Poncetastic Christmas Poncing 2021 *Title edited by MNHQ*

[goose1964]

I've been looking for one but can't find one.

@Trumpton I'm new to all this so had planned some daffodils but paper whites look so lovely I'd be so happy to join a plant-along

@NigelSlatersXmasTaters

"You keep Delia in the LOFT?!? 😱

Sacrilege!"

It's a converted loft I should add. Only the best for Delia. Nigel stays down though obvs

Phew!

I bought a couple of big bags of cloves that I'm going to put in oranges. Tried it before, it didn't work, I think I need to stab them with a pointy thing (stick 'em with the pointy end?) first; cloves really aren't that sharp!

I know this is premature poncing, but the easiest thing to use is a drawing pin. Saves your soft lady fingers.

Placemarking When should I be ordering paperwhites? I saw some to be delivered in 2 weeks which I’m guessing is too soon.
I have ordered the Nigel Slater Christmas book for MIL as the Christmas poncetastic spirit is also with her so hopefully she’ll love it!

So I’ve typed up my Master To Do list in readiness for October 1st.

I’ve also discovered, from my grandmother, a game changer for Yorkshire puddings. Don’t warm the fat! Just put it in cold, pour the batter on top and pop in the oven. It may be sacrilege but it works! First test run this evening and they were the best Yorkshires I’ve ever made!

Oh and a wreath making class is booked for 29th November!

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch

I bought a couple of big bags of cloves that I'm going to put in oranges. Tried it before, it didn't work, I think I need to stab them with a pointy thing (stick 'em with the pointy end?) first; cloves really aren't that sharp!

I know this is premature poncing, but the easiest thing to use is a drawing pin. Saves your soft lady fingers.

I use a tiny screwdriver.

@HintofVintagePink

So I’ve typed up my Master To Do list in readiness for October 1st.

I’ve also discovered, from my grandmother, a game changer for Yorkshire puddings. Don’t warm the fat! Just put it in cold, pour the batter on top and pop in the oven. It may be sacrilege but it works! First test run this evening and they were the best Yorkshires I’ve ever made!

They had us doing that in cookery classes at school-we ended up with pancakes.

Hello everyone! Joining properly for the first time despite always being a keen ponce, but feeling the need for it even more than usual this year. Also looking forward to Big Nige's CC readalong - it's become an annual tradition for me the last few years. Very happy to be here.

@sueelleker I had no faith at all it would work, but it did!

This thread is warming the cockles of my heart

My plan so far:

• Do the Great Biscuit Bake last weekend in November, so we are ready to go on the 1st December. I do a mix of traditional Christmas east European and German cookies and biscuits, about 8 different varieties, over the course of 2 two days' baking. It is my favourite bit of Christmas and kicks off the whole season for me!

• Get out the Christmas village (tea lights) also at the very start of December so that we get to enjoy it (put up along the kitchen windowsill) for longer

• Sew Christmas tablecloth, matching cushion covers (I have done this before, but couldn't be arsed last year) and new stockings (actually bags). This will also set the tone for the tree theme this year

• Make some decorations depending on what theme is

• I usually hold a yule log making evening with friends (not the yule log cake, but the actual decoration that it's based on) but didn't last year, so will think about maybe doing that again; if not then I will just make my own again, along with the wreaths for front and back doors

I need to think about what food we want to have and what needs prepping. I'm the only one who likes Christmas pudding but I think I'll make myself a small one again.

I bloody love this thread. I love Christmas, it's such a happy time of year and now I have 2 little ones I have an excuse to do lots of Christmas activities and crafts!

One big question though, has anyone got a good recipe for Christmas pudding (not cake). I've googled (obviously) but there are so many! It doesn't need to be huge, enough for 4-5 greedy portions. I'm a good baker and make lots of cakes, cookies, brownies etc but I've never done a Christmas pud!

@Florencenotflo I’d go with Delia or Mary Berry.

Adore this thread. Christmas is my happy time. My late father always made it so magical and I vowed to honour him by doing the same for my family.

