what a marathon that was!

[bednobs]

just made some marrons glace as xmas presents. They are so expensive to buy and now i know why - they are so labour intensive (i used all 4 pans, some of them twice)!
if you get any this year, just know that the person giving them to you must REALLY like you
Tomorrow i start on bottling my homemade sloe gin and making brownies for presents

[welshlibranr]

Bless bednobs!.....homemade gifts are always the best!............

[ttfn]

Hello bednobs - have I ever said how great I think you are? ;))))

Some folk will be very lucky indeed to receive your presents - hope you keep some for yourself.

[bednobs]

well thanks very much :)
i dont actually like them and i STILL have to do the washing up

[ummmm]

Never heard of marrons glace. Sounds nice though :-)

I have heard of sloe gin....and I know it's nice :-)

[funnygirl]

Sloe gin!!! I adore sloe gin!

[DTCwordfan]

sloe gin? - the gin goes fast in this house......

[bednobs]

sloe gin is also a bugger - i've had to remember to shake it every other day for the last 2 months

[askyourgran]

Wow you've been busy, I absolutely love marrons glace, but I haven't seen them for ages and I don't think I could make them myself. I quite like dates stuffed with marzipan, easy to do.

[bednobs]

it's all owing to austerity i'm afraid - we live in the country so sloes abound and chestnuts. I've had the gin for about 3 years - i seem to have been pregnant for about 2 years so not had a chance to drink it

[ummmm]

Don't get too drunk bednobs :-)

[jamesnan]

Hi Bednobs, can I be your taster please!

[karenmac60]

Don't listen to Ummmm, Bednobs. Get as drunk as you like ;) xx

[tinkerbell23]

Beds- whats the diff btween gin n sloe gin?

I LOVE gin...never tried sloe? Xx

[sherrardk]

Hi Tinks, from the one time I drank it I seem to remember that it is a bit syrupy, very drinkable and a bit sweet. It gets you very drunk, very quickly (not the best thing to do at your first Christmas with the out-laws).

[bednobs]

it's gin with sloe berries and sugar in - a bit more lie a liquer than gin. It's purple

[sherrardk]

The time I drank it, it was stuff my newly acquired father in law handmade. He went on about having to prick the sloes all over with a pin and said he could use a hedgehog, he wasn't amused.

[vodkancoke]

Good for you bednobs. I have made them once as my Dad adores them. Never again! lol I will gladly fork out the money for them. :)

[bednobs]

yes - i had to prick 2 pounds of sloe berries all over with a pin. They are about the size of small blackcurrants so it wasn't fun

[rowanwitch]

for next year goto a florist and buy a 'pin holder'(kill any bugs it by putting in the oven for about 10 mins ) put all your sloes in a shallow tray and use the pin holder to mass prick them shaking the tray so you get them all over..

[China Doll]

I don't think I've ever tried sloe gin... enjoy!