Thread: Time to put the sprouts on ... Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Well, folks, it's now the 26th of June, and it's downhill all the way from here.

Wodders, have you started your C******** shopping yet?


 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Go away, Piglet. I have a lot of birthdays to consider before I think about Christmas.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Piglet:
...Wodders, have you started your C******** shopping yet?

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Not yet but I've got a little list! Happily both Himself and Herself are both already dealt with as their birthday presents [March/April] were, erm, not cheap so double as Christmas presents as well.

The Big Day is 26 weeks today - never mind about the sprouts, what about making the puddings?
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Six months to go!

Less for me as I like to have all bought and wrapped by November 1st.

I have decided what to buy everyone and will start to order them this week
 

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Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
As the Intrepid Grandchild is due on December 18th, I can't even *begin* to think about Christmas yet!



Mrs. S - everyone will get socks this year!
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Boogie:
Six months to go!

Less for me as I like to have all bought and wrapped by November 1st.

I have decided what to buy everyone and will start to order them this week

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quote:

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Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... never mind about the sprouts, what about making the puddings?

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• boiled, most people add butter and/or bacon bits, but I often add chestnuts of about the same size,
• if slightly overdone, in theory, they purée well with cream, personally I think that's a waste;
• shredded and stir-fried with onion and garlic, with maybe a splash of soy sauce;
• shredded in winter salads with walnuts;
• left overs covered with grated cheese as a baked potato stuffing;
• my mother does a starter recipe of baby sprouts (or big ones quartered) served in ramekins, covered in cheese sauce, finished off under the grill with cheese/breadcrumb topping.

quote:

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Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:
Brussel sprouts are usually boiled until beige, soggy and not drained properly, which makes them revolting to anyone. I actually like them, but I don't overcook, serving them just about soft and still green, so still with some bite.

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Indeed - I remember the dinner ladies telling me with pride, every year, that they'd come to school early so as to put the sprouts on at 7.30am - this for the school Xmas dinner at 1230.
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
I live alone. Cabbages are too big for me to eat. For that reason, I love sprouts, at least twice a month. I saute them gently with onion and mushroom, and home-fries (left over potato) and also use them uncooked, but peeled in a salad.

I get them regularly, at least twice a month.

I've had the overcooked variety, left over from when adults had no teeth. It is a marvel that I learnt to like them.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
My MIL used to cook all her vegetables in the pressure cooker. Sprouts and cabbage wedges were cooked under pressure for fifteen minutes. Grey tasteless slime was the result..

[ 27. June 2015, 10:22: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]
 

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Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
I generally do all my vegetables as follows: rinse, slice if required, season to taste, wrap in aluminum foil and let them steam on the grill (gas barbeque) in their own moisture as I am grilling my meat.

(Doesn't work for onions -- those I slice and saute in butter (real butter, never butter-like chemical amalgam a/k/a margarine) in a frying pan on the grill's burner unit.)
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Margarine is not fit for cooking or spreading on bread or toast - you can't even grease bearings with it!
 

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Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
Sprouts,lightly steamed and then warmed though with cream, a bay leaf and some nutmeg.
 

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Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
I haven't started the shopping BUT I have found the packages the late-lamented bought the year after we moved here.

So, that'd be C*******s sorted, except at 21 the children have outgrown Lego..
 

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Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
My BFF does not like sprouts, she finds them to be bitter. She loves mine, however!

When I make roasted veg, the sprouts go in last, for about the last ten minutes of roasting, after cutting them in half (and slicing the stem end off) then tossing them in olive oil and dried herbs. They are to die for!

And yes, I usually do roasted veg with the cookout we have for Christmas.

Time to start w*rking on the music.
 

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Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
(Attempts to devour post.)
 

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Posted by Twilight (# 2832) on :
 
Ever thinking of my own convenience, I gave birth to my son in late June. That way, the nine living grandparents could provide all baseball gloves and summer clothes then, with all the winter stuff coming from the S-man in December. It's still nice to pass his birthday and know I don't really have to do much shopping for five months.

