The daily OS 15th December 06

ivyleaf

Hi all! haven't posted for ages as every time I try, the pc loses the internet connection. Just thought i'd try to wish you all a happy Christmas!

ivyleaf xx:santa2:

kethry

afternoon!

had a busy afternoon so far: started some HM bread, sorted out my seed jar for that (it was empty so had to refill it in the right proportions) and peeled LOTS of sprouts, blanched them and divided into two bags: one for xmas day and one for another time, to go in the freezer (Aldi was selling them 50% free and at a fairly low price a week or so ago so i grabbed em while i could). Also prepared the parsnips, parboiled em and dredged them in a mix of flour and grated parmesan cheese, ready to go in the freezer for xmas day too.

right now just having a small break, a drink and typing this, then i'll be back to it: making a xmas pud, cutting up the xmas cake, marzipanning one half, squidging the rest together and covering in apricotjam/brandy glaze and topping with dried fruit and nuts. The marzipanned half will be iced and taken to the Netherlands with us on 28th Dec (we're going to see OH's family who live there), so i wanted to marzipan/ice the cake so it survives transport (which the fruit/nut glaze wouldn't, frankly).

some laundry as well i think, chicken thighs and wedges for dinner for OH, cheese and potato "burgers" (reduced) from Mr T and wedges for me (I don't like the bones in chicken thighs), maybe a spotted harry for pudding. And if i get time after all that, and i'm not too worn out, i might do some mince pies.

Got lots left to do as i had most of this week "off" fighting the cold, so now i'm playing catchup - and i have a list as long as my arm!

oh, Pooky: i got prescribed Clomid too last summer. I took 2 cycles, went back to the fertility doc and he told me that its almost certainly my weight that is preventing me from conceiving, so, given that we can only have 6 cycles of clomid i decided to stop, lose some weight, then restart the clomid. I lost about a stone before i had to stop that (trying to save for christmas, losing weight costs money!) but i know how to lose weight now (as in what method works for me) so post christmas i'll be going back to it, then when i've lost another stone or two i'll be restarting the clomid. Do be warned though: clomid has a whole host of lovely side effects: hot flushes, the worst PMS you've *ever* had, bad period pains, really sore breasts... its like being pregnant, i'm told! Good luck with it!!

hope everyone has a good evening!

keth
xx

Quasar

Evening! :hello:

Today I managed to get home TWO hours earlier! :j:j Good, because I have a bit of work do online (well, switching from the reports window to the MSE one at frequent intervals...;)).

I have not had the heating on yesterday or today, except for a little bit in the morning when getting up. This winter so far I have saved quite a bit on gas and leccy, so if it gets really cold later on it won't mean enormous bills.

Meanwhile, as I was browsing in Tesco, I saw they sold Strepsils Orange (the ones with vitaminc C) at 2 for £2.50, so I bought 4 packs. When I wake up with a scratchy throat, a sign that a little cold is on its way, I take one immediately and 3 more in the course of the day. It works for me!

Have a good evening everyone!

tru

AussieLass wrote:

Tru What did you open today in your advent calender?

:rotfl:

A Christmas tree

My neighbour hates the fence, says she feels closed in and has stopped talking to me :rolleyes: I wouldn't mind, but we went over it TWICE with her and said if she didn't like what we wanted we'd think of something else. Silly cow She moaned to her grand-daughter, who pointed out that there was a fence there before and then came straight out and told me to ignore her

kethry

well. half the cake is now marzipanned, i'm leaving it for a few days to dry out some, so the oil doesn't seep through to the icing layer. it looks okay. I cut the top off this one, to make it a bit flat, gave the cut off part to the OH to sample. He finished the plate then came running into the kitchen with his plate out, a la Oliver style, (Twist, not Jamie), so i think it was good.

I also did the other part of the cake, it was an L shape after i'd cut the above part out (it was just over 7 inches square to begin with, cut out 5 inches for the above part), so i cut 2 pieces and wodged them together with apricotjam/brandy glaze, then cut the remaining square in half and stuck them on the end of the two already there. if that makes sense. I wound up with a cake that was just over square, slightly rectangular, and i put glaze on the top of that, covered the top with fruit and nuts (rather like this one that i did for mum), and put a ribbon around it all. It'll fall apart when we first eat it, probably, but thats ok. I think from the OH's reaction earlier it won't last long anyway. LOL.

I've also done the washing up, put 4 chicken thighs in to marinade (using the sweet chilli sauce/soysauce/ground cumin & coriander mix that nigella did the other day with pork ribs), and knocked back the bread and put into the loaf tins.

