Ladies Forget Expensive Perfume...

[Iluvspikey]

I'm making mince pies to put in the freezer to save time and my hubby (who's working from home today) has just come downstairs from 'the office' wanting coffee, he gives me a kiss and tells me I smell lovely, what perfume is that he asks - it's only the cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and citrus zest from baking!

[Sir Alec]

I rely on White Musk from the Body Shop. Tends to work okay!

[sunny-dave]

A drop of this behind the ears will send most men crazy ...

http://rookery.s3.amazonaws.com/988000/988214_dabe_625x1000.jpg

[Frogears]

You precook your minces? I would've thought that would be one smell you wanted in your house on Christmas day unless you warm them up in the oven again. Doesn't the cold affect the pastry at all?

[mazie]

I always make and freeze my Mince pies prior to Christmas. Take them out Christmas eve morning and warm them as and when needed. I've never had any complaints about the pastry

[Frogears]

Mazie if you gave someone the blindfold test would they be able to tell the fresh from the frozen?

[Frogears]

No complaints at christmas doesn't necessary mean they are the best maybe the guests just don't want to offend you. If you get rave reviews for your previously frzen pies then you know you're onto a winner.

[mazie]

LOL most of my guest don't care if they offend me or not. The pies are fine either fresh or frozen. I bake for my grown up Children at christmas and have to transport everything 300+ miles.... so don't really have much choice

[Frogears]

I think i'll have a test bake this week and see what the end result is like as it would be wonderful to not have to get up at 3am on Christmas morning to prep and cook everything.

[B00]

Why on earth would anyone get up at 3am just to cook? That's madness!

[mazie]

Give it a try frogears, the difference is so minute I'm sure no-one will notice. 3AM are you mad? Have a relaxing morning with your family. I make and freeze all my cakes and nibbles

[Frogears]

Boo it's more than just cooking, it's basically heading the mast to make sure this "Ship" gets to it's destination in one piece.

It really is like overseeing and coordinating a large scaled army assault.

As my old mam used to say "Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance"

[B00]

To be honest, id rather have piss poor planning than having to get up at 3am just to cook!

[Frogears]

I'm going to try to prior prepare as much as i can do this year so i can spend as little time in the kitchen as i can but saying that i'm never enslaved and toiling nonstop in sweatshop conditions and i quite enjoy it except that i can't spend as much time with the family as i could.

[B00]

Don't get why it's necessary to be honest.

Surely it's just a Sunday roast but on a slightly bigger scale? And I certainly don't get up at 3am to cook that!

Apologies Iluvspikey for straying from the topic x

[starone]

Yummy. Making me feel hungry and I have only just had my breakfast! I don't like most of Christmas, but the food, now, that is different!

[Frogears]

It is boo but don't forget someone has to also work as security to make sure all the presents under the tree aren't torn apart by the many small eager hands of the kids, grandkids and others.

[Mosaic]

The perfume you made with the mince pies is, give or take, the same recipe popular in ancient Egypt for perfume. Their word for this perfume was 'nard' and that was used by later cultures to name one of the main aromatic plants used in it - spikenard.
When made according to the ancient recipes, nard smells like Christmas pudding, or mince pies.
You were clearly channelling your inner Cleopatra.

[Iluvspikey]

I just want to spend less time in the kitchen this year, my dad isn't too well and my arents are coming to us and I've made and frozen pies before. I take them out about five minutes before they are completely cooked, and then heat them up in the oven and dredge them with icing sugar and cinammon, the pastry is always light and crumbly, I've never had complaints, and it's just one less job.

[netibiza]

I have never ever cooked a Christmas dinner, my OH has always done it.