Prepping for Christmas
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Topic: Prepping for Christmas
Posted By: Babe
Subject: Prepping for Christmas
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 9:37am
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What is everyone else organised for christmas food?? I'm not a huge christmas fan but I wanted to do lunch this year coz my mum is a christmas nut and always does this huge extravaganza but theres so much clean up and its always all cooked on the day which means everyone is sooooo busy and since DPs family is gonna be here too I wana keep it simple and easy but really yummy (his mum hasn't discovered seasonings yet!!).
We'll be going through quite abit of drinks at christmas so I'm making up lemon drink, ginger beer and cordial and hiding it so DP and DS can't find it 
I'm starting to make food to freeze too - mini quiches, baby meatball skewers, herb frittatas (to top with salmon and cream cheese), mini pizza bases, I'll be mixing up sweet chilli mince and freezing it so I can easily put together the spring rolls when I want them, doing the crumbed zucchini, chopping and prepping veges like pumpkin then freezing in their seperate bags so I can haul them out and chuck'm in the oven, prepping the hasselhback potatoes, lime key and lemon meringue pies (just not putting the egg on top), mini chocolate fruit cakes, pikelets and biscuits, white chocolate and cherry icecream bombe, making up the christmas gingerbread house and freezing so I can just put it together on the day I'm also gonna be mixing up the various dips come end of November (not that far away now). We're having a dipping platter for a starter type thing then roast lamb, orange chicken drumsticks and a small ham for the meat with veges coz I figure thats easy and yum and hopefully quick to clean up. Having the lime and lemon pies and icecream bombe for dessert. I'm just making a ton of little snack-y type dishes like the fritattas and mini pizzas and pikelets to snack on over those few days where everyone is too tired and lazy to cook anything special and also coz we've got toddlers running round and they snack continuously. Anyway I was wondering what everyone else is doing? -------------   
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Replies:
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 9:52am
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*feels very unorganises*
I have the tin fruit and jelly for the trifle... thats it! I want to do a bbq but DH mum HAS to have a fully cooked christmas lunch - old school. I am thinking we might do both this year.. Might do a bbq breakfast 
I just buy a little extra each shopping day now until christmas. There will only be 6 adults and a baby though so not a lot of food to get  -------------   
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Posted By: IVFGirl1111
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 9:54am
Wow you are sooo super organised! How on earth do you find time to do everything - and your BD 5-7 times a day! Hahaha your a machine 
Anyway - just wanted to share 2 things I do at Christmas dessert wise - SO yummy and SO easy. Candy cane icecream Get tub vanilla icecream and the red and white candy canes, smash the candy canes pour them into the icecream stir it in and put it in the freezer - so yummy, Christmasy and so easy! Other dessert I do is just SO nice, its chocolate caramel mousse and all it is pretty much is a block of caramello chocolate and a bottle of cream! SO bad - but oh so good! I cant remember the receipe off the top of my head, but if anyone wants me PM me and I'll dig it out. Exciting I LOVE Christmas! You could buy some of that Lemon and Lime from Barkers (do you have that in your supermarkets up there) and then a couple of days before make it up - because it makes HUGE amounts of drink like 5+ltrs or something so that would go a long way and is cheap. ------------- TTC 6 years IVF it is IVF/ICSI round one 10 eggs, 8 mature, 3 fertilised BFN IVF/ICSI #2 = 22 eggs! 20 mature, 15 fertilised, 1 fresh transfer and 2 frosties BFN 2 Frosties still in freezer thank god |
Posted By: lemongirl
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 9:59am
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I'm making my christmas cakes this weekend.
Will do my fudges and cookies for gifts in early december. |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 10:20am
We're having a minimum of 9 people for lunch (could be closer to 20) and I'm only being organised coz I'll be like 7 months preggo and I totally know if I don't get it sorted now I'll be a mess! That and my in-laws still think I'm basically a worthless gold-digger whos got her hooks into DP  so I'm in 'prove them wrong' mode! I MAY be over-reaching lol we're renovating our lounge and Tylers room and building a deck and organising christmas dinner for everyone and aiming to be debt-free all by christmas on top of being pregnant (and regularly BDing Dal ) so we'll see how well I do -------------
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Posted By: IVFGirl1111
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 10:29am
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Holy crap man you need to slow down! That is a HUGE amount to do in that amount of time even when your not pregnant!
