Preparing for Poncetastic 2022

[VivaJen]

I know we start the Poncetastic thread in September but we all know that you have start your Poncetastic preparations early so I thought we could have a prequel type thread for the next month.

So what's everyone planning? 🎄🎄🎄

I'm guessing the point was it kept for a long time in the olden days.

For sure. And I've been on the Poncetastic threads for over a decade.

In fact I think I remember Felatio herself talking about her mincemeat (much like I'd remember the two fat ladies themselves) being a few years old.

I myself, have some jars that I've made in years past. They are sealed, but I break them open and just top up with more booze. Job done.

Appreciate that not all new contributors to this thread will appreciate the history of this thread. Or indeed even remember Felatio, but I'm going to pay my respects to her now as she is sadly missed.

I'm sure Nigel and Nigella are also bowing their heads.

Absolutely no tat or tinsel allowed if you please. It absolutely should be about the poncing. More so, I feel since Her Majesty's passing.

It's what Felatio would have wanted.

I hadn't realised we'd lost Felatio, her poncing will be greatly missed. I shall be cracking open my year-old mincemeat in tribute.

No tinsel, but as per Nigel Slater (surely the high priest of poncing?) lametta is allowed.

Hello All
Joining late but poncetastic is my favorite thread of the year! Plans so far are very behind as usual, might have to put my mums cross stitched wreath on hold until next year. Other plans include homemade gifts for most people, I am thinking little bags with homemade orange and cinnamon soap (made properly with lye, shea butter and cocoa butter so it should be luxurious) I have the trial run of this curing currently. Perhaps also some gingerbread and fudge. I have tried to master the fudge for 3 years in a run now though and never feel its neat enough to gift. Perhaps this year will finally be its year.
We don't have any solid christmas day plans yet this year but there is usually quite a few casual drinks, bbqs (not uk) and get togethers so I am planning to fill the freezer with gingerbread, shortbread and cookie dough so I can pull together some last minute baked goods when needed.
Considering also trying out some gins but I can't decide what to put in them as we don't get blackberries or any berries really. Any christmassy suggestions that might be easier to source?

FellatioNelson did the first Poncetastic thread in 2010.
She did 4 years but left Mumsnet in 2013.
The back of my head is telling me she went to live abroad( Middle East?)
I wonder if she ever pops back to hover over us?

@Ponceyname
Marmalade gin is amazing.
I also do homemade Baileys.
I can link to both recipes if you would like.

@Ponceyname You would definitely be able to get the ingredients for Gingerbread Gin that I linked up the thread. Alternatively, could you do one to match your soap gifts of orange and cinnamon?

I'm fascinated by your soap making, I feel a new hobby coming on!

@Trumpton Thankyou I had forgotten about marmalade gin DH loves marmalade so will give that a go if you have a recommended recipe that would be great
@AMessageToYouRuby We will see if my skin falls off in a months time before I decide if I can give soap away as gifts 😆I have been doing cold process so they need a minimum of 6 weeks to cure and I am only 2 weeks in. Plan to make a scented batch in the next couple of weeks though as I already have the base ingredients now so I figured i'd get a head start. I've done some reading today about how orange essential oils don't hold there scent very well in soaps and I want to avoid artificial scents so I am thinking I might try a honey and oat with a bit of cinnamon swirled in to christmassy it up and maybe an exfoliating coffee perhaps with some peppermint. I am also tempted by goats milk soap. I am semi wishing I hadn't started this hobby because there are so many lovely recipes and I can't really afford to buy 20 different oils and butters to try them all.

@Ponceyname
MARMALADE GIN
I use a dark marmalade.
If you like it’s fab topped up with Prosecco!
But a bit dangerous!

Felatio definitely in the ME last time she posted.
I can't put much booze in my mincemeat which is why I'm a bit on edge about the idea of it staying out for so long once opened (also it's generally much warmer here so things tend to go off quicker).

This thread is AMAZING. I'm 100% not qualified to join but can I be an aspirational ponce?

Having left London flat life to move somewhere with much more space I'm starting Christmas decorations from scratch and would love to try and make some, I can knit and cross stitch but crocheting eludes me...

Glad to hear Felatio still believed to be alive and well in the ME. I started to read as if she’d died and I’d missed the news - been on the threads for years, only really use MN this time of year now and am always name changing.

@Ponceyname I am definitely going to get into soap making, like all my hobbies seems ripe for spiralling into obsession! Keep us updated with how you get on. The oat one sounds fab for sensitive skin. I’m making candles this year so might try some matching scented soap. Will be very smug if I pull that off! I’ll be branding as Ho Malone 🎅🏻

@AMessageToYouRuby
Surely Ho Ho Ho Malone

Does anyone know if its possible to preserve iced christmas cookies to use as ornaments? Its something my daughter wants to do, but I've no idea how, or even if its possible

😂😂😂

I'd say it was possible if you encased them in epoxy - there's videos doing the rounds of a hotdog in epoxy that's a couple of years old. Varnishing may work but I don't think it would last for years and years.

I'm just on the last leg of my anniversary trip with DH. Once I'm home I'll be starting the fruit soaking for Christmas cakes and puddings. I've got a jar of mincemeat that I made last year but only DH eats mince pies. I've got a family event next month and I might use it to make something for that.

Craft poncing will start next month I think.

Even better!

@Wicca123 Do you mean just to last over the Christmas season or last forever? Long term versions I’d think you would need to do in something like salt dough that would be inedible but gingerbread type decorated biscuits hanging on the tree that last a few weeks are pretty normal. Cookies would be harder admittedly.

Just over the Christmas season....dd wants to cook some to eat and some to display over Christmas, say until January....but I wasn't sure if it would be possible. Shes thinking of placing them underneath her tree in her bedroom, arranged in a circle if you get what I mean

@AMessageToYouRuby going to try the oat one on Saturday if I can get some coconut oil at the supermarket so I will keep you updated.
Ho malone is excellent branding 😂

@Malleus123 I would look at something like this recipe to use for hanging tree decorations. If you want to make models to go round the base of a tree, look at mini gingerbread house recipes (or buy one of the kits, think Ikea do a good one), there are thousands online and whenever I've made a gingerbread house it lasts for at least a month out on the sideboard.

@Malleus123
I made these mini houses like this last year. The cutters came from ebay.

@Malleus123 This would be good for round the base of a tree. @Trumpton those look fab! I'm planning to finally do a table piece under a glass cloche this year, those would be perfect.

Any ideas for alternative gingerbread architectural buildings? Last year we made a house but id like to branch out this year.