Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

littlegreenparrot

I just thought I'd contribute this as an idea for those hard to buy for people!

There is a scheme where the national theatre, and sometimes the globe, screen live performances through cinemas. This includes plays, opera, sometimes ballet. In the second week of December they are showing the Nutcracker (lovely christmassy story for those who haven't come across it). Might be worth thinking about for those who wouldn't appreciate Hollywoods most recent crash bang fest.

So in December I am now taking my parents out for dinner, then to the cinema for a lovely pre-christmas treat. It'll just be small goodies on the day.
(In their affluent pre-children days they often went to the Ballet. My dad's reaction when I suggested it, 'its not Berlin is it?' that was about 40 years ago! I promised to make it Berlin if I win the lottery in the meantime, fingers crossed )

jools002

Hi all, I have tried a search on here for easy bath bomb recipes but had no luck finding any. Has anyone got a good tried and tested recipe please? Would love to make them with my children to give to relatives. Thank you.

skogar

I used the Lavender bath bomb recipe on the allaboutyou website. It comes up on google. I'm new so can't post links.
It seemed to work OK. You need citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, epsom salts, almond oil, food colouring (opt) and lavender essential oil (or other fragrance) for this one.

I've seen recipes that miss out the epsom salts and use the same ratio of citric acid and bicarb as this recipe. You can also use water to bind instead of oil but you must add it VERY slowly, (some people use a spray bottle) or the bicarb and citric acid will react.

There's plenty of recipes on the web.

Hope that helps.

VfM4meplse

Have prepped all the goodies for my Christmas cake and will set to later this evening (I really should have done this in September!). This year I'd like to top with home-make candied lemons slices.

Does anyone know how long they are likely to last? Can I decorate with the slices as soon as the cake is cooled and continue to pour more alcohol on top, or would it be better to wait another month, until I'm ready to serve it?

If I can't make them now, I'll put the lemons to good use in a G&T or two.

mum2one

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Have prepped all the goodies for my Christmas cake and will set to later this evening (I really should have done this in September!). This year I'd like to top with home-make candied lemons slices.

Does anyone know how long they are likely to last? Can I decorate with the slices as soon as the cake is cooled and continue to pour more alcohol on top, or would it be better to wait another month, until I'm ready to serve it?

If I can't make them now, I'll put the lemons to good use in a G&T or two.

No idea about length of time, but if it was me, I'd have the G&T :rotfl:

craigywv

hi all today I am making more mince pies as the last ones got eaten. so shall freeze these ones. also need to make a choc cake for the son aged 10 as he loves a slice with custard after his dinner ,it will last all week as will slice and freeze individually.

gloomgurlie

G'day bakers! I'm after some advice - I want to make gingerbread Christmas shaped cookies today and freeze them.

I've read a lot of reviews etc online about freezing at different stages, just wondered if any of you have any first hand experience?

Ideally I want to bake and freeze. Not too fussed on whether they are pre- iced or not but if anyone has any tips for how well icing freezes I'd be very grateful.

:j

SunshineFace

Is there a board for 2014 yet? I found this incredibly useful last year!

pavlovs_dog

the special occasions board is rebranded nearer the time to prioritise Christmas

rosalie-lavender

There is a thread for 2014 running on the special occasions board.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4853442