Xmas prep

[RoseyPeas]

Is it too early to start makingJamie Oliver's Get Ahead Gravy?

Maybe!

I've made my mincemeat already though!

Ooh Fluffy,. that's a great idea!

I made some last year but we ate it all.
I'm off to add mincemeat ingredients to my Tesco order...

I have my sprouts on.

Is it too early to start Christmas shopping? Just a few books and toys for the DC. It would really pass the time.

It's never too early if you want to shop!

Never too early! I have got some, mainly for me! Just a few additions to my Spode Christmas Tree collection. I am also pregnant so wanting to get super ahead this year. But my family will go mad if I mention Christmas right now!

I've started making lists of stocking fillers & mains

My DC asked if we could have toad in the hole for C.Dinner this year - it's very tempting!

I'm halfway through my shopping. I buy a few bits each month.

I'm joining this thread because I need to talk about something normal and positive!

I'm getting married on 27th December so will need to start planning for a slightly scaled down Christmas!

I'm already making cards and planning my wrapping

Eldest is in love with Yorkshire puddings and will eat them with everything if I let her! So yes it's time to prepare for Xmas, need to perfect my YP recipe @PhantomErik I think toad in the hole may be on our menu too. Recipe idea?

Mincemeat is now added to list. Anyone got a non-traditional recipe for it? One which is as nutty as it is fruity? Did one last year which basically had a mini stollen on top, I think it was good housekeeping recipe?

Ahhhh.... Christmas!

I've still got last years marzipan. If I ever get cake ingredients I might make a Stollen or Simnel cake .

I've not seen a nutty mincemeat recipe. I use two recipes and one has a small amount of almonds and the other has no nuts at all.

I've said to my MiL that I want to think about Christmas a bit more, purely to cheer us up!

I'm eagerly awaiting October's Christmas food release from the supermarkets!

@Frokni
I use Delia's mincemeat recipe, but have added extra nuts to use up ends of bags, which noone seemed to mind/notice.

Now is an ideal time to experiment!

I like nigellas cranberry mincemeat recipe but you do need fresh cranberries for it.

Toad in the hole sounds like a great Xmas eve dinner?

@RoseyPeas I will get creative then. I have Delia's recipe so will sub some of the many pieces of dried fruit.

Is it Christmas now? X

I do a charity Christmas raffle and have already wrapped up all the prizes - non edible ones of course.

@Frokni, it might as well be; everything else is arse about face!

That's Excellent @nowordforfluffy I shall get the DDs making Xmas paper chains and I will crack open the baileys (which is already open)

Baileys is very easy to drink at any time of day!

Ive started buying bits for my son, partly because the baby will be due about 3-4 weeks before his birthday so I want to be prepared.

I've worked out my budget for presents and started saving some stuff on Amazon wish lists. Won't go crazy for baby - going to get a soft toy and xmas outfit to go with a baby toy gift set I have put aside already x

I tend to lump birthdays in with Christmas in my thinking. I've found some nice stocking fillers and birthday bits from Rex London. Ebay is great for that sort of thing too.

Can anyone walk me through the DS/ DS lite/ switch pros and cons? Thinking if getting one each for the 9 and 6 yo. The same brand so they can play together. Which is best? Thanks.

@Fronki my DS is obsessed with Yorkshire puds. I use this recipe. He gets two! Tip- make sure the baking tin is very hot with oil sprayed on it (fry lite or whatever). If I brush oil on with an oil brush they stick to the pan. www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/best-yorkshire-puddings%3famp

@Bluewavescrashing Hey hun my son has a 3ds and loves it cos he likes games like Mario sonic etc. But what u will find is it is getting harder to find games. From what I've seen the 3ds games are being phased out/no new releases, so you would probably find ds games at places like argos, amazon, 2nd hand places like cex.

Switch will initially be a bigger cost but better investment in long term because new game releases are being geared at the switch, and you will find "older" games going down in price. As the newest handheld console u will find there will be a good supply of games for many years ahead x

Thanks for the tips @Cherryrainbow! Very helpful.