The ***OFFICIAL*** Weekend Singles' Thread -- (December 8-10, 2006) Christmas Traditions

12/08/2006 | RockinRight and Hoodlum91

[snugs]

I love the traditional of pancakes and bacon in America most Brits cannot get their head around that one.

Flapjacks in England are completely different from pancakes they are made with porridge oats, marg, sugar and syrup and baked in the oven. My mum used to omit the syrup and add ginger powder by omitting the syrup it made them crisp rather than soft and sticky.

[snugs]

That is one tradition that is both sides of the pond oranges and nuts in children's stockings.

I got a stocking up until was about 20 then mum and I used to do one for my grandmother (dad's mum) until she died then I switched to doing one for mum.

She always used to get up before me but later on after nan died she got up later than me so when she got up the stocking was already there for her hanging on the mantelpiece.

I continued this until she went into the home. Even then the only Christmas after she went into the home we had her home for the day and I still did a stocking for her, I was doing was last year but she died early hours of Christmas morning. So this year will be the first with just me and dad.

We will probably have dad's friend over on Boxing Day or day after and my friend another day when we will have a mini Christmas - may even leave my presents till then and just open dad's on the day.

[snugs]

English pancakes are different again.

They often do not have any fat apart from the egg and are much thinner and larger and we do not serve them for breakfast but as a teatime filler.

Traditionally rolled in sugar with squeezed lemon over the top.

Here is a recipe for British pancakes I have just found on the net. I normally make the US ones I find them easier though presonally I prefer a really good British one for teatime but US ones with bacon and egg and sausage.

Classic British pancakes.
If you love pancakes and haven’t dared to try cooking them because you think its going to be difficult without sight, then please don’t be defeated, it is possible to make them, if adequate care is taken while you’re cooking. You don’t have to toss them, well you can if you are the adventurous type, but it isn’t essential, they’ll taste just as good if you don’t! It won’t even matter if the pancakes break up a bit when you try to get them out of the pan, as once they are rolled up and covered in caster sugar and lemon juice, they are only going to be cut up before they’re eaten anyway!

Please get sighted help if you are at all worried about heating the butter , it will smell a bit hot and, after all, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for the cost of a major kitchen repaint either, when you’re attempting to scrape those pancakes you were trying to toss, from the ceiling!! Seriously though, please take care and work methodically.

For classic British Pancakes:

To make 6 to 8.

You will need:-

4 oz, 110 g, Plain flour.
1 Large egg
Half a pint, 10 fl.oz of Milk.
2 oz, 50 g, Butter.
A tiny pinch of salt

The freshly squeezed juice of either two lemons or oranges and two to three ounces of caster sugar to flavour.

Set your oven to very low, most ovens have a warm setting.

Fry your pancakes in a small, non-stick, 6 or 7 inch, 20 to 30 cm, frying pan.

Warm a plate in your oven to keep the pancakes hot and have several sheets of greaseproof paper at the ready to interleave between your pancakes to stop them sticking together.

Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl.

Break the egg into a small bowl to make sure that its fresh, then make a well in the centre of the flour and pour it in. Beat the egg and flour together with either a wooden spoon or an electric hand mixer.

Gradually add the milk, beating the mixture to a smooth batter between additions.

Heat a teaspoon of the butter in a small frying pan or omelet pan, on a medium heat, until its melted and very hot, this will only take about 20 seconds or so, as soon as you hear it clicking, immediately remove it from the heat!

Now, quickly and carefully add 3 tablespoons of batter to the pan, which will be just enough to give a thin coating.

Use a palate knife to quickly spread it over the surface, put it straight back on a medium heat, but don’t stir or disturb the batter for about a minute. During this time you will hear it popping and clicking a little bit.

Tap the surface with the flat blade of a fish slice and it will sound dull, and the batter will now be soft but set.

Put the pan on your worktop again and, holding the pan’s handle firmly in one hand, push the end of the blade of the fish slice straight down vertically inside the rim of the pan, tilting it carefully forwards, working the flattened blade up underneath your pancake. Hopefully it won’t have stuck, and you should be able to lift it up slightly. Now, tilt the fish slice sideways so that the pancake flips over. Cook it for the same length of time, one minute, on the other side.

Have a warm plate with a sheet of greaseproof paper ready so that you can tip the pancake on to it, cover it with another sheet of greaseproof, and Put it straight in to your oven.

Melt another teaspoon of butter in the pan, measure out the batter and carry on cooking. stacking the pancakes with a sheet of greaseproof paper between them, continuing to keep them warm in the oven. .

Just before serving, remove all the greaseproof paper, sprinkle each pancake with lemon and caster sugar, roll each one into a loose sausage and serve on warm plates, sit down, put something nice on the stereo or telly and enjoy them.

Remember that practice makes perfect, the second pancake always turns out better than the first

[snugs]

I think the whole thing of can we or can't we say Christmas is stupid most people you talk to just use the word as part of their everyday language.

I cannot imagine myself saying seasons greetings or to an American Happy Holidays - just does not sound right.

[WFTR]

It's cold for around here. We hit 25°F last night and will be in the upper 20's tonight. I picked all of the oranges from my tree last night before the freeze hit. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were cold all day. Today wasn't bad in the middle of the day.

Bill

[snugs]

Hello Hoodie

[snugs]

Favourite Christmas movie - real chick flick - A Christmas Romance with Olivia Newton Johna nd Gregory Harrison just pulled it out of the drawer may watch tomorrow.

[WFTR]

I'm in southern Louisiana. I forget what kind of orange tree I have. I bought it for $15 at Home Depot in 2002. Mine doesn't make navels, (or at least it doesn't make seedless oranges). Some of my oranges are pretty good. Some are a little tart.

Bill

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

Thanks snugs,
I think I am safe with these (no scissors) lol.

[snugs]

Just noticed that the recipe I have posted is for people with little or no sight but the concept is there and the ingredients are the same.

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

Our Office boycotted the "Holiday" Party, we sent a letter saying we wouldn't attend until it was called a Christmas party.

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

I'll have to wait until it warms up.

[snugs]

LOL

[snugs]

Ours is advertised both by our company and the hotel we are going to as Christmas Party cannot say I have ever seen them advertised as anything else in Britain.

It seems to me to be the odd incident here and there that the press have great pleasure in blowing up out of all proportion.

The current one is about banning decorations in offices. I suspect that there may well be a few companies that have done it for PC reasons but many like my company have a policy that they do not like anything on the walls or desks. Our MD saw this concept in Italy of minimalistic design and ultra modern white blank wall etc thought it wonderful and to an extend has adopted it with English flavour at work. I hate it I love pictures and maps etc on the wall and a clock even that was banned. We fought and won over maps though saying in sales and shipping we needed them.

[snugs]

Well need to do a couple of things before I turn in will return tomorrow with some more Christmas traditions and maybe a recipe or 2.

[WFTR]

Yep, your flapjacks are completely different from what we have.

[WFTR]

I'm trying to decide whether I like the cold weather.

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

Well, I have a Bible sitting on my desk, when people ask I say this is really the only Christmas decoration I need. Usually sends em running.

[Dmitry Vukicevich]

I tried the cold, not for me, I am slowly making way further south.

[pcottraux]

All the trolls and troublemakers vanished. Looks like the mods had a talk with them.