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 think there were mixed reviews about the star anise on thr Chronicles thread last year?
I think some people took it put early to reduce it a bit. I'm sure that if you ask they'll share opinions

Yes, a lot of us have made this and discussed it on the CC over the years. Many of us left the star anise out. I knew I would as I don't like aniseed at all. Some put a half one in, or as you've said, fished it out early.

To me, the Brandy was utterly divine with just the orange and apricots. I'm making it again this year (but with whisky as I won two bottles at the PTA summer fayre and don't know what else to do with it)

Typos

Novice poncer here.
Can you veteran poncers advise on Paperwhites? I can never time them right to bloom for Christmas, when is best to start them? They’ve been late and early 🫣
And do you get better results with just water or alcohol mix?
TIA

I’m late! But I’m here!
I’ve marked up my 12 week plan in my diary. Sticking to it is always a bit more challenging.

I haven’t any exciting new poncing plans this year but I think I’ve distilled all my favourite parts, so I know exactly what to focus on. Last year we added vanillekipferl to our must-have Christmas treats and I’m kicking off the season by making the vanilla sugar now so it will have a real depth of flavour by December.

I’ve booked a hairdresser to the house, and invited my sisters, sil, aunt, and dm for a pre Christmas lunch and blow dry. It’s something I’ve neglected other years, so I’m really pleased with this idea. I’m great at poncing food and decor and then end up looking like a scarecrow, so I’m including some self-poncing this year.

@Trumpton this is a job for you 🏵

@MrsForgetalot self poncing is a good idea! I have stupid, sticky uppy, post chemo hair that does what it wants. Maybe I should look at getting something done with it (not cut - I had it trimmed into a style in April & instantly regretted it. I do not like short hair - although I currently resemble a mad scientist 🙄).

I came to say the same!

joining...

I loved watching this thread last year but was heavily pregnant and moving houses. Now baby is here and we’re in our forever home, I’m determined to have a poncetastic Christmas!! Trying to be realistic about what I can achieve with baby in tow, my plan is to knit stockings for each of us (four including one for the cat), embroider a fabric advent calendar I got in Hobbycraft for baby, make some festive drinks (my father in law does a mince pie vodka that I want to try and I’m tempted by marmalade something!) and to decorate the house to the nines. We’ll be at the in laws on the big day but hoping to do some hosting around about Christmas as well. One stocking is done so we’re off to a flying start!

@MrsForgetalot I'm also doing vanilla sugar today, although it will be my first time making vanillekipferl. I have an enormous bag of finely ground almonds, so I might as well use them.

@FabYuleHouse we are a ND household too (it's just DD and I) so we don't host or anything like that. It's all about the gentle stuff. I booked last year to go on a winter Wonderland light up walk, but it was a no go. Theatre now is also a no go, as DD just gets too overwhlmed. We have our own little traditions and ways, and that gives plenty opportunity for poncing (mainly crafts, food and drink, and decorations. Along with quiet night time walks spotting twinkling lights and enjoying the whiff of woodsmoke)

Let me get back to you @BambiBambi44
I am out at moment but I buy mine from Sarah Raven as they are ready for forcing.
start 12th November on washed pebbles in plain water.
I will add link to Cornell university paper on them!

@HannahDefoesTrenchcoat
That gin is amazing! I make it every year.
Also a shot on Christmas morning topped off with Prosecco and the day just flies by!
We call it Breakfast Gin!

@Trumpton that does sound fab for Christmas morning.

Ok marmalade gin is going on my list! 🍊🍋🍊🍋🍊🍋🍊🍋

Woo hoo! My poncing had commenced. After reading about the marmalade gin, and having all the ingredients apart from the gin I give you.. Orange & Stem Ginger Marmalade Whisky.

I'm finding it very displeasing that it doesn't fill the bottle. I am sitting on my hands as a little voice keeps telling me I could always top it up with that bottle of expensive single malt in the pantry. (I have form for this. I once used half a bottle of my father's Remy Martin Cognac making Christmas puddings)

Aaaah thank you @Trumpton. I have the bulbs (came yesterday) and vases and pebbles from last year.
I usually start before 12/11 so will mark that in my planner :)

Oooooooh what a lovely thread!

I've made my cake already, if James Martin and Nigella had a love child this would be their cake.

Off to the garden centre tomorrow for the paperwhite bulbs and some amaryllis bulbs also.

Very excited to try the marmalade gin/whisky, mince pie vodka and vanillekipferl.

I'm booked into a wreath making workshop end of November. I make my own every year but it always ends up last minute and I'm outside, cross and wet with frozen fingers thinking wtf am i doing this for. So this year it'll be on the door by Dec 1st.

Thank you for this lovely thread.

Just ordered my paperwhites - this thread is going to inspire me and cost me in equal measures, I can see.

Absolutely love this!

I'm late joining but hope to actually follow the thread this year. Not sure I'll be able to do much but first step is following you all and seeing your ideas and creations.

Recipe please! That looks amazing

I've so enjoyed catching up on this thread and can't wait to join!

This year, our 3 boys will be 6, 3 and 6months, so it'll be a busy one. Naturally, with my copious free time, I've decided to make 5 quilted stockings for all of us 😄 I've got it into my head that I want them to be a proper heirloom and be ready for baby's first Christmas, and then be used every year going forward. Let's just forget I said the same thing about the last 2 stockings I made for the older two 🙈 I've since ripped out those two and repurposed some of the fabric, and I've sewn together 5 panels already, so just 5 to go.

We'll be somewhat reluctantly hosting my in laws this year too. It's our first christmas in our new home with new baby so I could do without, but the kids are excited. And I do love an "event meal" and some beautiful decorations, and having guests means I generally pull out all the stops. But this year, time, money and energy are in short supply 🤪 So I would appreciate any frugal and/or timesaving ideas!

Oh, and how do I feed us all with one tiny under counter fridge??! I don't think we'll even get our turkey in, and a new fridge won't be happening until we can renovate the kitchen!

no idea what this is but im ready to join!

have my hysterectomy next week and have allllll the plans to be fit and well by christmas and enjoy every second of festive prel before then! 🎄

@Edgeofthesea do you have freezer space? Most of your veg/spuds/sides can be part cooked ahead of time and frozen.

Ditto! 😋

Has anyone seen red cabbages on the shops yet? I want to make and freeze mine!

Here is Pamela. I've been following a thread on Food where a lady has been sharing her sourdough adventures, so I thought I'd get a good head start with a mature starter in time for lovely fruited sourdough loaves etc for crimbo. I'm on day 6 and apparently Pamela will be ready to use on around day 17. I've never had much success with sourdough before as I forget to top it up and it all seems so wasteful but this is a dead good method which is really cheap so I've got high hopes. If it goes well I might ask for a lame and those fancy proving baskets for crimbo.
im also making a trial run of the Yule log brownie I posted the other day or maybe on the preamble thread, I'm going to sell them I think as I want to get my cake business up and running again in the new year

Haha @RainbowZebraWarrior I bet your dad wasn't pleased about that!

@NoWordForFluffy they had them at Morrisons today.