the hang of changing colours that well yet . So am eyeing them up with envy.

I am moving house at the end of the month! I can wait to decorate my first house! Even my DP has said that he is looking forward to putting lights in the fruit trees. (He used to be a Christmas grump, my Christmas excitement must have rubbed of on him!)

Has anyone any advice or tips on working with chocolate. I know how to temper dark chocolate but not sure about temperatures for white or milk chocolate. I want to cover truffles in a nice thick coating. I'm thinking I probably need to use a seeding method. Has anyone any experience with this?

Silicon "ice cube" moulds are useful - you can paint several layers inside, then pipe once safely set.

Alternatively, pipe/spoon a splodge on to good greaseproof/silicon paper, add filling once set, then spoon chocolate over, taking care to get a good seal.

You can do a full dunk then retrieve with a fork, again setting on good paper, but it's both messy and wasteful (needs LOTS of chocolate which gets contaminated with odd bits of filling).

This thread is amazing xx I thought it was too early to start preparing but glad you have all proved me so wrong !

My DH & I love love Christmas but we end up being so busy with children we are always rushing! We do normally make a cake and go over board on decorations. Last year we had 25 over for xmas lunch but our house isn't that big and it was a struggle to fit everyone in so this year we are considering a Christmas dinner buffet ! Basically Christmas dinner but more relaxed ! I'm a big worried it won't be the same - but I have just said to DH we could do the sit down dinner on xmas eve for just us & the children...

But now I'm completely inspired to get poncing

00 I am tempted to do ours carvery style this year, with all the food in the kitchen but everyone sat at the table in the dining room to eat. It saves bringing everything through and then back again, plus means the table isn't crammed with serving dishes.

Think this will be the right place to ask: does anyone know what these cutters are called or where sells them?

I can only find them called 'mug huggers' and imported from the US at extortionate cost.

To make mug hugger cookies, I use an ordinary cookie cutter and cut out the mug bit by hand once the cookie is cut. They are always really well received - quite an effect for very little effort. I use my gingerbread man recipe because it never expands or shrinks.

I’ve seen those cutters- or similar- in Lakeland in the past

Just booked a rag wreath making class with DM and we will be headed to the Stratford upon avon victorian christmas marked on the weekend of the 8th!

PLUS! DF has got us tickets to a wassail with readings and carols and mulled things on the 17th!

Me too, Lost, think that's where I first saw them, but I can't find them now.

I'm worried about not being able to get the balance right on them if I do that, math . I may be overthinking slightly...

For anyone who regularly makes sloe gin are these ready to pick? Last year was the first year I picked (& found a fab place full of them) but it was much colder than now but this year they feel similar but have more brown on?? I pricked & out in freezer for a month before making & my gin (we still have a bit) says Nov 2016? Any thoughts, they feel firm but juicy?

They look ripe to me.

Thanks Mrs Hathaway.

I've got the ingredients ready to do the Delia mincemeat recipe. What's the general consensus on adding glace cherries? It's not in Delia's recipe, and this novice wannabe poncer doesn't want to mess up what you guys say is a delicious recipe, as it is. Happy for your thoughts.

Does anyone have any recipes for frozen cranberries? I brought far too many for mincemeat and don't want them going to waste!

@CiderwithBuda thank you for the mention of the ICA Christmas book. We haven't been "home" to Ireland for Christmas in 4 or 5 years but my mum does an amazing job of recreating the christmases of my childhood here in England for my DCs! I've bought the book to go in a hamper/bundle Christmas present ready to inspire her for next year.

I saw some cookie cutters designed to hang off a cup. They were made by Wilton in tk maxx and I think they were £2.99. I didn't buy them as I fancied a gingerbread house and it didn't have that shape. It had a gingerbread man with a bent arm and three others I can't remember.

these were them

I have ordered my Paperwhite narcissi to grow on pebbles in hurricane vases for Christmas . I do them every year and the smell is divine .
I found a report from an American university study that said to replace the water with diluted gin or vodka to stunt the height so they don't flop !

Sjd

You could either make cranberry and tangerine liqueur or Nigella makes a lovely cranberry orange and almond pudding

www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/cranberry-orange-and-almond-pudding-recipe-1946268

trumpton they sound lovely, can I ask how you grow them, what do you mean on pebbles? How many in a jar? And how would you try and stunt the growth? Liking the sound of that maybe as a table centre piece??!!

Ooh, thanks cookie. I'll have to go to our local TK Maxx and see if they have them in!