The Autumnal Christmas Chronicles Preamble - Thread 2 further ramblings

[HannahDefoesChristmasHamper]

Hope nobody minds me starting anew thread as old one nearly full

Will pop some links in 🍂🍁

@DeckTheHallsAndBringYourBrolly my two favourite dickheads

Ah so cute and fun!! Will be interesting at Christmas...🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

🤣 well my pretty glass baubles won't be coming out, that's for sure! They're currently stalking a spring, much quieter than killing each other in the washing!

@GrannGrannyWeatherwaxsBroomstick

Here's the tarragon chicken recipe. I'm adding mushrooms and spinach as I am trying to eat 8 veg a day

thebatchlady.com/recipe/tarragon-chicken/

The other two recipes are in a slow cooker recipe book so I will post photos later

@lucysmam could be the cue for a whole new theme for the tree! Something like felt ornaments, mini cranberry wreaths, gingerbread hearts with pretty ribbons, pinecones!

@DeckTheHallsAndBringYourBrolly yes! That sounds lovely. We did have felt ornaments one year actually, I wonder if they're still in the loft 🤔

Kitties!! 🐈🐈‍⬛ What a lovely way to spend a Sunday.

@piscofrisco We also had that book, and used to get the Dairy Diary every year. I'm sure I had a look online for a milkman recently and found out it was still made.

I am so hungry reading about everyones dinner plans and batch cooking today. I'm just waiting for painkillers to kick in then heading to the kitchen. I did have a delivery of luverly things from Waitrose last night, but they let me down by not having all my delicious No.1 foody treats available. My pantry is well stocked with almonds and pine nuts and the like at least. I think Lentil soup may be the order of the day.

@DeckTheHallsAndBringYourBrolly I can't use cloves as they make the inside of my mouth peel. I have to avoid toothpastes with clove oil in for this reason too (that's most of them!) You've just made me realise though that I have my own propolis tincture, so thank you. That will hopefully have the same healing effect. Don't know why it didn't cross my mind (or why I never thought of whisky last night)

Looking at my Propolis Tincture, it looks slightly sinister. I think it may need straining.

@RainbowZebraWarrior that sounds interesting. What would you use a propolis tincture for? Do you make it yourself?

I remember propolis from my childhood! It was a big deal amongst my parents' circle (all very hippy).

I remember the myrrh and propolis toothpaste from the health food shop.

Yes I make it myself with propolis from our bees. I've taken a photo of some now in my hand that we scrape from the hives when we are cleaning them. I freeze it, grind it then mix it with 80% alcohol which dissolves most of the propolis and creates the tincture. Propolis is Antibacterial, Anti inflammatory and Anti fungal so it can be used for all sorts from cold sores to UTI's. It has also been shown to have other potential health benefits. We also have propolis lozengers when we have sore throats. It seems to have an almost instant effect. It's a total wonder.

I love how you look after the bees and in return they look after you. 🙂

Gosh at the propolis - I feel I have wandered into the presence of great knowledge of ancient lore when I read this thread.

gah to toothache, sending soothing thoughts to all who suffer.
LOViNG the kittens - glad the tree will be adapted though (probably into its side by them!).

ds2 is currently in the mountains in Nevada at my cousin’s house. He is living his best life and has sent a photo of himself chilling on the sofa with 3 of the family’s 4 dogs snuggling on him. It’s a whole different scale out there - he’s loved Vegas (with my aunt) but is a countryside boy at heart.

@lucysmam I love the pictures of your cats! I also have the fear about our Christmas tree - normally covered with meaningful ornaments from over the years, twinkling and dangling and basically asking for kitten trouble. I think we may need to review all three of the tree location, elevation, and decoration approach this year.

I'm fascinated by the propolis tincture details, @RainbowZebraWarrior - I keep bees too so might need to try that. So far I haven't got beyond using honey and wax.

This afternoon I need to pick the pears from our tiny pear tree, and some apples from our giant apple tree. I may make apple chutney - has anyone tried that?

Yes @TheLiloAndTheSlowCooker we make apple chutney every autumn. Love it and it tastes so much better when you've made it yourself!

@TheLiloAndTheSlowCooker I make chutney with our apples, but I don't call it apple chutney. I add plums, dates, balsamic vinegar and lots of onions. It turns out dark and full of flavour. I call it my Autumn chutney. In November, I make a small batch, but darker again with added cinnamon. This I call my Christmas chutney.

I love all (well, most) versions of chutney! Please would you post both your recipes @RainbowZebraWarrior - unless you don't want to give away your trade secrets! 🙂

We usually make at least one winter chutney (in the vein of what you call autumn chutney) and one Christmas chutney. Keen to try something new-ish this year.

We also make piccalilli, which is my favourite!

My biscotti cooling after the first bake 😋 The kitchen smells delightful!

Dunk's recipes seem very wet though - I had to bake in a loaf tin so it didn't run away off the edges of my tray, and I'm not sure how this exceptionally sticky (stickier than regular stollen) dough for stollen bites will hold its shape either 🤔

@DeckTheHallsAndBringYourBrolly home made picallili sounds lush! Would you share your recipe please?

Stollen bites are in...have spread out & now resemble biscuits 🤷‍♀️

I'm sure they'll be lovely...just not what I was after 🙈

Stollen bites renamed "Stookies" by dd1 since they came out more like cookies. Very yummy but not what I was after 🤷‍♀️

Stookies is a brilliant word! And now there's nothing to do but eat the evidence and try again. 😆

Hi there! Checking in to the second thread! Sorry to hear that many of you are having rough weeks. I hope things pass quickly and as easily as possible.
It is very cold here at the moment. Lots of wet snow that doesn't settle, but makes everything feel very damp and cold. However! I like to lean into it! Earlier this week I bought myself a new cast iron cooking pot. A dupe Le Cruset, as I absolutely cannot afford a real Le Cruset at Norwegian prices, but it seems to work beautifully.

Tonight we will have Jegergryte with reindeer and chanterelle that I found in September. Usually make that on the fire outside at the cabin, but it's so wet and cold that we decided to be home today after being out in the forest. I'm also making sticky toffee pudding for afters.

Beautiful pot @IngenTing 😊

Biscotti have had their second bake & are cooling. I think they're a little thick, and definitely slightly burned. But they should be tasty & as you say @DeckTheHallsAndBringYourBrolly we'll eat the evidence and try again 😋

Oh my @IngenTing what a beautiful pot. I love that colourway although my lecreuset is generally blue, with a couple of the gorgeous light jade green colours. I am seriously coveting the pink lecreuset that is like a flower.

Look at all these delicious treats 😋
This is the foolproof recipe that in use but I swap regular caster sugar for the golden variety.
I'm not a great baker but this always turns out perfect.
https://createbakemake.com/apple-and-cinnamon-loaf-recipe/