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".

^

Beautiful! And I love your colours.

Wow, they're fab!

I had a lovely time making this today at a workshop. The base is willow so it can be stripped and reused next year .
I did try drying my own oranges but ended up with charred discs of doom !

Wow, you've all been busy! Love the felt decorations and the wreath- beautiful!

Woke up this morning to about 4 inches of snow, and more to come!
It looks so beautiful out there. I'll be staying indoors and wrapping some presents I think, plus I need to make 3 children's cards. I've been making ones with a spinning reindeer in the front that my mum showed me, I'll try and post a pic when I've done them.

Put tree up comp!eye with new felt decorations, all five ha ha, lights I mediuately blew gahh. So far today have made whisky marmalade some for gifts but mainly household standard supplies. Have a batch of cherry flapack in oven for taking out tomorrow. Will also be finalising gift tags and wrapping and rest of decorating house today as realised only one weekend left before my daughter comes home and festivating begins.

Ooh I’ve been waiting to join this thread for a while but have only just started to get into the spirit (4 children, 2 non sleepers) Today I packaged up the clementine bath bombs for ds’s nursery teachers

It's been a mixed bag of a day, ponce-wise.

Decorated the tree (warm white lights with red/white/silver ornaments collected over 14 Christmases together, plus anything the DC make which doesn't completely disintegrate).

Also DC made the attached felt decorations - the 9yo's homework was to make a decoration for the class tree and he was adamant it had to be an angel emoji. So obviously the 6yo had to make a poop ...

A Christmas poop, excellent.

Now that's more like it. I love Ikea wrapping.

Ooh. I love that, MrsH!

the snow looks so beautiful here, I am taking lots of photos for my next years xmas book,

got a load of baking done yesterday, party is this weekend, this month is flying by!

Thanks, Santa

this month is flying by!

Isn't it though! Good thing we poncers get started in January
September otherwise we'd never fit it in

MrsHathaway
Truth be told I start in July, I need to get my chutneys done for a really nice long maturation time!

I tested out a recipe today for pinwheel paleo cookies for a party we are having on Saturday. The red ones are mulled spice flavour and the green ones are lime. I am very happy with them!

poncing prep is almost finished now, hampers are done and I had my cocktail party on Saturday,
Still feeling a little "tired"!

and some party shots

Ooooh hairspray looks great. What is the first picture (the broken up what looks like a tray bake with white chocolate?) - it looks delicious!

Been madly poncing in our sun room where we have Christmas lunch . 10 family members this year ranging from 16 months to 94 years .
Every year we have a different theme , this year it is books /library so I have wallpapered and made newspaper bunting on red tape . The table runner will have matching napkins ( when I have made them ) and each place has an old ladybird book as a place marker .
It's very much a stage setting but I do love doing it when really I should be decorating the rooms that need doing !

@Trumpton your book staging idea sounds brilliant and lots of fun.

It is triple layer peppermint bark
Bottom layer dark chocolate, middle layer, chocolate peppermint fudge, top layer white chocolate with crushed peppermint candy canes!
Doesn't take too long to make and is very moreish!

Hairspray - that peppermint bark looks superb. I have to take something edible to a Christmas Eve party and that would fit the bill. Is it easy to point us in the direction of the recipe? Please 💐

orangette.net/2008/12/look-at-that/

Adapted from this recipe, I make a thin layer of carnation fudge with 1 tbsp of cocoa powder and a dash of peppermint extract in the center rather than the ganache because it keeps longer and you can keep it out of the fridge but if you are making it a few days before and are happy to stick it in the fridge then the exact recipe should be fine

Cake done - had to share here as I am sadly proud of myself!
Ignore the non poncy tat!

Some minor poncing going on- we made the chocolate fudge that someone posted a while ago, but I've yet to cut it.

And the weird things in the pictures are bath jellies, please disregard the colour as my 'threenager' is going through a Goth phase and wants everything in black .

These are all so lovely!
Not mine but here are some decorated biscuits made in a group I ran last week: