Countdown to Christmas

Reminded by the thread on here yesterday, I’ve updated my card list.
We make chutney with tomatoes at the end of summer.
We don’t make Christmas food any more but I remember the glorious smell when we were making mince meat.

Nooooooooooooo - don’t want to play! 🧑‍🎄 🌲 🎅 🎄 🎁

I have finally got my kitchen back (albeit without flooring or splash backs).

I need to get going with pickling onions, making Christmas Chutney (my great grandma’s recipe).

Made Christmas puddings last year and they should be good to go this year.

Christmas cake and Yule log will be started in a couple of weeks.

Mince pies and sausage rolls will be assembled and frozen ready for baking end of November along with cranberry sauce and stuffing.

I absolutely adore all things Christmassy 🎄

Me neither 😂 it’s only early October.I haven’t even decided what we will eat tonight.

Nobody eats Christmas pudding or cake in my family, so I no longer make them. I'll make spiced red cabbage for the freezer and have a look at what else I can make. Dd and I went Christmas shopping yesterday. I really went to keep her company. She got the boys stocking fillers and other gifts.

RosieandherMaw

Nooooooooooooo - don’t want to play! 🧑‍🎄 🌲 🎅 🎄 🎁

Well hard cheese - you have to 😄😄😄😄

Now being eternally bombarded by Booths Xmas ads cluttering up the Inbox. Nooooooo, it's still too soon.

It’s a no from me too.
I only ‘do’ Christmas for my DGSs and limit it to 2 days!

windmill1

Now being eternally bombarded by Booths Xmas ads cluttering up the Inbox. Nooooooo, it's still too soon.

windmill
I know.
I’m still buying Hot-cross-buns in Sainsburys, whilst Booths have got mince pies and fancy Christmas treats on display!

Who is Booths?

Whitewavemark2

Who is Booths?

It’s a supermarket chain up north.

I've got all my cards ready to write. I've made a list of my butcher's order. Done a small order online with Booths a local supermarket that does more special items and have all my Christmas cake ingredients ready to make. It's the BeRo recipe but as there is only 2 of us I will halve the ingredients. I made the full one a couple of years ago and it was too much for 2 of us but we managed to get through it.
Yes Mollygo I live in Blackpool and we have a Booths in St Annes. They have lovely stuff in their Christmas Book but not a place I would do my weekly shop.

I’ve never made chutney of any variety. Would like to have a go at Christmas Chutney if anyone has a recipe? Thanks

I’m impressed. I don’t give Christmas a thought in terms of doing anything different until the day before.
The Xmas decoration (singular small old wooden nutcracker soldier thing that was my mums years ago ) gets hung up in the kitchen Maybe a hike on the moors with a cheese sandwich and a charcuterie board with a nice bottle of wine in the evening and the decoration taken down and put away till next year.

sunnygirl

I’ve never made chutney of any variety. Would like to have a go at Christmas Chutney if anyone has a recipe? Thanks

I would also like a tried and tested chutney recipe please.

I’m sure I made some in school cookery lessons but all I remember is the very pungent smell of it in the cookery wing.

I love Booths. I think it’s a bit like Waitrose.

I suppose all you domestic goddesses out there have to get thinking about Christmas early. Those cakes and puddings won’t make themselves!

Luckily I don’t bother. My mindset it a bit ‘it’s just another day’. I (usually) enjoy Christmas when it happens but as youngest daughter hosts, all I need do is write our (🤞) Christmas cards.

I have bought red envelopes in which to put dosh for my grandchildren, and also ‘wee mindings’ for them all.
My flights and hotel are booked, so I am sorted.

sunnygirl

I’ve never made chutney of any variety. Would like to have a go at Christmas Chutney if anyone has a recipe? Thanks

Look up - google Delias Christmas Chutney. It’s a doddle to make and delicious with cheese and cold meat.

Thanks so much, I’ll give it a bash!

I make an Elizabeth David pimento chutney (from Spices, salts and aromatics in the English kitchen) which is not a long keeper so can’t do it till early Dec.
There are only 2 of us on C day so we don’t have a C pudding any more. I dislike mince pies so DH has to make do with Waitrose.
I’d still make a cake if I could find someone to do royal icing, but as I can’t I don’t.
I love Christmas but I feel sad at writing this.

Delia’s Christmas book will be coming out here too at the end of next week.
We like her Christmas chutney and I also make the apricot one as it goes so well with cold cuts.

We are hosting this year so lots to think about, though mostly traditional - an ‘elevated’ roast.
Not Christmas pud as I’m the only one who likes it, so I’ll have to get my thinking hat on about that.

Enjoy the planning and prep everyone!

I made Christmas cakes and puddings last week. It is rather early but my DS is coming over from the States soon and will want to take some back with him so I thought I’d better crack on with it.

I’ve started adding the odd extra item to my weekly grocery delivery.
Green tomato chutney left from last year, essential stuffing ingredient and I’ve bought my first two presents.

I always make our Christmas cake in October half term. Became a tradition when my boys were little and wanted to ‘help’

I’d rather not bother with Christmas at all but put up the tree and keep smiling for my boys and granddaughters 😁