I hate gift buying and it's not the money, it's the decisions. It's trying to think of something that they don't already have or never wanted or wont cause discreet eye rolling. Yes, I've had a good bit of that.
 

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Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
I have been agonizing over what to buy my sister for her second wedding; she has everything. I have decided on a bottle of gin. You can hardly fail with something that can be eaten or drunk.
 

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Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
I didn't know one had the choice. I had always thought that gin could only be drunk.

[ 27. June 2015, 19:51: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
 

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Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
Heh. I have a recipe, for a beet cocktail. It calls for steeping the beets in gin, which turns the gin a deep dark bloody red and makes for a fine presentation in a martini glass.

The recipe said nothing of the aftermath. But I took the gin-soaked beets and made them into a risotto. Oh, that was yummy! Gin and beets is somewhat harsh, but ameliorated with rice and lashings of parmesan it's to die for.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Interesting idea. On the rare occasions when I cook cabbage, I use a recipe from the old Delia Smith books that adds juniper berries, and I've been known to splash on a little GIN at the end to intensify the juniper flavour.

I'm not really a fan of Brussels sprouts (Kelly - you can have my share!) but they're palatable if lightly cooked and finished off with butter and chestnuts.

[ 28. June 2015, 01:23: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Another foodie use for GIN is to make a very simple grapefruit starter for a meal by halving grapefruit then adding a teaspoon of GIN - refrigerate for a few hours and there is a very tasty starter for a meal. Don't try and make grilled grapefruit with this as it is a tad flammable!

* * * *

Right then, as recipes are really Heaven's domain perhaps we'd better get back to Christmas which is now a mere 180 days away - the time will go SO quickly so we'd better get prepared. I think the major thing I have to do is print some new Bah! Humbug! notices.
 

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Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :
 
I'm teaching in the UK over summer and we take the Kids to a plate painting shop. I'm thinking of going at the weekend and painting personalised mugs for everyone. They're a bit pricier than the £5 limit I try to stick to, but think they would be good to do. Then Christmas is DONE by the end of August!!
 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
And I haven't started the Secret Santa list yet...
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Five months to go and it will be Christmas Eve - I imagine the choirs will all be starting on learning the Christmas music soon.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'd be surprised if D. isn't at least thinking about our output for Christmas. When we lived in Belfast, we usually took our summer holidays in August, and we'd tootle up to Orkney, armed with copies of Carols for Choirs (volumes I, II and III) and sundry other appropriate material. By the time we got back, he'd probably have the carol service completely planned.

As we're taking our main holiday in November this year, the whole carol-service-planning/rehearsal dynamic will be different - I hope it doesn't suddenly sneak up on him ...

eta: the only advantage of being (possibly) the only choir left in Christendom who still has their carol service after Christmas is that we've got a week longer to plan for it.

[ 24. July 2015, 14:14: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

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Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Dormouse:
I'm teaching in the UK over summer and we take the Kids to a plate painting shop. I'm thinking of going at the weekend and painting personalised mugs for everyone. They're a bit pricier than the £5 limit I try to stick to, but think they would be good to do. Then Christmas is DONE by the end of August!!

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quote:

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Have YOU done YOUR Christmas shopping yet?

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Not as such.

But I HAVE made the Christmas pudding!

 

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Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :
 
I've got two presses so far, have ideas for some others, and will be getting some whilst we are away next week.
I'll be starting Secret Santa when we're back off holiday to give people plenty of time to sign up!
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Uncle Pete:
Have YOU done YOUR Christmas shopping yet?

Time is just flying by!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Lothlorien:
... There is a rash of family birthdays around this time. I have to get that over first.

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Me too, Loth - and D. and I aren't taking our "summer" holidays until November, so my chances of being organised* are about as remote as usual ...

* well, what passes for "organised" chez Piglet anyway.
 

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Posted by leo (# 1458) on :
 
Just purchased two presents
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Friday of this week we celebrate Thiruvonam which is sort of a bit like Christmas [particularly as it is obligatory to eat far too much and then lie on the bed groaning!] so once we get that out of the way I'll have to start thinking Christmas and get down to making a list of things to buy as gifts.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... it is obligatory to eat far too much ...