Dont you just hate inlaws that make (or say behind your back) rude comments!   ------------- TTC 6 years IVF it is IVF/ICSI round one 10 eggs, 8 mature, 3 fertilised BFN IVF/ICSI #2 = 22 eggs! 20 mature, 15 fertilised, 1 fresh transfer and 2 frosties BFN 2 Frosties still in freezer thank god |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 10:48am
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Gosh there's some great ideas there babe. All I have is a frozen chicken in the freezer.
Funny that your IL's think you're a gold digger when you appear to be the thriftyiest person I've ever come across. -------------  
 
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Posted By: BriAndOlisMum
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 10:49am
WOW WOW WOW i don't know how you do everything you do babe, i am very envious 
well i'm not doing any cooking for xmas, DP has a tradition of going to his mum's place in the morning for breakfast (auckland CBD), then to his grandma's place for christmas lunch (devonport, north shore). and then DD and I will be driving down to Te Awamutu to have dinner with my nana and the rest of my family. (my family doesn't like DP and make it very clear that he is not welcome there. although at that stage i may need a driver lol so he may just have to come anyway) -------------  http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: ohanlon82
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 10:55am
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WOW go you..
Dont even talk about inlaws - ARGGGGGGGGH have nothing so far but i will look into it..
Dal can you send me that dessert - mmmmmmmm sounds fab ------------- http://lb2f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/RPaODBg.jpg |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 10:56am
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I don't have to do anything but help out this year, going to my Dad's so yay.
I usually organise a pav, used to make them but now I buy the frozen pre-filled ones from New World stick it on a plate and whala instant dessert. The only thing i'm worried about is that step-mum like seafood and if i'm UTD by then I won't be able to eat any of it. DH's birthday is the 21st so we'll have a dinner/lunch with his folks the weekend before. Again menu determined by whether I'm UTD. I've made those desserts Booboo with the caramello chocolate, cream and eggs they're pretty rich and yum. It would be great if someone could post some ideas for a preggy friendly Christmas. I guess as longs as everything is hot should be right. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 10:57am
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Babe when my mum did christmas she and Nana used to make most things the day / night before.
Mostly only roasted the veges on the day, and used the electric fry pan for the roast. Can do a great roast in the slow cooker too. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: IVFGirl1111
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 11:09am
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The one I do isnt with eggs its just 2 ingredients chocolate caramello and cream - SO bad, but man its a HUGE hit with everyone. Great to take as a plate somewhere too.
9 weeks 1 day to go! ------------- TTC 6 years IVF it is IVF/ICSI round one 10 eggs, 8 mature, 3 fertilised BFN IVF/ICSI #2 = 22 eggs! 20 mature, 15 fertilised, 1 fresh transfer and 2 frosties BFN 2 Frosties still in freezer thank god |
Posted By: ohanlon82
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 11:18am
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mmmmmmmmmmmmmm i sounds fab..
my mouth is dribbling  ------------- http://lb2f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/RPaODBg.jpg |
Posted By: didi99
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 12:22pm
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Oh Wow can I come to your house for Xmas Babe that all sounds sooooo good!!
Our families are no where near that organised, haven't even decided who's house it will be at this year, let alone what we will be eating. -------------  Angel Babies Nov 09, May 10, Dec 10
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Posted By: X
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 12:22pm
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I make my own fruit mince every year-chocolate, fig & ginger fruit mince. I have to make it by the end of october because it needs at least a month before you can use it. It's divine! Store bought stuff just doesn't compare.
