Poncetastic 2020

[VivaJen]

I came on looking for the annual thread but can't find it so here is the start (courtesy of Fellatio - wherever you are)

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".

That's the one I have. I think it's that one everyone is referring to.
Delia's (original ancient) Christmas book says something about how it might be apple that makes the mincemeat go off.
I can recommend Nigella's cranberry mincemeat too. I make some ordinary and some of that.

Can anyone recommend a source of inspiration for canapes? Book or online. To serve to the rest of my family of course; Christmas isn't Christmas without little things to eat even without a party.

@its2019ffs I mean the 12 days of Christmas one.

@Dailyhandtowelwash Mary Berry has a recipe book called cooking up a feast. It has a lot of canapé recipes.

I've impulse bought 8 Xmas chair covers and I'm blaming this thread ( not my lack of impulse control!)

Dailyhandtowelwash - maybe have a look on Pinterest for inspiration?

Determined to try making mincemeat this year, I love mince pies, usually make the pastry. And they must be star-topped with an egg wash to make them all golden and lovely...

Thanks. I'll look for the Mary Berry. I can't 'get' Pinterest unfortunately. I just can't work out how to use it.

I usually do the Delia mincemeat, but am going to have a go at the recipe in one of this years Christmas mags. Can’t remember which one, but it has sherry in. Looks fab.
Might also do some spiced pickled pears. Great with cheese apparently.
New baubles from John Lewis today. Cheating but lovely.

I just ordered a wrapping paper organiser, going to buy some fancy wrapping paper soon

Could I join in the poncing pretty please

I’ve made Delias mincemeat a couple of times over the last few years and I don’t know whether I’m doing something wrong but it always seems very dry when baked in a pie.
I was wondering if anyone knows why this might be? Or is it just because I’m a heathen and used to shop bought jarred mincemeat.

I moved house this year and bought a jar of last years with me and I really don’t want to throw it away but I also don’t want to make lots of pies that are inedible.

Any help would be much appreciated thank you

@SteveHarringtonsHair how about making mincemeat crumble bars, the recipe is shortbread at the bottom of the traybake, spread the mincemeat on the top and then a simple crumble mix on top and bake.

like this recipe

@Dailyhandtowelwash I just type what I want into the search & scrooooooooooollll for ages. If there's something I want to save, I either "pin" it using the push pin icon or screenshot it. I spent a good few hours browsing pink & purple Christmas decs last night & have some ideas to try :)

They look delicious its2019ffs I’ll try those this weekend and see how the mincemeat fairs. Thankyou.

I am a Wannabe Christmas Ponce so I hope I'm welcome here.

The only Poncetastic thing I regularly achieve is making my own Christmas cake which no bugger eats

This year is going to be different..........

Do any of you have a fireplace you decorate? We have the surround but no fire & I usually just hang the stockings from it & stick the advent calendars on there but since dd1 is fancying pink and purple, I'm wondering whether to do something different this year.

It wasn't the makings of a busy book I'd seen in my stash - it was a pre-printed fabric book to stitch together. In fact two of them . Not sure why there are two but I'll wash them & make sure they don't run before I make one up for my friend's dd.

Also found a headboard/cot bumper type thing in there too but not sure if they'd use that.

I've had a thought for the two other girls after mooching about Pinterest for inspiration...maybe animal ornaments. Or maybe not. I've never been so indecisive about what to make them before now . I usually see something I really want to try so do that but nothing's jumped out at me so far.

I have fireplaces that I decorate. I cheat a bit and buy 6ft plain garlands from the florist which I then decorate with fresh eucalyptus, Ivy, dried flowers etc.

They end up being huge but I love them.

I've always felt sad that we don't have a fireplace.
Dd2 wants to make peppermint creams and orange creams dipped in chocolate. I'm all for that!
I definitely fancy making my own mincemeat. The Mary Berry one looks simple enough and uses butter instead of suet.

TrickyD I like your convenient displays of weaponry, very handy for when the inlaws act up.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername even more useful when the grandkids act up.

Lucysmam, we have three fireplaces downstairs which I decorate with what the family call ‘Mum’s festive swags.’ Greenery augmented with beads stars etc, and lights. I used to hang them from the ends of the mantelpieces with butchers’ hooks, but discovered that Command Hooks are better. If you don’t have a fire could you put in a few candles in the cavity to create a cosy glow?

I do ivy round the fireplace- strong wire twisted round some nails and the ivy woven through it. Bit of a rubbish picture attached but it shows the idea.

Similar here; sitting room and snug.

My DC refer to

“Mum’s seasonal displays”

Lovely fireplaces!

I’m getting distracted by planning a possible Halloween display of lit up ghosts for the front garden and an autumnal wreath for the door.

My mantelpiece Garland is intertwined with old fairy lights . They were bought by DH’s late father to go around DH’s cot the year he was born.
DH is 69 now . They are fragile and only go on for an hour or so each evening .