Poncetastic Christmas 2024

[StiffyByngsDogBartholomew]

@vivajen hasn't posted on MN for a year so I've taken the bull by the horns. I can't wait any longer !
Wherever you are, Fellatio, here's to you. I hope you're brining a turkey and had crafting authentic organic woven tinsel somewhere.
"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.
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 jobs worth 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 canapés 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 Bessie’s' on the packet, this is not the thread for you".

🎄🎄🎄🎄

Thanks for all the suggestions, the pavlova wreath is beautiful! I fancy a lemon cheesecake now, but DD is opposed to cheesecake on a textural basis. The search continues! Its interesting to hear how many of you serve the pudding separately to the meal, that's what we've ended up doing, but we all miss the Christmases of years ago where we'd sit at the table for hours on end eating and drinking and chatting, but none of us seem to be able to eat as much now, which is probably a very good thing!

Yesterday I may have started decorating the living room. 😶‍🌫️

That pavlova wreath looks epic, @plominoagain

@Christingly What is it about the lemon cheesecake texture that’s a problem? I do a lemon chiffon which is more mousse like so much lighter in the mouth.

Agree the Pavlova wreath looks amazing @plominoagain may have to incorporate that design in to my plans.

I also saw a pic of some shortbreads in a magazine made to look like little wreaths which looked lovely.

We always have a little bit of pudding after lunch and then a bit more later!

Oh, after I saw the wreath I went on instagram and Jane's Patisserie (my fave baker) had posted a tutorial for a wreath just like that. So I'm going to make it at. christmas now! Easier than I thought it would be.

Annoyingly she's not keen on those soft textured puddings - moose, cream, all the good ones really! It's my biggest parenting fail 🤣, but do you mind sharing the recipe, it sounds lovely @the

@Christingly for your pleasure.

I have changed the melted butter ratio as I use gf biscuits and they work differently.

Thanks 😊

The Strala lampshades I wanted are back in stock at Ikea - except you can't order them for delivery unless part of a larger order 🙄 and I didn't want to go back just yet <sigh>.

Definitely not paying ebay prices for something that's £3 in the shop...so maybe not having those up for Christmas, after all 😥

This just came up on my FB feed, looks impressive. Might be a good idea for those who have lots of people round.

@lucysmam are you near a Sostrene Grene? They have hanging stars - not lampshades AFAIK but lovely nonetheless Hanging Stars

They do deliver too if you aren't close to a shop. I visited the Liverpool store last week and was unusually restrained.

@TheWoollybacksWife nope, nowhere near as far as I know. I'll check after tea. They are rather lovely 🌟

Hi everyone, just been to get my supplies for the Christmas cake and a batch of mincemeat. I've already got mincemeat from last year so I've got some suitably "aged". I always use Delia's recipe and take it to my parents to cook in their aga. I got the supplies with my clubcard vouchers so I'm feeling extra puritanical 😂

re puddings we are rather creatures of habit when it comes to Christmas lunch and I generally make the same every year as if I don't there is outraged disappointment. I make my mother's own recipe cottage cheese cheesecake which I serve with raspberries; Gary Rhodes Sticky Toffee Puddings and an Iced Nougat Parfait from a book called Chateau Cuisine which is a tour round French Chateaux with lovely recipes. It's my Christmas treat and I must buy some candied fruit for it. This is the book
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chateau-Cuisine-Anne-Willan/dp/1850297061

id make some stuff for Boxing Day from it too but it would be wasted on DHs family who are more Beige Buffet than gourmet French cuisine. I think I'm going to move my Christmas Eve smorgasbord to Boxing Day and make loads of yummy Swedish meatballs 🤤

Pain in the neck to cut up though if the meringue goes squidgy 🤔

@StiffyByngsDogBartholomew good point, instant Eton Mess 😅

This is the "special addition" I make to our favourite light fruit cake for Christmas, it's a really yummy mix of fruits and not much more expensive than the ordinary mixed fruit. The 300g bag is only £1.25 and i also add it to granola :)

I wanted to share that my cheapie cross stitch cards are coming along nicely! 6 for £25 which I think is worth it. Good quality Aida and thread, and easy to follow patterns.

Oooh that sounds lovely. Do you have pics/ links? I’m looking for some cards.

I bought these ones from Etsy, there's a few other design kits too in the same range.

Posted in the wrong thread ✨️

Who was it who was either adopting or fostering a small child? (Sorry...sieve brain cannot remember 🙈).

Anyway...would you like this book full of festive & child friendly things to do? The stickers are all still there. It was gifted to me by a MNer many years ago & has languished on a shelf for the past few.

Hello all! I've been catching up on the thread and am in awe of all your fabulous makes and bakes!
I've made some marmalade today, to go into some little homemade hampers. Haven't done it for years so I'm hoping I've got it right. I have some festive fabric to cover the tops and am going to invest in some nice stickers when I can get to town. Will post a pic when done!
Not sure what else is going in the hampers yet but I've been looking at mango chutney, ginger bread biscuits and thanks to the poster who recommended panforte.

All the pud ideas sounds fab! Unfortunately we never manage pudding here...other than chocolate and mince pies! So that's as fancy as it gets.

No other news from me really, slow start this year! I have started squirreling away lots of bought treats and also started my Christmas-themed-only reading tradition so feeling very festive even though I've not done a lot!

It was @BelievingIsSeeing, @lucysmam.

this morning I'm making the Nigel Slater Apricot Brandy from the Christmas Chronicles, I love apricot brandy on its own and as an apricot version of Kir Royale so I'll be serving that as an aperitif on Boxing Day.
yesterday I made a lovely honey tea loaf; we went to Kingston Lacy in half term and they had recipe cards for that and also apple and honey scones so I'm looking forward to trying it this afternoon slathered in butter.
we are having chicken for lunch today and I shall be experimenting with apricot and chestnut stuffing balls for Boxing Day. Plus the maple roasted parsnips I intend serving with crimbo lunch. We are having beef wellington this year.

This is the tea loaf

i shall be listening to my favourite ghost stories podcast while I make lunch, the season is definitely upon us !