I also make soetkoekies every year for Xmas. They are an afrikaans south african biscuit that literally translate as sweet biscuits. They are quite plain but so nice for dipping in tea & coffee. My Ouma (grandmother) has made them for Xmas every year since I can remember & now that we are here in NZ I continue the tradition. I make them in all Xmassey shapes & they always make me feel festive. This year I think DS is old enough to help roll out dough & cut shapes. It'll be great. I love Xmas traditions-they make the season! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 12:33pm
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Wow babe....put us all to shame!! (love Tylers name BTW) We are going to my IL for the day along with my parents and sisters and her DH and kids....I think there will be about 16 adults FIL has decided that a large piece of pork done on a rotisseree BBQ is what we are having so I am taking a warm roast vege salad and a dessert of some sort. At least its at their place so my house doesn't get trashed! and they live in an apartment complex so have a pool too -------------  
 
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Posted By: HoneybunsMa
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 12:50pm
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Wow what prep have I done? Baha aaaahhhh none! And I won't be expected to do anything but bring the baby lol oh and maybe garlic bread although it probably won't be eaten so be told to take it home lol. We will be doing our usual West Auckland (DP's family) probably bfast. East Auckland (my family) probably lunch then usually we go out to South Auckland which is our bestfriends family but they may be going to Wanganui which means we don't have to go. We regularly do big family dinners at my cousins house so its all easy to us the same people that are there will be there on Christmas day with maybe a few extras. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 1:02pm
| odette....care to share your fruit mince recipe?????? |
Posted By: Tastic
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 1:36pm
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Babe - come help me!!!
we are having christmas here this year as I refuse to travel around when 7 months pregnant! we did chriscos this year - and last year of it too so will have a ham and chicken and I know the inlaws will bring a couple of salads but no idea what else the list of guests go, me, hubby, bailey, aidan neice mum mil, fil, bil,sil possibably brother, neice, his bit and her 2 kids I can;t start doing anything as we still don't have a oven that works grrr they finally rang yeaterday and said next flippen week! almost a month since we moved in here GRRR |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 2:04pm
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Wow you are all so organised!!! All I know is that my Mum and Dad are going down to ChCh to spend Christmas with my brother. We will probably end up doing lunch with DH's mum's family as always and then dinner with his parents (just a laid back dinner) followed by Dominoes. We won't have to do anything except bring the girls with us to be cooed over LOL
I just hope it's fine this year as I have a couple of gorgeous dresses with knickers that I want to dress the girls in  hehehe
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 2:15pm
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We are having Xmas at our place this year, and I am trying to figure out what we are going to do food wise. Whenever we host it, we always seem to spend a fortune, and feel like no-one really contributes, so this year I am putting my foot down and making sure that everyone brings something. I am going to do a hot ham, and will do salads and some roast veges. Will have to think of something yummy for desert too. Need to have a vegetarian option too - as my brother and SIL are vege's....so better get my thinking cap on!
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Posted By: Tastic
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 2:25pm
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SimSam - do a pot luck dinner/lunch
means everyone HAS to bring something |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 2:38pm
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edited due to being in wrong thread ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: X
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 2:44pm
Here is the link....it's a recipe out of the cuisine mag from a few years back. It's really easy to make & everyone always raves about it. http://cuisine.co.nz/index.cfm?pageId=20811 ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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nzpiper wrote:Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 3:38pm
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wow Babe yummy. You have a lot to do before xmas & getting debt free also. You left xmas shopping off your list have you already done it???
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 3:59pm
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OOh thanks for this one babe, i have just planned christmas lunch and we are doing it MY way this year. Bugger the IL's!
Roast lamb on the BBQ Cold Ham (no ham last year as I was so upset about not being able to eat it) Prawn Cocktail (couldnt eat it last year due to being) Roast pot's and butternut squash Cauliflour and Brocolli in cheese sauce (both growing in the garden now) Green Salad Pasta Salad Home made bread rolls (I will get them right by christmas so they dont come out of the oven as lovely paper weights) Trifle Dals carmello mouse YUM! Of course if I am UTD again then the it will be hot ham and no prawn cocktails again.. -------------
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 8:37pm
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ROFL Mel who was it that posted the yummiest bread roll recipe in the food thread... I'll bump it for you - its foolproof I swear and soooo yummy!!!!
