***The OFFICIAL Weekend Singles Thread*** December 14 -16 - How prepared for Christmas are you?

14th December 2007 | Snugs

[snugs]

Well effectively this weekend is the last weekend to get your Christmas gifts especially if you have to mail/despatch them to the receiver and also this week will also be the time to personally deliver goods to friends and relatives.

Next weekend really is time to pick up a few items that cannot be bought until the last minute such as the vegetables, fresh cream and fruit. In addition no doubt there will be items that you forgot this week but really this is only the mop up and the real shopping is done.

Why not this week make a few bits like some biscuits (cookies), sweets (candies) or maybe a craft project. These will either do for emergency presents or extra items to hand out over the Christmas period especially if you are visiting friends and relatives why is better than giving a personal home-made gift.

One of my favourite and easiest sweets to make are peppermint creams. I will post this recipe shortly along with a couple of others that make good gifts or great nibbles to have around just in case someone drops in to wish you Christmas cheer.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

[DollyCali]

yes, you are right. I am rescuing all sorts of animals all the time.. but I know my limitations.. as in a 30 foot snake.. and I will call on you for sure & am equally sure you will show up within minutes (WFTR AKA Superman)

[snugs]

Before tonight’s bonus questions I will answer my own from yesterday.

How did you buy your gifts or are buying your gifts this year?

I did a mixture of online buying and High Street shopping probably 60-40 online being the 60.

Are you more an online or mail order shopper than a shopping mall or High Street shopper?

Yes I am generally more of an online shopper for “things” mainly because I do not drive and there are items I cannot find in Ashford, also I like some older items especially cooking wise so I often buy old items from Ebay. Food though I still go the stores and choose.

I still send cards and presents though not as much as I used to as over the years you loose contact with people especially if you and they move, I tend to send cards and gifts to those I am in daily or weekly contact with.

This thread is my ideas for last minute gifts.

My musts for Christmas are:-
Christmas cake - homemade
Mince pies - homemade
Sausage Rolls - I will make them this year
Christmas pudding - bought
Chocolate Ginger - bought online from Ebay
After Eight Mints
Turkish Delight
Nuts in their shells
Above are just a few items I could go on and on

[bannie]

Shop in the Internet!!!

It’s the ONLY way to fly!!!

[snugs]

Peppermint Creams

---

1lb (3 1/2 cups) Icing (confectioners) sugar sieved
One egg white (large) or 2 medium
Few drops peppermint essence (depends on how strong you like them)

Sieve the sugar into a bowl and bind with half the egg white. Add peppermint essence and mix to a smooth firm paste, adding the remainder of the egg white if necessary.

Roll the pastry out on a board dusted with icing (confectioners) sugar to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Using a small plain cutter cut out rounds and leave them to set. Christmas time you could make stars or trees etc.

Leave to set

If you wish you can make chocolate mints by carefully and quickly dipping each peppermint cream halfway into melted chocolate. Leave them on greaseproof (parchment) paper to set.

[LaineyDee]

That sounds easy....and yummy! Thanks!

[Kate of Spice Island]

No problems with Holly.

We just started with the Christmas thing and had to move lots of stuff because our complex decided they were going to fumigate the whole building. So we had to take everything out of the kitchen cabinets and pantry and out from under the bathroom sink.

Then we had to put it all back.

Between all that and the rain, there wasn't much decorating getting done.

The day they fumigated we had to take the dog and leave for the whole day and so we made use of going up and visiting my dad, but the dog threw up in the back seat again.

[Kate of Spice Island]

I was laffin’ my butt off at the snowman doing the limbo.

[snugs]

Coconut Ice
5 fl oz milk
5 fl oz water
2lb (4 cups) sugar
1oz (2 tablespoons butter)
1/2lb desiccated coconut (2 1/4 - 2 1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Pink food colouring

Bring milk and water to the boil. Reduce the heat and add the sugar and butter. Stir over a gentle heat until the sugar dissolves. Return ot the boil and cook the mixture stirring occasionally until the temperature reaches 238F.

Remove from the heat and stir in the coconut and vanilla. Beat briskly until thick and creamy.

To make coconut ice balls, stir in the pink food colouring and leave the mixture to cool slightly. Take small amounts between your fingers and roll them into balls. Place the balls in individual paper cases and leave them to set completely.

Alternatively you can make the traditional two coloured coconut ice. Pour half the mixture into a greased 8 inch square cake tin (pan). Colour the remainder with pink food colouring and spread it over the white layer. Leaver the coconut ice to set and serve it cut into squares.

Makes 2lb of coconut ice.

[snugs]

Oh dear poor doggy and poor you.

[snugs]

[DeLaine]

My sister told me that my older sibs picked my name. (I was a late baby, so they were teens)

[DeLaine]

Bill, you do realize that they were not Seventh-day Adventists though, right? :)

[DeLaine]

Sigh...

[snugs]

Two good standbys for Christmas and Easter gifts and normally enjoyed by young and old alike is toffee and fudge. Here are recipes for both.

[DeLaine]

Bill, you might want to explore timberdoodle.com

I’m big on “tools, not toys” Learning toys, err, tools.

[DeLaine]

My heart goes out to you, but the ones who prey on others are quite good at feeding what others want to hear.
I’m so sorry.

[DeLaine]

Are you into animal rescue?

[DeLaine]

On Christmas and Thanksgiving mornings I make cinnamon rolls and serve them to the family all gooey and warm from the oven.

[WFTR]

Bill, you do realize that they were not Seventh-day Adventists though, right? :)

Ah, I'm getting senile. You're right. They were Jehovah's Witnesses. I knew a guy in my high school prayer group who was Seventh-Day Adventist. I knew that I'd heard the name somewhere. LOL

Bill