Struggling along as best I can

Cherryfudge

I keep meaning to make a mincemeat cake... it stubbornly doesn't happen but it sounds so tasty.

I think you would probably hold some sort of record if you took your decs down now!

@[Deleted User], ditch the icing and keep the marzipan for stollen. Christmas cake is best eaten with Wensleydale cheese (can you tell I'm in Yorkshire?). As James Harriot said: 'The mixture...chewed boldly together... is exquisite'.

@Makingabobor2 - do laminate it, or frame it, though if it's framed it might still fade. Cranky's idea of the photo is very good too. In fact, you could probably do that right now! I have a scrap of paper in my Mum's hand writing where she's copied out a silly rhyme and it sits on the side in a frame - a nice reminder of her.  

nannygladys

Baron_Dale - I'm afraid I'd be happy just to have the marzipan and icing 🤣🤣🤣🎄 I'm feeling more positive today and put some Xmas lights on to cheer myself up 🙂

nannygladys

Makingabobor2 - this year I'm cooking some of the veggies and freezing them together, so I can use for dinners eg mashed potatoes, carrots and brussels, or carrot and swede mash or potato and swede mash. The Brussels I will blanch before freezing but all the others, carrots, parsnips and swede I don't bother as they will be used over the next few months. The potatoes will be keep in the cool and dark ready for using. The broccoli I'll be eating fresh. I'll probably be making soup and freezing as well. I like a few different options. Now I have another freezer I'm taking advantage 🤣

nannygladys

CRANKY40 - I know where you are coming from with all the wrapping paper! I really dislike wrapping presents anyway and one of my dds used to do it for me who loves doing it! I'm afraid it's money all the way now for Xmas and birthdays.

nannygladys

in_need_of_direction - i think that's a lovely idea and a great way of remembrance each time you use/watch it

nannygladys

Cherryfudge - I've had the recipe for years and can't even remember where it came from 😂. When I was newly married I was a novice cook and used to buy different magazines and use the library to gather recipes. I used to write them all in a green A4 notebook, mains at one end and cakes and desserts the other 🤣🤣 I gave it to my middle daughter for ideas when she got married and then it came back to me when she and her family moved abroad, so I'm still using it now and it has recipes from many relatives and friends as well. It's also very tatty and falling apart 🤣🤣

nannygladys

So today has been relatively quiet and the veggie preparations are under way! I may even be tempted to buy some more as the prices are so low, but it depends on space and how soon I get fed up with seeing/preparing them!!

Makingabobor2

Never tried freezing mash. Does it work well? Do you have to defrost it?

Cherryfudge

nannygladys said:

Cherryfudge - I've had the recipe for years and can't even remember where it came from 😂. When I was newly married I was a novice cook and used to buy different magazines and use the library to gather recipes. I used to write them all in a green A4 notebook, mains at one end and cakes and desserts the other 🤣🤣 I gave it to my middle daughter for ideas when she got married and then it came back to me when she and her family moved abroad, so I'm still using it now and it has recipes from many relatives and friends as well. It's also very tatty and falling apart 🤣🤣

My baking recipes are also handwritten in a green notebook that's falling apart. Mine is biscuits at the front. then cakes, and puddings at the the back. The rule is, no recipe goes in there till I've baked it.

I made a  hand-written copy for my daughter and she's adding to it as she finds favourites.

nannygladys

Cherryfudge - when any of my girls cook one of the recipes ( they do occasionally) from it, it's like a bit of me being carried on through them, it makes me feel happy and perhaps they will pass a few onto their children when ready and the circle carries on going! Getting a bit carriwd away now 🤣