Honestly I'm only doing it my way this year coz I'm so sick of my family running things LOL they are *the*most*disorganised* bunch of people!!!! My mum spends all day cooking and cleaning and setting up and she really enjoys it but gets totally wound up and stresses everyone out, and everyone else just gets in the way!!! Lunch thats sposed to be at like 11 is invariably at 2pm and it drags onnnn and onnnn and onnnnnnnnnnnn *sigh* just too tiring!!! I figure if I make one dish a week til christmas and freeze it then it makes it cheaper and faster. Who suggested the roasts in the crockpot?? I'm doing that I'll have 2 crockpots and 2 smaller roasts (coz leftover meat can be used to make sub sandwiches the next day or so mmm yummy) and the chicken will be in the oven, mum gets a free leg of ham so she'll organise that but otherwise shes banned!!! Oooh brocolli/cauli in a cheese sauce is a big fave here why did I forget that??!! Toodles off to add it to the list...
Oh yeah Jazzy we're getting a family portrait done in Dec so they get a pic and something small which is all already brought  The inlaws told DP last christmas that for what they got it wasn't worth sending it after we spent like $50-$100 bucks on each of them and really struggled to choose nice stuff so this year I think they can go do nasty things to themselves  the giving of a gift is a choice not an obligation and if they can't show some gratitude for the thought and appreciation for the effort then I have other areas to spend my time and cash!!-------------
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Posted By: hannibal
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 10:11pm
| Babe whats your address - think I might just come to your place! I'm seriously so lucky we get to go on a plane and turn up! We do still try and do our bit but due to travelling and limited facilities its more in the chip, nuts, lolly department! |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 22 October 2009 at 10:24pm
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Haven't read what everyone else posted... But!! We always do a roast with all the veges like peas, corn, carrots (somtimes), potatoes, pumpkin (somtimes), kumara, brocolli and have a cheese sauce and a gravy. We usually have xmas pudding with Brandy Custard, but I think we're just having normal custard this year haha...! We always have roses chocolates and usually wine or beer to drink but this year we will have fanta, lemonade and OJ. Oh and we always have ice cream and peaches and strawberries handy too! And occasionally a pavalova.
But yours sounds nicer... Can I come gatecrash?? Haha ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 23 October 2009 at 1:36am
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Gosh - I don't even know what we are doing for Christmas yet!! Let alone what we will be eating
Gotta get through exams first... lol. You are going to have the yummiest food! ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: IVFGirl1111
Date Posted: 23 October 2009 at 9:26am
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BEST dessert ever receipe
1 block of Caramello chocolate (large) 1 350 ml bottle cream Tip half of cream into a saucepan and warm slightly Break chocolate into pot and continue to warm until melted Put aside to cool Whip rest of cream and then add to the choc mixture when cool Dont leave to cool to long though as choc starts to set Leave in fridge several hours to set ENJOY!!! Soooo nice, sooo easy and you only need a little bit each so it goes a long way! THE best ever I tell you ------------- TTC 6 years IVF it is IVF/ICSI round one 10 eggs, 8 mature, 3 fertilised BFN IVF/ICSI #2 = 22 eggs! 20 mature, 15 fertilised, 1 fresh transfer and 2 frosties BFN 2 Frosties still in freezer thank god |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 23 October 2009 at 9:35am
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Thanks Dal, DH doesnt like trifle but its not christmas without it. He will LOVE this
Babe, thats the recipe I am using but I must not be kneading it enough cos they come out like bricks... could I be using the wrong yeast???? Grrrr, i will have it sorted by christmas. -------------
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 23 October 2009 at 9:53am
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This year we are in our own house and would have just been there for a month. So not going to invite people over this time so going to be really small with just the kids and just have a braai.
Will have to make a plan with trifle as McKayla cant have jelly so will have to get a recipy and make my own. She cant have artificial colors and it is a tradition with Grants family to have a trifle. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 23 October 2009 at 12:38pm
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Oh yeah I can't have artificial colours either I've got a few jelly recipes so I'll go haul them out. If you want red/pink colouring use beetroot juice btw - it doesn't flavour the food coz you only need a little bit! We boil spinach/silverbeet ad use the water for green colouring (theres somehting else we use too but I can't remember), blueberry juice for blue/purple and uhm :thinking: what do we do for yellow.... can't remember I'll havta ask my mum oh but depending on the dish egg yolk makes a lovely yellow! HTH anyway but I'll go find a jelly recipe or three and post them for you
Mel you already use that recipe? Hmm... what yeast are you using?? It needs to be the active granules. If you don't think you're kneading for long enough then pull a med size lump off and try pulling it apart. If it stretches then the gluten in the dough has been activated which means it'll rise - if it doesn't have much if any stretch then keep kneading HTH hun!!
