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".

^

Lime, prosecco and passion fruit jelly all made! Thanks so much for that idea - here's hoping it sets well. It tastes so yummy though.

A question for all of you who make liquors.... I made fig liquor in September as we had trees full of ripe figs. I found a recipe online that used mostly wine with some brandy (plus sugar of course). Anyway, I am wondering if I should check it at some point or if it is better not to open the jars until the point of straining and bottling up?

OOOh you lovelies I was looking for this thread and now I've found it Hurrrayy !!! Sorry I haven't read the whole thread (my patience is not up to reading 25 pages fgs!!!!)

My mincemeat is beautifully mellow (it should be it's been made since last year,) the alcohol in it keeps it going and I cook it very gently a la Saint Deels.

That jelly sounds lovely weefit are you freezing it till the day? I can't answer your liquor question sorry, I only make elderflower cordial, and syrup , with the berries.

Sorry wiifit

Freezing? It is in jars so not sure why I would freeze it.

Oooh it's like jam, are you American by any chance?

Unusual with prosecco is there sugar in it?

No, not American. I thought jelly was jam that was clear - which this one is. Yes it has sugar in it. I had a lot of trouble getting it to set and needed way more pectin than the original poster mentioned. I wonder if my passion fruit carton was much bigger though? I could only find one kind (Rubicon) which was 1 litre. I also added real passion fruit seeds to mine at the end as I love them. They floated to the top of the jar but I think that is ok.

Yes that's true , I can think of bramble jelly! I love passion fruit too. I made quince jam which has enough pectin to set 3 jars of jam.!

Love the sound of that prosecco jelly!

I've been busy this weekend prepping all the stuff for my first sale tomorrow. I've made 35 ribbon garlands, 25 pine cones, 20 wooden decorations and gift tags, and have also wrapped up about 30 little cellophane bags filled with lebkuchen, gingerbread and cookies (and tied with ribbons!), plus I've made 3 quilted wreaths and some fabric garlands too. All that has taken me a month and I've finally sat down and made a ribbon garland for myself to keep as i realised I did 't have one. I now have 4 craft fairs to attend to try and sell it all! I've used up all my existing stash of craft bits and bobs, plus an outlay of around £50 in ribbons, and other bits, plus stall hire costs. Fingers crossed I can at least recoup my costs- I know what my 'black Friday' number is, and then I'm in profit!!

Practising for Boxing Day.

All the examples online are made with smooth pastes (e.g. Nutella) so this is a proof of concept to see if the mincemeat needs pureeing. It doesn't! And DH and two DC enjoyed it; the other DC doesn't like mince pies.

mrshathaway that makes me very hungry!

Good luck thenewwave

Ooooh Mrshathaway that's my kind of pudding! I've seen similar done with a flaky pastry and spread with chutney, with a Camembert baked in the centre. Delicious!

thenewaveragebear1983 would love to see some pics of your crafts
mrshathaway that looks amazing and very yummy

@leesmum

Your very talented, those quilted wreaths are beautiful @thenewaveragebear1983, I'd love to be able to make so many lovely things

Leesmum don't tell anyone but they are so easy to make. Do you have a sewing machine?

No but my mum does 😎

Well I just used fat quarters, made 3 long tubes about 100 cm (you could use fabric off the roll too and just used the fabric width), stuff them but leave an inch or two at each end. Then secure with safety pins at one end, plait, and then knot the six loose ends together in a big knot, then cover that with a band of fabric and a bow. I took a few hours to do each one. I'm contemplating making a garland using 3 different greens and leaving it long rather than making the circle.

Those of you growing paperwhites- are they doing anything yet? Planted mine in hurricane vases on 5th Nov and couldn't see and change so dug one up- it has a few tiny roots but hardly any. He vases are in the garage so cold and dark. Water up to the bottom of the bulbs. Any advice?!?! I'm not a gardener!!

So glad I've found this thread, I'd love to ponce more, but realistically we have a toddler and no help so I only want minimal hassle on the day as last year I spent a good chunk of Christmas Day in the kitchen and missed out.

So this is I'm going to pre ponce! I'll make some chilli jam and fudge and I want to make some chocolate decorations for the tree.

I also want to make that pastry tree, but not with mincemeat as no one likes it .

Mind, I made a black feather wreath for Halloween and it still needs some final touches . In my defence, I still have a couple of weeks as I'm celebrating my own country's version of Halloween so I'll try and get it done for the end of November. Hopefully.

Alternative suggestions for the pastry tree are coming in from friends and include:

Pesto
Cheese and chutney
Camembert and cranberry

Did my first craft fair! Took about £60 so I have officially covered all my costs now. Next one is Friday, then one on Saturday too.

Your stall looks amazing so I'm not surprised you did well- congrats .

Has anyone tried making those melted beads decorations? I quite fancy trying them.

I'd also like to make some of those fake presents for under the tree by basically decorating some boxes and adding fairy lights.

Cheshire thanks!
Do you mean like Hama beads? I bet snowflakes or similar would look lovely. You can get big buckets of them from IKEA much cheaper than official Hama beads.
I do like a few fake presents under the tree. I like them in fancy wrapping paper that goes with my 'theme', somehow the tree looks much more Christmassy when there's a few pressies under there, but we can't put real ones there as we have little helpful dc. Previous years we've wrapped up boxes of biscuits or sweets and then on Saturday night we've opened them to eat while watching a Christmas movie elf, for the millionth time!. They are also useful if you have unexpected guests turn up who might bring gifts for the dc unexpectedly, as you can just give a box of biscuits and look really organised and thoughtful!