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It's a tough old life, eh, Wodders?

Actually, having seen the bit about the feast, I'll be right over ...
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I saw something on Facebook the other day saying something about only 78 or something days to go - terrifying or what?
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
Hmmmmm!

All presents, cards and wrapping paper bought.

But - a setback. I buy my great niece and nephew (twins) brio trains and track for birthdays and Christmases - but my niece phoned to tell me they have been given a big second hand boxful.

Scuppered!

So, back to the drawing board for those two! (I'll have to keep the already-bought brio for possible grandchildren)
 

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Posted by Ferijen (# 4719) on :
 
Despite having a huge box of inherited-at-least-second-hand brio type stuff (I know, because I bought off ebay for the immediately previous owner ), I *still* value getting more because it just makes BIGGER tracks

And there's always extra special things which go with brio type railway track as well...
 

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Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
My son is 27, so I just sold all his old Brio set on Ebay for a sum that made me blink. There are some ferocious parents out there. I also contrived to unload my daughter (now over 30)'s marble track system. It is billed as an educational toy, so I was able to advertise it as having fulfilled its function.
 

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Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
You sold his brio???

I'm 36, and my mother only recently got my old brio set out for my nephew for the first time. He loves it of course, which is great, but the sense of continuity through the generations is even better
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
When my sister told us she was expecting her first baby, the first thing Dad and my brother did was dig out his old Hornby train set.
 

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Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
Oh, I asked him. He is calm about Brio, and in fact does not remember the larger wooden train set. But the matchbox cars, no. I can't touch those.
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
You sold his brio???

I'm 36, and my mother only recently got my old brio set out for my nephew for the first time. He loves it of course, which is great, but the sense of continuity through the generations is even better

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I have just become a grandfather and I have a handful of my toys, including my very first Hornby locomotive from c 1962. It still runs too, but not very well on modern OO track.
 

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Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
I still have some Lego dating back to 1958, brought back from Germany by a friend of my father when he visited on business.

I had it, then my nephew and niece, and then our son. And it sometimes gets used at church. We're now hoping for some Good News about grandchildren ...

Of course it has grown over the years.
 

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Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
Well, there's another issue. We are still pending news about grandchildren. I can't wait for ever.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Another two months, and it'll all be over bar the shouting and the turkey fricassee ...
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
No turkey for me. I would eat it were it served me at a dinner, but it is definitely not my favourite. Chicken or duck. Besides, it will be summer here and i don't want the oven on for hours.
 

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Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
For some years we have had roast venison (with a rather fetching Lirac red wine to drink).

However the other years we had our son and daughter-in-law for Christmas. She doesn't care for venison, so we had some incredibly expensive but amazingly delicious Belted Galloway beef from a local farm shop.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Venison is available here but hard to find and expensive. Our family Christmas this year will be on December 19 and will be held at Windor Polo Club about an hour from me. Everyone brings food and there is always too much, no matter how we say we will cut down.

Big grounds, lots of shady trees, good facilities. My niece has been playing polo for two or three years now and has two ponies of her own. She organised a tournament last year with visits from teams from Argentina and other Australian teams. She went on an African safari, no shooting except photos, earlier this year and played polo in Kenya. Off to Argentina next month for more polo.

She acts as a volunteer assistant to one of the people from polo club, so we can use the ground. In between playing polo, she runs her own business importing chemicals used by hospitals and unis for treatment and research.
 

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Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
19 December seems a but cold to be outside. Are you going to play polo?
 

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Posted by Jengie jon (# 273) on :
 
In Australia I think Lothlorien's problem will not be cold.

Jengie
 

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Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
Ah sorry, for a moment I thought I was on the British thread. I'll also be below the Equator for Christmas, so no cold for me either.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
For some years we have had roast venison ...
However the other years we had our son and daughter-in-law for Christmas ...

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You never mentioned your cannibalism before, BT ...

Loth, your niece's life sounds like something from a Jilly Cooper book (although I'm sort of presuming she's better behaved than most of Mrs. Cooper's characters).

