Mince pies etc....

[teamsaint]

Anyone into stollen?

Does anyone go through the faff of making their own when Lidl/Aldi sell wonderful examples at cheap prices?

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/SID-C8...Detail&id=6284

yup, love stollen, might give Lidl a go.

When making mince pies, a good tip is a a small slice of apple on top of the mincemeat. Yum.

[Anna]

do we eat stollen and/or panettone ?

I like Stollen, my Nan also used to make it. Panettone, well, yes and no. Probably on reflection - it's a no. Makes good bread and butter pudding though if you're into that, which I am not..
The one Christmas treat I love is the German spiced gingerbread. Pfeffernüsse Cannot get enough of that. Horrendously expensive though.

[Padraig]

Edit: Oh drat! Ams got there first with the fairy! I was too busy with Christmas memories to see his post.

Anna, we usually have an angel on top of the tree. Shares the same difficulty as fairies, of course - how do you make the little dear stand up straight? Answers on a postcard.

Anna you should make your own Christmas films. You paint such lovely pictures complete with sounds and scents, and with the odd christmas cracker joke thrown in for good measure. But it's far too early! I don't get into gear until December 8.

[amateur51]

I like Stollen, my Nan also used to make it. Panettone, well, yes and no. Probably on reflection - it's a no. Makes good bread and butter pudding though if you're into that, which I am not..
The one Christmas treat I love is the German spiced gingerbread. Pfeffernüsse Cannot get enough of that. Horrendously expensive though.

I think the much-missed salymap used to have a recipe for this

I do miss you, salymap - get well soon

[amateur51]

Anna, we usually have an angel on top of the tree. Shares the same difficulty as fairies, of course - how do you make the little dear stand up straight? Answers on a postcard.

Anna you should make your own Christmas films. You paint such lovely pictures complete with sounds and scents, and with the odd christmas cracker joke thrown in for good measure. But it's far too early! I don't get into gear until December 8.

Dare we ask what sort of gear you get into on December 8, Padraig?

[teamsaint]

picked up a rather decent panettone from Morissons the other day.
No tin, £2.

Great for indigestion.

Giving it, not sorting it.

[Anna]

Anna you should make your own Christmas films. You paint such lovely pictures complete with sounds and scents, and with the odd christmas cracker joke thrown in for good measure. But it's far too early! I don't get into gear until December 8.

No Padraig, the Christmas memories I have are those of a small child, an innocent abroad so to speak. when I had a Ma and Pa, but I lost them early, and a beloved Nan who always made things right. Since I've grown up and I have become grumpy, dissillusioned, and am turning into a grouch.

I said, around two years ago, to the Rotary chap collecting outside Waitrose, what has couples arguing about amounts of carrots and nuts have to do with Jesus - and he said - search me! So I did, and made off with £150 quid.

No, I didn't, but I like a simple Christmas

[Ferretfancy]

Oh Ferret, how could you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi4muhme1P4

Nobody loves a fairy when she's forty
Nobody loves a fairy when she's old
She may still have a magic power but that is not enough
They like their bit of magic from a younger bit of stuff
When once your silver star has lost its glitter
And your tinsel looks like rust instead of gold
Your Fairy days are ending when your wand has started bending
No-one loves a fairy when shes old

We shared a thought Ams ! When the right moment comes, like Corporal Willis in Iolanthe, I intend to sprout some wings and fly away !

[amateur51]

We shared a thought Ams ! When the right moment comes, like Corporal Willis in Iolanthe, I intend to sprout some wings and fly away !

[johnb]

I tend to avoid the "Duchy" range (sold at Waitrose shops) as the whole concept irritates me. However, I have to admit their Mince Pies are really very good indeed.

[BBMmk2]

Nom Nom Johnb!! :) Have to give those a go!!

Penattone, is something I am none too keen on., Stollen cake yes! Sainsbury's and M & S do rather nice ones!! :)

[amateur51]

I tend to avoid the "Duchy" range (sold at Waitrose shops) as the whole concept irritates me. However, I have to admit their Mince Pies are really very good indeed.

Irritates me wildly, johnb

Very good lemon curd too, dammit

[Nick Armstrong]

....the family home-made recipe, made by various rellies, is delicious - extremely short pastry, and a dollop of brandy butter placed under the lid before being warmed for serving

I prefer homemade,

with extremely short pastry, and a dollop of brandy butter placed under the lidl before being warmed for serving

Are you trying to tell me something, Madame?

[Nick Armstrong]

Cali, mince pies, coffee and a dram of whisky? :)

Don't mind if I do, Bbm, thanks!

I usually have to put shop pies in the microwave for a few seconds to soften up the pastry, though I then have to consume with a spoon otherwise mid-air disintegration occurs.

so now you know

Again, I am not alone....

[Nick Armstrong]

I must confess that it was I who set the chip pan alight around the same time.

Remember the old Billy Connolly line:

"Glasgow Roulette" = making chips when y'er pissed....