Loving the food ideas from everyone I've been adding to my list haha omg so much cooking to do alright well I just have normal things to finish now like bread, muffins and biscuits and dinner so better shoot off but keep the ideas coming please!!!-------------
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 23 October 2009 at 12:41pm
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we are going away this year but my fav dessert is ambrossa all its is marshmellows bottl of cream and 1lt of pottle yogurt(fruit) wisk cream to think then add together ummmmmmmm yummmy you can add berris od bits of fruit then to put in frigde for half a hour or so ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 23 October 2009 at 12:47pm
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Boiled carrot juice for yellow
Jelly - its actually really easy and heres the most basic recipe which was the first one I found... 500ml fruit juice (use the tinned juice with fruit if you want) 1&1/2 tablespoons gelatin Heat a little bit of the fruit juice (til quite hot if I remember correctly) and sprinkle the gelatin over it, stir til dissolved then add the rest of the fruit juice and into the fridge to cool If it doesn't work let me know and I'll find the other more detailed ones I have k HTH
ETA something didn't make sense with what I wrote.... -------------
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 25 October 2009 at 4:46pm
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Aaaaah thanks. Will definately try it out ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 25 October 2009 at 6:10pm
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Thanks babe, will try again this week with those rolls. Its very frustrating as usually the kitchen is the place I alwasy succeed! -------------
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 25 October 2009 at 9:36pm
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Nothing!!! We are going to be in Oz with my parent (well me and the boys) and we are going to take a picnic to the beach. Boxing day will be Xmas day for us as we will head down the coast to my dads aunty and uncles for a BBQ lunch. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 26 October 2009 at 1:37am
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*checks calendar *
oh , look at that , its almost November , should probably decide what we are doing then ! ------------- 
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Posted By: lemongirl
Date Posted: 26 October 2009 at 11:16am
| Just popped christmas cake number 1 in the oven. Got another 1 or possibly two to do in the next few weeks! |
Posted By: Rovic
Date Posted: 26 October 2009 at 4:58pm
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Every year we spend a few hours making marshmallow balls. I said last year that we weren't going to do it and everyone complained! lol. Labour intensive, but very yummy (and the marshmallow is full of air, so they're not that bab for your waistline - yeah right!). We have breakfast at my folks as thats where we stay in Wellington, lunch with IL's - this year we are doing the entree, so keep all the ideas coming, and then back to my folks place for tea. Mum does everything there, but hopefully this year we will oncvince her to let us do something. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 26 October 2009 at 9:23pm
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oooh I love christmas!!!
