General Chat

This morning, my kitchen smells...............................of Christmas.
Yesterday, I mixed a bowl of mincemeat for the mince pies for Christmas. I have just taken the cover off and given it a stir. Mmmm, lovely.
Oh has just come up from the allotment and bought me a boiling of Brussels for Sunday lunch, to road test them, ready for the Christmas dinner. We just lurvs 'em.
Julia in Derbyshire

Morning.

I bet it wont smell so nice tomorrow after youve cooked your sprouts lol

Ho ho ladies.
Marion, it won't smell too bad, and will be worth it LOL
Island, we also believe in the frost theory around these parts, and we have had one or two lately. OH has been dying to try them, so, as we are having roast beef tomorrow, I though we would give them a go. Well, that is my excuse, and I'm sticking to it. LOLOL
Julia in Derbyshire

I love sprouts.Infact I was out for tea lastnight at a carvery.The sprouts dish was empty,so I went back for some.OH asked if I was hungry..the amount i had on my plate lol

Marion

Marion, that would have been me also with the sprouts.LOL. We love Carvery, but sadly, the places that serve it, are becoming few and far between around here. Only last week, we heared our favourite place had closed down. It was a lovely old Dickensian type pub, down a lovely country lane.
Julia in Derbyshire

It's a shame when a place shuts down.It's a wonder some places survive.

I was listening on the radio the other day to this recipe for mincemeat for those delicious mince pies. This was from one of our very well known (been round for yonks) cooks and she said she even likes spreading the mincemeat on bread and butter.
I have this apple cake I make that includes fruit mince and it smells divine and it disappears very quickly.

Well back to bed it is 2am here.

Love Persey who doesn't like sprouts but I cook them for himself as he loves them he would have been up there with Marion helping himself to seconds.

M & S do lovely mince pies and christmas cake lol :))))

Not in my kitchen they don't JackintheBox. This is a homemade household.
Julia in Derbyshire

I was joking Julia :)))) I make my own mince pies as homemade pastry is far better than shop bought stuff. Im not very good at making cakes though so have to confess to buying a christmas cake.

I don't go to the trouble of making a Christmas Cake these days, as niether of us are that keen. Having said that, if someone gave me a slice I would eat it.
Julia in Derbyshire

Shane Babes, your smack on.
Julia in Derbyshire

I hope it,s of Shallots being Pickled.**M**.:o)>

Shane, yes, isn't it a small world. I can't quite remember it being exactly like that, but I was too busy having babies around 1969, not dining out LOL
But, it was always know as Mabels Table, and you could eat as much as you liked.
In more recent years though, whilst your starters and sweet courses where served to you by the waitress, you did go up and serve yourself from the Carvery for your mains.
Christmas Day, which was our treat to ourselves, was about five courses in the beautiful dining room, then you retired to the lounge, with log fire, for coffee, petit fours, cheese and biscuits, mince pies and brandy. It made our Christmas.
Some years ago it closed down when the then owners did a runner, but it was taken over, and re-opened. This last three years, it was taken over again, and you could tell the owners where cutting little little corners. Why, they even cut out the present to the ladies, of a box of Thornton's chocolates, heaven forbid.
This area has changed alot, since 1969, and I think you would be hard to recognise it. The new and up and coming place to eat is Eastweed Hall, but I have not got round to that yet.
Take Care
Julia in Derbyshire

I pickle my own onions Merlin and Red Cabbage and Beetroot, they are much nicer.

Jackinthe Box, I do all my own, that is what Merlin Babes is on about. He is chancing his luck to have jars full sent to him LOLOL
Julia in Derbyshire

Did mine the other week.

Correction Julia, A great Big Truck load.:o))>Please.**M**.x.

Merlin Babes, What are you like LOLOL
Julia in Derbyshire

On their Merlin, enjoy.

Julia,After a Jar of Pickled Shallots, Very Anti Social. even worse than the after effects of Sprouts.:o)>.pmsl.**M**.