Things I want to try this year

1. Making my own mincemeat. Never attempted it before so any advice/recipes much appreciated.

1. Drying orange slices and making gingerbread snowflakes to hang on the tree. Both looked lovely last year.

1. Making popcorn garlands for the tree. DD has requested this and I’m intrigued.

1. Clove studded oranges. Again never done them but I love the idea of them.

1. Make a homemade advent calendar (think brown envelopes pegged on string) and fill it will things for us to do as family.

The list goes on! 🎄

I've put in request for a Dutch friend to bring me back some speculaaskruiden — I don't know if having my spice brought over from the Netherlands is more or less poncey than trying to make my own spice mix.

On a less poncey note, I need some address stickers. I don't know whether to make them Christmassy (festive, but useless for the rest of the year), with a design but not Christmassy (might clash with my cards) of plain white (useful all year round, no risk of clashing, but not very pretty).

I make my own Spekulatius and Lebkuchen spice mixes @PolkadotsAndMoonbeams I do intend to bring some back next time I am in Germany though. And vanilla sugar.

Oh oh ! THank you PattyPan for reminding me that I want to make my own vanilla sugar this year!

I’m on the look out for a Wreath making class. I need to find were I have hidden my paper white’s from last year! Or do I need new bulbs? They were so pretty and lasted ages.
My DD has promised to make Christmas cake soon if I buy ingredients. Have bought the Good Housekeeping Christmas magazine to go with the Good Food one.

I'm in. Thoughts of christmas are already creeping in. Have crab apples in the gin, sloes picked and in the freezer, first batch of pear chutney done (apples were few n small this year). Bought some christmassy paper bags to do 12 days of christmas gift calendars. Would love to do the paperwhites this year as I am early enough on the thread. Looked for some christmas ham recipes online earlier, inspired by the christmas food thread on the go atm, oh and decanted the rhubarb gin, it may not make it to christmas though 😳. Got a christmas tree sapling from a vodafone offer last year so happy it's growing like mad out front and ready for some fairy lights. Looking forward to seeing everyones pics and reading posts and ideas.

If Vodafone do that offer again, I think I'll get one, @noodledoodler. Are you still on Vodafone to give me the heads up?! I can get a code from my sister.

I have my Christmas strawberry vodka in the fridge, taunting me. I used homegrown strawberries, so it had to be made in June (or July, I forget!).

There is a nice ham recipe in the Good Food magazine, I think. I'll try to find it.

Hi @NoWordForFluffy, strawberry vodka, homegrown you say? Goodness me that sounds delish, willpower needed to resist that I am
sure.
Yes still on vodafone so NP if it comes up its so nice to see the tree growing so plenty of christmases to come yet with it.
Where do you all buy your paperwhite bulbs?

I saw paper white bulbs in Wilko, £2 for 2 on Sat. I didn't bother getting them as I don't have anything to grow them in (my growing is done outside; I have no vase-type things!).

I had a 15% off (I think) code for Sarah Raven today which I can dig out if you'd like?

I’m trying to be a bit more creative with the DC’s Advent calendars this year. I’ve ordered some books from their recommended reading lists from school from World of Books, so on each Saturday in Advent they will have a book to read. It’s only cost a few pounds as all the books are second hand, but in good condition. I’ll see what arrives in the post! Hoping for a few moments quiet on a Saturday morning!
I love the idea of a book on each day of Advent, but can’t quite stretch to that this time.

I also found some beautiful cards today and had ideas for a few more gifts.

I'm currently on the Cultpens website looking for a nice red or green shimmery fountain pen ink to write my Christmas cards.

I've seen they have an advent calendar as well. It's very tempting, but I think 25 different coloured inks is probably more than I'll ever need!

This thread is making me feel warm and fuzzy inside - and I’m not remotely poncetastic. I love love love the spirit of it all.

Quick question - cloves in orange sounds like something I might be able to manage - is it for decoration/ look, or for the smell? Do you do it now or closer to the time?