There is usually around 7 of us here, we usually have it here, I am a control freak and like to do the whole thing cos christmas is my FAVE so I go all out!! Mind oyu, if we get invited elsewhere, we will go. We do a seasoned boned rolled pork on the spit on our big bbq Ham, chicken (hot or cold depends on weather) with cranberry, applesauce and gravy. New potatoes from garden boiled with mint, served with butter Baby carrots and peas from garden Salad Steam pud, trifle, jelly, mousse, pavs/birdsnests, strawberries and custard and cream. Always have a platter out with crystillised strawberries, fresh marlborough cherries, nuts and roses chocs to pick at through the day. I also make "christmas puds" with mallowpuffs, spearmint leaves and jaffas We have left overs for tea and boxing lunch and bbq for boxing tea. I freeze the leftover ham if we had it cold in usuable blocks (I only buy half legs anyway) and makes plates for guests to take home. I remember when I was a kid we had the big sit down "christmas lunch" on new years day, too. Anyone else do that? We don't now! We usually head away for at least the day somewhere quiet on NYD for a picnnc and/or camping Oh and we have christmas dinner also with family in nelson on the sunday before christmas with turkey and the works. I start buying things a few weeks out, our new world has a big cardholder type day usually first week of december so I get alot if it then and cash in any xmas club vouchers I have. Excpet the pork, I get that a week or so out and freeze and get strawberries and cherries around the 22nd. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 26 October 2009 at 9:31pm
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Oh boy....I have done nothing to get ready for Christmas, still unsure what will be happening....eep!! Plan for this week....start planning Christmas!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 27 October 2009 at 4:54pm
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Ohhh yummmmmmyyyyy.... all the food sounds soooooo goooooood :drools:
I did some cordial and a ginger beer starter over the weekend but DP and DS both had a crap time feeling sick, stepping on nails and so on so didn't get the quiches made :huff: then today I kept dropping eggs on the floor while I was making lunch and pikelets so now they'll havta wait for a coupla days so the chickens better get busy coz I'm cross!!! LOL fattartsrock yeah I like being in charge of absolutely everything or absolutely nothing - no middle ground -------------
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 27 October 2009 at 7:35pm
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ooh, that reminds me Babe - have to make some ginger beer. i have a geat cheap recipe if anyone wants it. speaking of wanting recipes - Annie - i want your jaffa marshmallow thingy and rovic, care to share yours???? i love xmas baking! I am making all the nieces and nephews presents this year (apron and cookbook), and going to attempt to make the grownup presents too. the kids are making paving stones for the grandparents (pour cement into ice cream containers and press in marbles).
We have the in-laws coming (although seeing they haven't booked tickets yet I'm not holding my breath) Must start getting my xmas stuff with the groceries this week. Shortbread to be made....mmmmm trouble is, I think once we start making the stuff at my house, it may "mysteriously" disappear. (i blame lewis) |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 28 October 2009 at 8:41am
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ROFL!! Yeah it "mysteriously" disappears here too!!!
How do you make your ginger beer? I just use sugar, ground ginger and water oh and yeast int he starter. I'm making homemade lemonade too if anyone wants the recipe... I've made the presents this year too lol I'm a cheapskate  I've made an origami wind chime for my granny, a patchwork type tshirt for my brother, a painting for my sister, merino pjs for my niece and I'll be making a whole lot of lemon stuff for my dad - lemon muffins, lemon slice, lemon fudge, lemon butter - coz he adores lemon!! I need to pay Kel a visit (or rather her fabulous lemon tree - sorry Kel don't feel used ). Cant think of what to do for my mum yet but I super really love the paving stone idea so might steal that and we've brought a little something for my inlaws coz they'd be rude about homemade pressies I think. Of course they'll all get a family portrait of us too poor them!
I don't see the point in spending a ton of money at christmas. Everybody has too much anyway and since its often the only time people make an effort to get together I think the emphasis should be more on making fun memories. We're planning a games evening where the 2 tots are either in bed or watching a dvd and us adults play board games like trains and stuff. Anyone got a good recipe for popcorn balls?? -------------
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 28 October 2009 at 2:52pm
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Liz these christmas puds are sooo blikin' easy but they look like lots of effort for none at all!!!
Melt some chocolate (white looks best, but I do both cos not everyone likes white choc) Dip the top 3rd of your mallowpuff (or whatever mallowpuff type bikkie you use) in and let the choc run uneven down sides so as to look like custard on top of xmas pudding Then add 2 spearmint leaves and a couple or three jaffas (before choc sets as it hold them on) to look like holly sprigs and bobs your uncle. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: sottise
Date Posted: 28 October 2009 at 2:59pm
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I usually bake about a gazillion cookies for Christmas: some years I get really organised and start the dough around nowish, but this year will not be one of those years.
Some of your plans / preparations have me exhausted just reading them! I am so pinching the Mallowpuff xmas pud idea - sounds so much more appealing than the actual thing (or, heaven forfend, mince tarts ) Thanks for that!------------- 
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Posted By: MindyW
Date Posted: 29 October 2009 at 4:44pm
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I make the marshmellow thing every year too! I really cant cook so thats nice and easy for me to do and even I cant stuff it up!
