Christmas Challenge 2014.

[Cornish Cream]

To get the forum into the Festive mood MM has suggested that we have a Christmas challenge.
We would love you to share Festive ideas,recipes (old or new) with us all here on the forum. We hope you have fun with this and as usual photos are really appreciated.

[Cornish Cream]

Decided to make some mincemeat today to make mince pies nearer Christmas.Used this Pear Mincemeat recipe.I only had 600g of pears so cut the recipe by a third.I had to cook an extra five minutes as my pears were not quite cooked after 30 minutes.

[Cuilidh]

I had a busy day yesterday making my Xmas gifts, amongst them was this Xmas Rocky Road.  It is meant to be white (for Xmas) chocolate, but as I am not fond of white chcoclate, I made it half and half with dark chocolate.  The strawberries and cherries were the freeze dried ones from Tastebom and their flavour is really intense.  The recipe is heavily based on this one from Whyisthereair.

[Cuilidh]

I thought I had my photos under control .... but it seems not.  Anyway, here is (I hope!) my two Xmas Rocky Roads, side by side.

[Cuilidh]

No, still haven't got it right!  Here we go again .... fingers crossed everyone ...

[Wonder]

They look great Marina, very festive.

[Bedlam]

This is exactly what I need, something to inspire me.
Denise, a great idea in preparation of Christmas. We love homemade mince pies.  The Rocky Road looks wonderful Marina, will the freeze dried fruit stay crispy?  A great idea using that for extra flavour.
Off to research.

[judydawn]

Thanks MM &  Denise, it seems as if this is just what our members were waiting for.

[cookie1]

I love the idea of a Christmas Challenge and an enormous thank you to CC and Marina for the recipes already.
I love Christmas, the cooking, gift giving and the general atmosphere. Sadly I married a Christmas Grinch who hates it, but he puts up with me and I bully him into sharing it with a forced smile on his face. 

[Cuilidh]

LOL

[troupie]

Oh Cookie we are the opposite, DH loves it all and I am over all the cooking each year but I think this challenge will lift my spirits and also the GK are coming so have to cook for them which I do love. Friends have even got me doing Christmas sewing which is something I don't do (Christmas sewing that is; do lots of other sewing). Thanks for starting this challenge.

[achookwoman]

OMG Marina,  where do you find the time to make such delicious goodies.
I have the fruit soaking in Brandy to make my Xmas Puds,(posted).  the recipe is easy and makes 25 serves.  I make several smaller puds and give them to busy friends.  This year I am going to steam some in the TMX , in basins that will fit the basket.  these puds will serve about 6.  Will let you know how they go.
I am also working on a recipe for gluten free Chocolate Chip Cookies.  First lot a delicious disaster.  next lot tonight. We will see.!!!
This thread looks like a good idea and I am certainly looking with interest at what the great cooks on here come up with.

[floweryspring]

Joining in! I need some inspiration and a boost!

[Kimmyh]

Yesterday I made my Christmas pudding. It only needs to serve 8 of us, but we love it so much I decided to make a big one. Used a 12 cup pudding bowl. It's huge. There's going to be lots of leftovers.

[obbie]

I made my christmas pud early october.