Busy Saturday

[caz963]

We packed the kids off to Nanny and Grandad's for the weekend last night, so today was Operation Christmas Shopping.

We managed to drag ourselves out of bed fairly early and braved the cold, the biting winds and the rain to get the rest of the stuff the girls have asked for, plus a few other odds and ends. But I'm bound to have forgotten something.

Then we spent most of the afternoon wrapping presents while watching Iron Man.

I don't know why it is though, but I can't say that I feel particularly festive. The girls are getting excited, and so are all the kids at school, but it just doesn't feel real to me! The end of term is Friday, and we're having our usual Christmas tea for the kids and some of their friends after school, so perhaps that might help to start to get me in the mood.

Tomorrow morning I'm planning to make marzipan and then slap it on the Christmas cake so I can ice it next weekend. Maybe I'll even make some mince pies.

Comments

[laurenba.livejournal.com]

I don't know why it is though, but I can't say that I feel particularly festive.

Yes, that seems to be going around... a distinct lack of Christmas spirit. I am searching for it myself. We got the tree today, so maybe decorating it will help. Usually Christmas music helps me out, but the stereo is not cooperating, so I can't rely on that. In any case, congrats on getting your shopping done. Except for a few things in their stocking, my kids are getting one big gift (between them, so less!) I just have to go buy it...

[caz963.livejournal.com]

It's been that way for me for the past few years really. I wonder if it's because I'm working and just concentrating on week-to-week without really taking much notice of what week it actually is!

[hooloovoo_42]

I keep thinking that it's a few weeks to Christmas, but then I realise that I've got another 10 days at work and then it's Christmas Eve. I've not even discussed with Ma about catering for the holidays.

And unless Bro gives me a list of things for the kids tomorrow, they're getting vouchers!

[caz963.livejournal.com]

I think maybe it's a result of the way I work- thinking in terms of "week 1, week 2" etc. And probably because I'm so focused on getting to the end of the term in one piece!

[kiss-me-cassie.livejournal.com]

You make homemade marzipan? Hrm. I might be interested in that recipe. Please?

Also, I found that as soon as we got out tree, I felt more festive. Of course, watching S1-S4 of TWW Christmas eps while eating Christmas cookies helped too. :)

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Oh, homemade marzipan is SO much nicer than the shop-bought stuff. It's not so sweet, and the recipe I use has both icing sugar and caster sugar, so there's a very little "crunch" to it, too.

I will admit it's a bit laborious, but it's not difficult. The recipe I use is Delia Smith's - here (http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/almond-icing-marzipan,890,RC.html).

If you can't access it, let me know and I'll email it to you.

[kiss-me-cassie.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Thank you! I can get the recipe fine, but... is caster sugar the same as granulated sugar?

::feels stupid::

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Caster sugar is finer than granulated sugar, but not so fine as icing sugar. Over here, we use caster in most cake recipes because it makes for a lighter texture. According to Yahoo!Answers *g*, you call it "superfine" or "Baker's" sugar.

Also, I tend to find that the number of eggs used in that recipe makes it very sticky and I seem to remember the first time I made it, it turned out more like a batter than a paste! I'd recommend using one less egg than she says. You can always add a bit if it's too dry :)

[kiss-me-cassie.livejournal.com]

Thank you SO much!

[caz963.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Let me know how it turns out.

[bellwings.livejournal.com]

I completely understand the difficulty with getting into the Christmas spirit. I'm having trouble myself and it's not fun:(

Marzipan huh? I've never tried to make it before, is it difficult?

[caz963.livejournal.com]

No, home-made marzipan isn't difficult at all - it's just a bit of a laborious process, because you have to whisk the eggs and sugar for quite a long time. I posted the link to a Delia recipe upthread in a reply to Cassie if you're interested.

[digitalred93.livejournal.com]

I'm not feeling the holiday spirit, either, even though I keep going through the motions: holiday music, baking cookies for my yearly open house, buying presents, yada yada yada.

Not sure how much of it is just growing older and how much is based off the world's current dilemmas. I do know I'll feel better on Christmas morning when I get to watch my niece and nephews open their presents. Kids are amazing that way.

Thanks to my father, my husband is duly addicted to marzipan stuffed dates now. Dad used to make Rick a tin every year. Now I'm expected to do the same (so I'm grateful for your posting cos I completely forgot!!!!)

I buy cans of almond paste and mix them 50-50 with additional powdered sugar and a wee bit of whipped egg white. I don't know if you've seen my posting today but the 7 layer cookies use almond paste (and apricot jam and chocolate). VERY yummy.