I quite agree with you about turkey - if we didn't have to have it, we wouldn't. The Cathedral (bless them) give us a turkey for Christmas every year, and a couple from the choir usually have us and a few others round for Christmas dinner. We give them the turkey, and they cook it (our oven isn't big enough anyway, so it suits quite well). Sometimes they add something else (a goose or whatever) if the turkey we're given isn't big enough.

If left to our own devices, we'd probably have pheasant or duck if we could get it, or a nice roast leg of lamb.
 

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Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
It's just the two of us this year, so I'm going to get a pheasant. I've seen a really good recipe that includes chestnut stuffing and port & chestnut sauce.

[ 26. October 2015, 11:55: Message edited by: Spike ]
 

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Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
It's a bank holiday here today, so I'm baking my Christmas cake. Now I just need to remember to feed it lots of rum in the next two months!
 

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Posted by la vie en rouge (# 10688) on :
 
Rum??? Is outrage!

It needs cognac.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I think if I made Christmas cakes I'd be with you there, La Vie - I really don't like the flavour of rum, so if I were feeding a cake, it would probably be with brandy or possibly whisky.
 

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Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :
 
I love rum so any fruit cakes which involve alcohol have rum in if I'm making them - then I can drink the rest of the bottle later :-)
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Piglet:
...Sometimes they add something else (a goose or whatever) if the turkey we're given isn't big enough...

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As my sainted mother never said there's nothing like a goose on Christmas Day!

Sorry, my adolescent sense of humour is still hanging about.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Long may that continue, WW.
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Preparation on the food & drink front has been sporadic so far, but a fair amount of planning for present giving has been done. Actual buying seems to be confined to gifts for our grandson! I think we will need a van for his stuff while Xmas dinner will consist of sausages OR mash, not both.
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
Actually it's 42 days from November 13. The sentiment remains.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
A month to go!

Get peeling, chopping, slicing and wrapping (and that's just your relatives ... )

I have started my Christmas shopping (sort of), and we've actually delivered our first Christmas card. No matter that it was bought (along with a couple of dozen others) in Orkney and delivered the following week to D's mum ...

The plum chutney that I made in September with a glut of plums from a friend's tree should be maturing nicely - another week or two and I'll do some Quality Control to see if it's fit to give to people as presents.

The staff in Tim Horton's at w*rk were wearing Father Christmas hats and talking about putting on "Christmas music"* today.

That sort of thing (along with decorating domestic trees before the start of Advent) makes the Baby Jesus cry.

* probably Bing bl**dy Crosby - another thing that makes the Baby Jesus cry.
 

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Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
I can't imagine why a Roman Catholic was putting up their Nativity Scene before the start of Advent (though I note no people or animals had arrived, so maybe they're added a few at a time until the Holy Family arrives on Christmas), but it served as a safe haven for a newborn babe. I don't know what this poor mother was dealing with, but she found a warm, safe place for her baby, and he is being cared for.
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
What a touching story. I hope the end is happy.

In other news, the sprouts must be starting to be tender, eh?
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Nope, Pete. I just poked them with a fork. Still a bit hard and there is a hint of green left on them. Need more time.
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
A month from now it will all be over for another year!
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
... she found a warm, safe place for her baby, and he is being cared for.

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quote:

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the baby “seemed very healthy and was said to be in stable condition.”

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I took a dose of the head-staggers today and went shopping.

Quite successful shopping, as it turned out - a couple of pressies bought, and candle-bridges for the windows that didn't have them. They have now been installed, and are warming the cockles of my northerly* little heart.

* We first saw them 20 years ago in Iceland, where there seemed to be a set in every window, and although they're pretty much ubiquitous now, I still associate them with Northerly Latitudes™.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Confession time: I put up the tree and the rest of the decorations today, as I happened to have the house to myself and we'd taken them out of the glory-hole when we were putting the summer tyres away.

Though I say it what shouldn't, with white lights and garlands festooning various bits of the house, it all looks rather pretty.
 

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