Any Ponces Around?

[MikesJuppIsMyBitch]

My mincemeat is melting in the slow cooker atm, and it made me feel nostalgic for the Poncetastic thread. I've had a search, but can't see it.

I'm happy if someone else wants to start it, or this could be it!

Most of my poncing is kitchen based, although I'm planning to make seashell angels this year too, and maybe do something fiddly with acorns.

Also, I'm going to attempt to knit some presents.

Anyone out there? I'm poncing off now, but will check in later.

I shall have a Foreigner here for Christmas, so I have lots of poncing to be getting on with!

So far I have made sloe gin, pondered about my own pudding, and actually making a cake
Top of the list I have Christmas Bedding and Christmas cushions....I have never done that before, dh will think I have lost my mind.

And have a stash of pine cones in the car...I really should bring those in!

@Gettinbackonmyfeet ...it might be worth a trial run with some WD40, for your apples, that's recommended for preserving pumpkins and is apparently not flammable. I have used it and the front door did not go up in a Towering Inferno.

Thanks eitka - I hadn’t thought of going in there. In fact I walked right past my local branch yesterday even as I was wondering where I might get blank cards!

What an exciting thread! I am new to poncing, but just in my new, bigger house and hosting for 6 this year I am fully throwing myself in the art of poncing.

Free-ish weekend so going to make my Christmas pudding, it's not too late is it? I've never made one before! I'd also love to make my own mincemeat, does anyone have a good but easy to follow recipe for the poncing beginner?!

Try Delia's mincemeat

I made it as a novice last year and it went down really well.

Whoops! Not sure what happened to the sp but yes the t was a teaspoon. I've just seen the same recipe in a Christmas magazine I picked up, only they added booze! I know what I'm doing this year!!!

Poss being dim but why is it called poncing?

tiger it's poncetastic from poncey (pretentious, ostentatious, affected)
All you need to know here

www.mumsnet.com/christmas/top-tips-for-a-poncetastic-christmas

Marmalade gin and raspberry gin started here .

The marmalade gin is THIS ONE
It’s amazing and fairly dangerous topped up with Prosseco !

tiger the old threads are worth a read for context.

the good old days

Thanks Fluffy. Will give that a go this weekend!

I’m going to ponce this year. Normally I have loads of visitors all through December and don’t get time to bake and make. This year we will be much quieter and I can faff about with gingerbread.

I've found my people!!!!

So excited for al of the poncing... and I love that I now have a name for it

Does anybody have a really easy fabulous fudge recipe please?

I've seen one above that looks amazing... I've never made it before, is it absolutely foolproof? I'm thinking it could be wrapped in cellophane and ribbon for a teacher gift.... yes?!

Ok, so I have made a list of poncing activities I will be partaking in:

Homemade mince pies
A variety of homemade gins for gifting (any nice bottle recommendations welcome)
Homemade gingerbread cookies
Christmas fudge

I think that's a good intro for a novice-poncer

I would like to join please! I have a house with a hallway this year. Deck the halls with all of Christmas!!

Oooh mincemeat. Is this the time to make homemade mincemeat? I have Tues to myself next week and maybe then would be a great time to get started.

We're going to make chocolate chunk cookies and gingerbread for our neighbours and put them in separate kilner jars with homemade Xmas labels. I've been thinking about making Xmassy candles too.

And just looking for a bit of advice?? I have Grandparent's, 5 Uncles and 3 Aunties to buy for (not to mention the 15 cousins and their children plus DH's family 😫) and we usually put together a box of treats for each family. We don't usually get to see one side of my family, so it's usually a case of things that can easily be sent in the post. One year we did a family movie night box and last year we were moving house so I just did M&S treats by mail. I'm looking to do something simple again, does anyone have any good suggestions? Maybe like bisketeers? A few don't drink because of health problems. I'm really stuck this year!

Marmalade gin!
And raspberry gin!

My ponces are mainly around food. I'm thinking of experimenting with filled chocolate bars this year. Pistachio paste anyone? Or cherry brandy?

However small is deeply into unicorns and I'm thinking that santa might get her a unicorn stocking.

Afternoon!

I've just been enjoying a stroll down memory lane, thanks to the link to the old threads. I was on the first one! Thought I had been, but was pregnant and my memory from then is a touch unreliable.

It was all v jolly & funny, and STRICT

I've actually always put coloured lights^ on my tree, but I'm going to try warm white this year.

I've enjoyed reading all your plans and ideas. My problem is knowing when to stop. I need to be sensible and just pick one or two manageable things, not get overexcited, over-ambitious, then come crashing down in a heap of self-pity when I can't get it all done.

Wrt nice bottles for gifts, I don't think you can go wrong with gun baubles (lots on eBay). It also has the added bonus that you end up keeping more of the home-made liquor for yourself.

Gin baubles.

Gun baubles for your NRA relatives, maybe.

I have relatives where gun baubles may be appropriate MilesJuppIsMyBitch

Gin baubles could be a good pressie for a few of them. Sadly a hereditary kidney disease precludes quite a few from booze (I’m teetotal too but for other reasons)

Has anyone sent a homemade Xmas cake in the post?

gun baubles snorts

I'm new to these threads but have been poncing a few years....last year we were in Australia with some relatives and it really really wasn't Christmas . No Christmas dinner, no stockings, and our close family were half a world away

This year we have moved into our new house and I have room for 2 trees and will have a fireplace too.....I'm very very excited.

Currently have Blackberry Whisky maturing and in 3 weeks will be making puddings and cake....I end up making 4 puddings as
My daughter (26) wants one and my mum another and we have one New Year's Day too lol

I've never posted Christmas cake but I have posted puddings ( plastic bowl) and that worked fine for the person up thread who was thinking of posting cake.

Only 2 more weeks of the house referb and I can start

Ooh I need some poncy ideas! I can't wait to make my edible decorations and gingerbread cottage. The Christmas cake is tucked safely away and last years Christmas pudding is also safely stashed!

Has anyone made dried oranges and clementines? I'm thinking of giving it a go this year and making entire swags of dried fruit and cinnamon sticks

Like these would be the dream -unlikely to be the reality tbh

To follow on from WhatareyoueatingNOW. How long do the oranges etc last?

I’ve made clove pomanders (oranges studded with cloves and dried) and one is 15 years old and still fine. You can’t actually see the skin through the cloves so it doesn’t matter that it’s brown and shriveled. . I also do orange slices each year and they discolor with age but I quite like the contrast of the older and newer ones. If you want orange coloured oranges I don’t think you’d get longer than a single season.