Just the xmas pud to do, but i have to wait for the breadcrumbs/almonds to defrost first - i was making 3 puds in total, so when i got some plastic white bread i turned all of it into breadcrumbs and it was the right amount for the xmas puds, mixed it with the chopped almonds and froze the other 2 portions for when i needed them. Otherwise the plastic bread goes off, cos we just don't eat it (not when there's my home made bread available).

I'm still undecided about the mince pies. One the one hand, there's nowt on the box, so i may as well. On the other, its now nearly 8pm, by the time the bread and dinner have finished cooking it'll be quite late.. and i know OH wants to curl up with "the sum of all fears" which we recorded last weekend. So i think i'll see how i feel after dinner.

Anyway.. gonna go do the xmas cake.. its still got an hour to rest and 3 ours to cook once its rested so if i don't get a move on, it'll still be whistling at midnight!

keth
xx

anniebooklover

Hi all :santa2:

Think this is the latest I have ever posted here. Busy, busy day but at least its Friday!!! :j :j :j

Anniestar Did you notice a lumbering 14yo monster with a fedora????? DS came home last night with a hat that cost £6 from "an old geezer" at the markets. :rolleyes: DS thoroughly enjoyed his night and even came home with £10 so - RESULT!!! :j

Iwanttosave how old is your son?? I *may* have a bike that would be useful. It is brand new - only ridden two or three times - but has a puncture. Would need to ask (miserable) XDHs permission before I offer it for free but would offer you first dibs if you want it.

Aussie your home looks lovely. So bright and welcoming. I know you have only laid the floors so far but sunlight can have an amazing effect on people who are deprived of it. :rotfl:

Moggins Glad to see you posting and congrats to mini-moggins. You must be sooooo proud. Hope you are well too hun. x

Ivy Hi, noticed you hadn't posted in a while. Nice to see you back.

Hope all you party people are enjoying yourselves. I have a lovely bottle of Muscat and some games with DS and DD to entertain me tonight. Hugs to all.

Annie xxx

comping_cat

Good evening everyone,

Aussie - finally saw the first 2 pics, and you floors are looking great, cant wait to see the whole house!!!!

Well, the due delivery time for my DW was 7am - 9.30am and it arrived at 9.32am!!!! Not bad i supose, at least i wasnt waiting in all day!!! Had a good day with the little ones, one of them was their last day until after xmas, so arrived with pressies for my 2 and me, which was lovely. They are now under the tree awaiting the 25th!!!! The hand print christmas trees turned out lovely as well, so they all went home with something really nice too.
Of course, the best bit of today was the fact i could just stuff all the dishes into the DW, no more messy kitchen or sore chapped hands HURRAH.
I have my sister and her family visiting for the day tomorrow, and luckily DS doesnt have foorball now until after christmas, so that means we can spend a bit more quality time with big sis, especially as they have to go home at 4, so not a long visit, which is a shame.
Hopefully tomorrow little ones dad will also be back to finish my toilet, he has done really well (especially as he has a broken arm!!!) and has done most of the work, just needs to connect all the bits and pieces now (a harder job than im making it sound i expect tho)
Right, off to get my 2 to bed, and then have a browse around MSE!!!
Have a lovely evening everyone.
Take care xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Oh, has anyone heard from Gingham Ribbon??? I hope she is ok.

RacyRed

Evening everyone.

I won't bore you with my w**k, w**k, w**k and not very OS lifestyle just now, instead I'll share a favorite recipe. I can guarantee that this will help the Christmas spirit

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas Cookie Recipe

'Tis the season to enjoy this again.

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup brown sugar
lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups dried fruit
1 bottle Absolute vodka

Directions:
Sample the Absolute to check quality.
Take a large bowl.
Check the Absolute again, to be sure it is of the highest quality.
Pour 1 level cup and drink.
Turn on the electric mixer.
Beat 1 cup butter in a large fluffy bowl.
Add 1 teaspoon of sugar, beat again.

At this point it's best to make sure the Absolute is still OK, try another cup, just in case.
Turn off the mixerer thingy, break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in 1 cup of dried fruit.

Pick the fruit off floor.
Mix on the turner.
If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Absolut to check for tonsisticity.
Next, sift 2 cups of salt or something. Who giveshz a sheet.
Check the Absolute.

Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.
Add 1 table.
Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.
Greash the oven.
Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.
Don't forget to beat off the turner.
Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Absolute and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.

CHERRY MISTMAS

TKP_3

Thanks for the great recipe! I think I'll give that a go tomorrow...:)

comping_cat

Racy - have you seen me in the kitchen!!!!! My favourite way to cook!!!!