Chatterbox

[Sakkarin Profile]

Happy birthday Joan, that sounds like a really special treat!

[Joanbunting Profile]

Thanks Sakkers. My birthday is actually in August but the package was my present from M to be taken when summer madness died down.

[Joanbunting Profile]

Belated Happy Birthday from me also

The Anne-Sophie venue looks a real treat and the food delicious. Then again, there are a lot of chefs in the photo so I imagine huge attention is paid to all the details. Is it "next door" such that you could easily get there again (like once a week, lol), or a long journey?

It is in Valence which is an hour / hour and a half up the motorway but we prefer to use the country road through wine growing areas around Gigondas, etc. It took us about 4 hours with several stops. On the Wednesday we went across the river to some of our favourite vinyards St Peray, Condrieu, Cornas and St Joseph and bought far too much wine!!

Maison Pic is not the sort of place one would visit every week, no matter how much I would like to!!

[Binky Profile]

joan, belated happy birthday greetings.

Your post about Maison Pic whetted my appetite and I have discovered that there is a branch in London, Madame Pic. Birthdays and anniversaries beckon!

[Joanbunting Profile]

I'm sure you would enjoy it Binky. A few people don't seem to appreciate her style but I admire it very much. Thinking about it quite a lot of folks don't like Heston Blummental's style -including me!

I've got the set of 3 of hrt books on my list for Santa.

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

Ha!
That's answered my question Joan. Thank you kindly.

[Uschi Profile]

Aldi's brought out their Christmas baking ingredients for this year and I availed myself of 96 Euros worth of ground or chopped hazelnuts and almonds, marzipan, dessiccated coconut, whole and chopped pistachios, lemon and orange zests, orange peel, icing sugar, nougat and chocolate drops as well as couverture. Must check Lidl's for gingerbread spices, since Aldi don't have them.

It's not just for Christmas, I use the nuts and almonds all year round in cakes and they are nowhere as cheap as at Aldi's (but great quality!!!).

Butter was jolly dear this year, so I pounced upon every bargain price I found and have about 2.5 kg in the freezer. That leaves sugar and flour and some more jams and I can start baking ... in about three weeks or so.

[Renee Profile]

It's that time of year again for you Uschi and your home will smell wonderful very soon!

We shall be having a new Lidl in a few months time, but in the meantime I sometimes shop in Aldi. Which one do you prefer. Is there much difference between the two?

[Uschi Profile]

I prefer Aldi. They treat their employees a bit better and on the whole I find they have the better range of good. Lidl will have some Christmas baking stuff, too, but not as much as Aldi's.
Mind you, they sometimes have the better fruit and veg.

[Renee Profile]

That's interesting Uschi, so thanks for the information. I love the small chocolate covered marzipan logs in Aldi and usually treat myself to one or two at this time of the year.

[Lusciouslush Profile]

I used to buy those mini chocolate covered marzipan logs from Lidl at crimbo - absolutely loved them - but find them much to sweet for me now. Lidl still do a cracking panettone.

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

Uschi, I'd love to see your baking when you start up the production.
Would you make a new thread of it for us please. So we can admire your work here.

[Suffs Profile]

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without watching the progress of Uschi's wonderful baking

[strictlysalsaclare Profile]

Hi Uschi

I totally agree with Suffs and Gill with regards to your wonderful festive baking. I cannot wait to see the photos of this year's batches.

[Uschi Profile]

Thank you ladies.

I will try and snap as and when I have finished a few batches.
I am planning on freezing a few doughs to save time in November.

Oh, and I purchased a new mechanical meat grinder with a biscuit attachment (fixed hole plates in the form of a star and so on).



You make a Spritz biscuit dough, crank it through the grinder and cut the resulting strand and ribbons into the right length. The star shape makes a strand that can be shaped into "O"s and "S"s.
It saves time and makes very nice biscuits.

My old grinder died on me last year.

[Renee Profile]

You will enjoy using that Uschi and as you say, it will save time.

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

Fun. You'll enjoy playing with that, Uschi.

[Suffs Profile]

It appears that we will be hosting Cmas! I need to make some space in our little freezer!!!

[Uschi Profile]

Suffs, it might be an idea to get a spare one from the small adds if there is room (and the right temperature) in the garage.

Some things can be made ahead without freezing them.
We had pears stewed in red wine to go with the boar goulash last Christmas (but they are also great as a dessert) and they can be made and kept in a jar for a few weeks. They get even better, because the colour of the red wine seeps into them even more. I am looking for the right sort of small, ripe pears at the moment.

Renée, meat grinder Spritz biscuits have been a staple of the Severin family Christmas production for as long as I can think.

[Renee Profile]

You're carrying on the tradition well Uschi! Mama would be proud of you.