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".

🎄🎄🎄🎄

I made this last year with our raspberry glut. It was fabulous.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/raspberry-gin

Thank you @LaChatte :-)

@RainbowZebraWarrior that's the one I had my eye on, it looks simple yet delicious. Off to buy gin and sugar...!

Right, tomorrow I'm making mince pies, found some jars of mincemeat I made last year and I'm feeling festive.

This year I'm going to make the most of the lead-up to Christmas rather than ''save'' everything for the actual event as everyone's so stuffed special extras aren't really appreciated, so the luxury cheeses, naice crackers and veggie mini sausage rolls will be making an appearance soon 😁

Good call @LaChatte ! Dd2 was after something to bake tomorrow...maybe mince pies are it!

Will you all talk Christmas gammon at me please? We usually have a couple of the tins of ham (mostly for the girls' dad) but dd2 really isn't keen. & chicken as our main, so not much in the way of leftovers (not that they're needed!). Anyway - we're having gammon tomorrow & it occurred to me that maybe gammon is the way to go...since dd enjoys it 🤔

We always have a gammon at Christmas, mostly for the leftovers! I like to bake It a couple of days before we want it. I use a maple syrup for the glaze.

@lucysmam I was actually looking at ham recipes last night - this one is really nice from the Nigella christmas book (my christmas bible)

Ginger-Glazed Ham | Nigella's Recipes | Nigella Lawson

That looks lovely, Magnolia. I usually do a Mary Berry one, but may change to this. I won't be doing a 5kg gammon, however! Maybe 2kg (Sainsbury's had one on offer last year which I'm hoping they do again).

Gammon recipe looks divine , and has prompted me to order my game shop meat for Christmas- it's online for the first time this year and I wish I could remember what I ordered last year size wise - I remember worrying the turkey woud be too small

I have an unopened jar of Robinsons mince meat that has a 2022 date on it. Would it be ok to use?

If it looks and smells good it'll be fine. 🙂

Sugar and alcohol are both preservatives, so it'll be fine!

Thank you for the reassurance. I actually have two jars so I'll ponce it up with a bit of whisky and apple.
I may top them with marzipan stars rather than pastry this year I think

@BelievingIsSeeing not sure if you saw my post last week. Would you like this book full of festive activities 🎄

Breaking news!!!!

Anyone remember my huffing about the church to go with my thread crochet village?...every year for the last three years? 🙈

I think I've cracked it!!!!!!

Dropped to a 1.5mm hook, which is minute, but it seems to have done the trick!

Yay @lucysmam it's a Christmas miracle!!

Yay @lucysmam! You have been so determined to get it right!

Well done, @lucysmam! That's been such a struggle!

I've made sausage rolls this afternoon to put in the freezer. They smell amazing! 😋

Yay! And yay! And thrice times yay!
well done @lucysmam!

I finished the first Moomin tree decoration for DD1.
Smallest DGD came to join me and did some stitching for her best teacher!

@Trumpton your last post reminded me of these super cute Moomin candle things I saw in a shop when I was visiting family in Sweden.
Anyhow a quick google and it looks like you can get them in the UK too.

https://moomin.co.uk/collections/rotary-candle-holder?srsltid=AfmBOopr42ZEIHqqYIvpYJKQI7BqZdMJ66nh1OOlZnfqxo6RR_8p1GbN

We had this book when the kids were small and we all loved it! Happy memories

@Carriemac I've got an older copy that my Dad says belonged to my Mum. I've found a Crafty Ideas from Nature book too - used to love that as a child 😊

My grandmother used to have one of these with gold angels on it in the 1980s - I loved it! So they’ve been around for a while!

Do you reckon the raspberry gin recipe would work with vodka? I have lots left after a Nigel Slater recipe and no-one drinks it here. Except in espresso martinis.

@DanceWithYourBalloon
So pretty. I already have one with angels though and can’t justify another!
I spent a happy couple of hours with elder DGD making place setting markers and choosing which Moomin character everyone was then putting the stickers on the cards.