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Posted By: myonlineself
Date Posted: 29 October 2009 at 8:12pm
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My first 'plan' is to have this baby and be home from hospital in time for Christmas, I'll be pretty gutted if I miss Christmas, its my absolutely favourite day of the year (its also my birthday which helps). There was a suggestion of us having Christmas lunch at our place till I pointed out the timing wouldn't be the best as we couldn't guarantee to even be there (due date 13th December!).
So - we have the usual Christmas breakfast at the ILs (my parents and bro often come too), french toast, fried ham, fried banana, maple syrup, yum! Then its off to my parents house for late lunch/early dinner, we we have the roast vegetables and the ham and turkey. Possibly back to the ILs later for dessert. I'm loving the idea of this candycane icecream, I think I could manage that lol! I love reading what everyone is doing! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 30 October 2009 at 12:47pm
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Well, I think we will be postponing xmas this year since baby is due on the 26th Dec! And worse, we will be staying 1.5 hours away from home, probably in a cabin in a camp ground so not exactly inpsiring for cooking a slap up meal. Plus there will only be me and DH (and baby inside tummy of course).
Pretty stink as I love xmas but not much we can do about it. My mum is coming over on the 28th so then once we go home we will open presents etc and have a special dinner - unless of course we can find somewhere good to go out for xmas dinner. Probably won't even be all that excited about putting up xmas tree and in fact now I think about that, I am not entirely sure where it would fit anyway hahahahaha! ------------- 
 Oct 11
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Posted By: Tastic
Date Posted: 30 October 2009 at 8:48pm
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ok so we FINALLY got a new oven!
now I need a list of what to make lol tell me what I need to make lol |
Posted By: Tastic
Date Posted: 05 November 2009 at 3:45pm
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BUMP!
help what should I be doing now, to make ly life easier in 5-6 weeks! |
Posted By: Rovic
Date Posted: 05 November 2009 at 7:39pm
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Lizzle have been looking everywhere for my reciepe for marshmallow balls but can't find it. Better have a big tidy up this weekend or we'll never get them all done in time. Will post when I find it. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 05 November 2009 at 9:00pm
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LOL Tastic first draw up a menu plan then post it so we can advise -------------
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 05 November 2009 at 10:20pm
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sponges for trifles and chrissy cake both freeze well, Trish. What are you having? ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 06 November 2009 at 1:30pm
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Trish making a list of quick lunch type and snacky food is a good idea so you can just pull stuff out.
Knowing exactly what you're doing for Christmas is a good idea too! Our plans changed slightly coz MIL was completely taken with our suggestion of a champagne breaky (bacon, eggs, pancakes, yoghurt and muesli, baked beans, toast and hash browns) so we're doing that then having a light dinner and having our bigger meal on Boxing day coz we decided 2 huge meals would be too much. I'll be glazing the chicken for the main meal on Christmas Eve (last day I get to myself) to pop in the oven on Boxing day morning, and mixing up the pancake batter for the champagne breakfast. I'm spending this month doubling any munchy recipe I make and freezing half so we had tuna patties and homemade pizza last nght so theres a pile of pizza dough in the freezer along with a good amount of patty mixture which I can just haul out and cook as required, and theres already a batch of muffins in the freezer with another batch going in this afternoon when I get them out of the oven. On Christmas Eve I'm doing up containers of sandwich fixings like cheese and onion, curried egg. sliced tomatoes, etc to pull out for lunches over the next week and we'll have muffins, biscuits and mini meatballs, tuna patties, etc in the freezer to pull out too. We're planning on buffet type lunches during the week so I wanted stuff that was easy and filling and nutritious still. So yeah its really all in the menu planning - gotta start with that!! -------------
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Posted By: lemongirl
Date Posted: 06 November 2009 at 1:43pm
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DP just bought me a gingerbread house kit last night. Got my christmas cookie decorating class in 2 weeks.
Squeal! |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 06 November 2009 at 1:54pm
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LOL cool! I havta do it from scratch but TBH I don't know if I want to haha nah but the kids will love it. Any cookie decorating tips you get feel free to post please -------------
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