Struggling along as best I can

nannygladys

Toonie - I'm thinking of having another 'mini pond' (love  that phrase) down the other end of the lottie, I made a little woodland area as its in the shade and as its not used for veggies and dgd volunteers at a children's cs I should be able to source another baby bath!! Loving the idea of a toady book, I bet kiddies would love to know the antics of a toad!!

WinterWarrior - pup is doing alright at dd3s and is well loved by them all, II will see him every week when I do my grandma duties! I can't wait to see him tomorrow!!  Confession time, I do freeze mince pies and have been known to eat them frozen choc and mince pies - heaven (perhaps not together though)

Ok, well I have done my last shop in t@sco today for veggies etc and spent the grand total of £38.34 (that includes £6.95 in hb's as well) which I think was really good for me as I havent been shopping since before I was paid last Wednesday. That should last me now until after the new year as I'm going to dd 3 for Xmas breakfast and dinner. I'm hoping it will last longer as I seem to be over run with food at the moment, I think I must be a food hoarder or I don't eat as much as I think I do.
 I have cleaned through and done laundry as well so there won't be too much to do before the big day. I'm aiming on having a few good days relaxing and doing 'not a lot' over the festive period, as no dgc to look after unless I want to that is and I really should visit the lottie to do a bit of 'drop and chop' or it may be the other way around lol.
Anyway off to make a cup of coffee and see what's on the TV.
Nannyg

nannygladys

Grandma duties completed for this year, mind you I have a confession, whilst there dgs, dgd and I walked into the small local town and went into a local coffee shop for hot chocolate and cake which was lovely and they both enjoyed it, well dgd and I did anyway little dgs just ate cake so that cost me £10.45 that hasn't been budgeted for. Hopefully I can take it out of my grocery budget.

When I got back home the house was so cold and when I looked at the temperature it was only 15° so the heating went on before anything else, even tea making lol.

Tomorrow I will make my Xmas mincemeat cake that I halve and give dd on Xmas day, I couldn't eat it all, but I make it in a loaf tin, ice as a normal Xmas cake and then cut it in two. It's good if you like mince pies but aren't keen on rich fruit cake.

Off to bed in a moment as need to get up early tomorrow and get going.
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

Hot chocolate and cake, how lovely 😊. You deserve a treat! 

nannygladys

I must admit WinterWarrior, it wasn't so much of a treat as I was trying to stop dgs from running riot around the place  but they seemed to enjoy it, unlike the other customers

WinterWarrior

nannygladys said:

I must admit WinterWarrior, it wasn't so much of a treat as I was trying to stop dgs from running riot around the place  but they seemed to enjoy it, unlike the other customers

Haha, where’s their Christmas spirit! 

Toonie

Ooh, Xmas mincemeat cake sounds great. I'm not overly fond of a rich fruit cake, but I do enjoy the odd mince pie. Would you share your recipe NannyG?

nannygladys

Toonie - I don't know where the original recipe came from but I've been making it for years.

Ingredients: it's in pounds and ounces, my scales can do grams or ounces.

5oz soft margarine
8oz self raising flour
3 eggs, I used medium this year and it was fine.
5oz soft brown sugar, I have used white sugar if I don't have brown.
1 level teaspoon baking powder
1lb mincemeat, I have used 1jar which is under and its ok, but usually I use a 1lb, and use the rest making extra mince pies.

Heat oven to gas 3 or 325F, not sure about fan or C as I have a gas cooker.

Method is very simple, mix all the ingredients really well and put into a greased and lined 8 inch cake tin and bake for about 1 3/4 hours, I usually keep a check on it after 1 1/2 hours.
Turn out of tin and leave to go cold if icing it, I usually put marzipan and fondant icing on top. This year I used a square tin and when it had gone cold halved it so dd and I have half each, and I only marzipan my half as I'm not very keen on fondant icing!!! I like royal icing!!

Been cleaning, I gave pup a bath as I have him for a few days and he wanted to smell nice for Santa, he he. Made a jar curry for tea and waited for eldest dd to collect Santa presents, which she did and now just watching some bits in the TV.

Have a good Christmas everyone, eat, drink, rest and enjoy.

Nannyg

WinterWarrior

The cake sounds great. I really miss royal iced cakes. You can’t have a traditional Christmas cake without peaked royal icing snow! 
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas 🎄🎅🏻

nannygladys

WinterWarrior - I can't understand why anyone likes fondant icing but it was royal icing all the way back in the day!

I'm feeling a bit sick at the moment  - chocolate induced   all my own,fault, I'm OK to keep looking at it but when I start I just have to more. Silly Nanny!! 

I can't wait until tomorrow having dinner cooked for me, I've even painted my nails and put my outfit out on the spare bed. My nails are now 'chic cherry' which is a deep purple colour, reds don't suit my colouring but brown's, dark blues, greens and purples do! I bought a new tunic top some time ago that I'm going to wear, it's made of a thin knitted fabric and I will wear it with leggings, so it's nice and loose, not too warm ( they like the heating higher than I'm used to) and, I think I look OK in it, so win win, all round. 

I feel ready for bed, but I will go and see what's on tv for a couple of hours I think.
Nannyg

nannygladys

Xmas day nearly over and I'm back at home, still not feeling hungry after a three course dinner that was lovely and present opening with dgc was magical. Was in video touch with other two dds and dgc, so seen all my family today whilst there and dds able to talk to one another, lovely and special.
So sat on settee relaxing with a g&t and calling it a very happy day. Hoping everybody else has had/having a happy Xmas day.
Nannyg