After Hours super duper mega Christmas thread 2012...

Ooooohhh Mulled Wine, yum. I'm going to try and make it myself this year rather than buy it in but knowing my luck it'll end in tears and possibly a Fire Brigade or two.

Along with all the usual suspects of ingredients, I hear a drop of brandy into it give it a bit of a lift?

Hello lovely Christmassy people....
With no intentions of putting a downer on all of the fabulous christmas cheer in here, I have a favour to ask you all...

There are very few people out there right now without something big weighing on their minds. Behind all the music, the glitter, the nights out, the families getting together, the generous presents, a lot of us are suffering.

Money worries, sickness, grief, missing family who are abroad, depression, remembering family and friends who are no longer at the table on Christmas day, unemployment, etc etc.
If any one of us are untouched by any of these, consider yourself extremely lucky.

So.... what I'm going to ask, and it's only small and we can all do it....

Smile at the checkout operator.
Hold the door open for the person behind you.
Let someone out in traffic.
Say please and thank you, and mean it.
Be patient and kind to your mother who's doing your nut in.
When you ask someone how they are, wait and listen to the answer.
Look out for people around you that are struggling.

Basically, what I'm saying is that it's so easy to get wrapped up in our own little worlds and go through town like a bull because you can't find the perfect scarf for Uncle John, or have a coronary in Tesco when there's no unsalted butter left.
Be more of the nice person you are inside


Now.... back to glitter and tinsel and lego and mulled wine and whatnot.

MOAR MULLED WINE!!!

Mars Bar wrote: »

New Christmas tree!

http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312809_10152311139950307_281489731_n.jpg

Needs more Mulled wine.

I like turkey

Used to think that about Brussel sprouts too. The mammy used to boil the little fcukers (as I imagine most Irish mammys did/do) to within an inch of their lives, turning them into nasty, acidic little pellets of mushy horribleness. Then when the sister took over the cooking, it was a WHOLE different story. She sauteed them in pancetta fat, added in some garlic, some more pancetta ham, added in some roasted chestnuts (bought in a jar from Marks and Spencers) and OMG...the sprouts became totes amazeballs ! They can be really, really good if cooked properly, and with the proper ingredients that complement, rather than enhance their rather strong flavour.

Anyhoo, anyone know where in Dublin (north side preferably) where I can get real pine garlands to go over my mantlepiece? The local garden centre where I got my tree and wreaths didn't know. Doesn't have to be pine, just something that is real and looks similar to the wreaths & tree. Ta.

1. Treat everyday like Christmas

2. There's room for EVERYONE on the nice list

3. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

Yep. I did watch Elf last night. A customary Christmas flick

Tried a mince pie just there, didn't like it.

Deleted User wrote: »

2 bottles for €14 at the moment

They also do a non alcoholic version which is delish. But, ya know, the one with actual wine is better!

Cool, thanks for that whoopsadaisydoodles! Think I'll pick up a couple of bottles myself

Pudsy33 wrote: »

You are now my arch nemesis

Its not even mince meat ffs! Its like crushed fruit or something, horrible.

Trading Places is brilliant alright.

Anyone know any good stuffing or recipes?

kfallon wrote: »

Bet ye'll both get a lil Christmas tingle down below when Jamie Lee Curtis takes her top off

God bless pause and rewind tv, one of my other favourites in the film is when Dan Akroyd is dressed as Santa and drunk on a bus and eating a salmon he robbed mixed in with hair.Obviously that scene doesn't give the same tingle as the boobie scene.:D