Christmas Corner---Ideas and tips!

[Northern Lass]

With Christmas just around the corner
how about a Santa's Grotto!
or rather a sticky in the snug for all kinds of Christmas Tips, ideas for Presents
or for festive food..............a likkle bit of snugly help for Crimbo!

Let us know your fave foods, best mince pies, best xmas pudds!
Everything...from the tastiest tipples to the choicest cheeses!
Wines
Chocs
Sausages
Cake
all of it......we have all been doing this for ages...so we must have some firm faves
share them!!

I intend this year to have a wonderful Christmas with all the trimmings
apart from a Turkey.

My tip is if you are cooking a Turkey turn it upside down so all the juices
run to the breast ...then 1/2 hour before time is up turn it rite side up to brown.

Post your Christmas cracker of a tip or idea here!

[snoopysue]

Mincemeat is made! Not too traditional - I've stopped following recipes - just loads of currents, and what ever dried fruit I fancy - this year it's cranberries, mango, pineapple - oh and don't forget the booze!

I'll have to get round to the puddings soon - my gran's butter recipe with guiness

[Northern Lass]

Mincemeat is made! Not too traditional - I've stopped following recipes - just loads of currents, and what ever dried fruit I fancy - this year it's cranberries, mango, pineapple - oh and don't forget the booze!

I'll have to get round to the puddings soon - my gran's butter recipe with guiness

I stopped making mince pies when I tasted the pastry from a friend of mine
it was butter pastry with orange in it was delicious!

I want to buy all the stuff so I want the best mince pies and the best xmas pudd

anyone any prefs?

[snoopysue]

Mincemeat is made! Not too traditional - I've stopped following recipes - just loads of currents, and what ever dried fruit I fancy - this year it's cranberries, mango, pineapple - oh and don't forget the booze!

I'll have to get round to the puddings soon - my gran's butter recipe with guiness

I stopped making mince pies when I tasted the pastry from a friend of mine
it was butter pastry with orange in it was delicious!

I want to buy all the stuff so I want the best mince pies and the best xmas pudd

anyone any prefs?

If only I could make pastry like my gran - that was to die for!! When the family were visiting they'd always be mincepies, and you had to be quick - those Fellows men, they've got bottomless pits for stomachs!
Have to make my own mincemeat - can't buy that here, but as I'm rubbish at pastry I cheat there. My mincepies go down well at work - they've already started nagging me.

[Annie]

Don't bake anymore everything was always rubbish and ended up in the wheelie bin Perhaps because I don't enjoy baking and cooking, I love M&S Christmas with the icing and marzipan, also Lidl Christmas cake is quite good always nice and moist, Milk choc After Eight Mints.

Annie

[Northern Lass]

Ok I am doing Rib of beef

now as this is the last christmas meal I am doing
I want it to be fab!

menus pls folks

I fancy smoked salmon to start
any ideas on what to serve that with?

and let me know some ideas for the rest of the menu pls

pink champagne deffo

and crisps

then wot..........................

[Antie Em]

Ok I am doing Rib of beef

now as this is the last christmas meal I am doing
I want it to be fab!

menus pls folks

I fancy smoked salmon to start
any ideas on what to serve that with?

and let me know some ideas for the rest of the menu pls

pink champagne deffo

and crisps

then wot..........................

We always have champagne sorbet between courses. Lovely ...

Why will this be your last Christmas meal ?

[Northern Lass]

Cos Antie Em I am fed up of cooking them

[Rob]

Ok I am doing Rib of beef

now as this is the last christmas meal I am doing
I want it to be fab!

menus pls folks

I fancy smoked salmon to start
any ideas on what to serve that with?

and let me know some ideas for the rest of the menu pls

pink champagne deffo

and crisps

then wot..........................

You are so over the top!!! The Drama Queen!!
Antie thought it was probably something far worse than idlelitus!!!

[snoopysue]

I fancy smoked salmon to start
any ideas on what to serve that with?

The Danes serve smoked samon on really good wholemeal bread with a dill sauce.
(1 bunch dill
3-4 Tbsp. dijon mustard
2-3 Tbsp. brown sugar
2-3 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
approx. 1 dl. ex. virgin olive oil
possibly. 1 pinch of salt and a bit ground pepper

Cut the ends off the dill and rinse well, dry with a tea towel.
Mix mustard, brown sugar and white wine vinegar in a bowl or in a food processor. Pour oil in a thin stream while stirring, season with salt and pepper.
Chop the dill finely and stir into the sauce.)

Or a reduced balsamic vinegar is very good - sweet and sticky!

[Northern Lass]

Hey that sauce sounds nice! thanks will try that
was wondering what to have with it...

[snoopysue]

Hey that sauce sounds nice! thanks will try that
was wondering what to have with it...

I suppose it's more of a dressing than a sauce - serve it on the side so people can put on as little or as much as they like.

[Margarett]

Just bought the ingredients for my cakes this morning, will be making in the next couple of days. Thank goodness for converter and calculator on mobile phone, as my tried and tested recipe(Stork cookbook, circa 1972 purchased from Dudley tech when I was a student, as previously discussed!!!)) is written in old money!

[snoopysue]

Just bought the ingredients for my cakes this morning, will be making in the next couple of days. Thank goodness for converter and calculator on mobile phone, as my tried and tested recipe(Stork cookbook, circa 1972 purchased from Dudley tech when I was a student, as previously discussed!!!)) is written in old money!

I'm going to do my puddings this weekend if I can. I'm doing mini puddings, as my husband hates dried fruit in all shapes and sizes, so he'll be having a melting chocolate pudding (thanks to delia!). One big pudding wouldn't get eaten up!

[snoopysue]

I found this web site - made my mouth water!!

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/christmas/