Gransnet Grotto

I beg your pardon, gracesmum! What are you accusing us of?

Just bring brandy to put in the brandy, movedalot. Not much business in the grotto todaay - don't say you are all s*****ng?

Been offline for 36 hours so a bit late Grace but love your poem. I can't contribute anything else until I've been shopping as I've been at DS's house and he's taken loads of mince pies and 2 Christmas cakes as he is sure he will need them all before we next see him - Dunday I think that is!

Far to lazy to make the chocvod, think I will be quite happy with vodka in one hand and choc in the other, much easier and instant! .

Just thought, I can bring brandy to put in the hot choc.

Oh, sounds good Glamma. Blind scouse sounds a bit like the Surprise Pie I used to make for the children on the day before Family Allowance day!

Sorry bacon sarnies are late. Have tried to log on three times and get shut out. Is it something I've done? Coffee and bacon now on the table and I'm going to sit quietly on the sofa wrapping presents. Ignore me if you hear a few strong words I do not like doing this. I start off really well with straight corners and it all goes wrong from there. Please feel free to wrap a few.

notso A pan of scouse is the same as a stew or casserole made with lamb or beef (personal choice) best served the second day,staple diet yrs ago for large families, if they couldn't afford meat they had a meat free scouse called blind scouse

Forgot the f !

Confession. from a soft Southerner...I don't know what scouse is

Hey! We have our Christmas smileys!

What ever it is it smells delicious, so thanks glamma, just the job on a bitterly cold morning. (May leave the mulled wine till later though)

I'm leaving a big pan of scouse and some sliced beetroot for everyone who is feeling the chill to-day grab a bowl and enjoy it will warm you through and put hairs on your chest,I've also topped up the mulled wine so plenty to go around I have a busy day to-day so will keep popping in and out while passing through the kitchen.

The coffee-flavoured Baileys is lovely in anything! (Except tea, probably..)

SLAB not Saab.

I'll leave a thermos under the Christmas tree for you to share notsogrand along with a Saab of homemade stollen

That sounds lovely Jodi

I agree gracesmum it's actually our duty to taste drive it.

Have you ever added Baileys to your hot chocolate drink? Very nice.

I think it is incumbent on us grans to consumer test the choccie vodka, (or do I mean recumbent)

Mmmmmmm! Can I have some, or have I got to make it myself? Boo! Have had a and have come along to stretch out on this lovely squashy sofa..zzzzzzz

nananel put brandy in the chocolate just saw them selling that in newcastle mmmx

Here's the Chocolate Vodka recipe I was given...

Ingredients
•4 x 60g Mars Bars
•150ml cream
•400ml vodka

Method
1.Combine Mars Bars with cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until Mars Bars are melted.
2.Remove lid from vodka bottle and add Mars Bar mixture.
3.Tighten lid and agitate bottle for 2 minutes.
4.Store in a cool, dark place.
5.Shake well before serving very cold

I haven't tried it yet but I'd probably use the eqivalent weight of a different chocolate, rather than Mars Bars. The cheapest supermarket vodka would be ok. I like the idea that it's not something that has to 'mature' and is ready to drink as soon as it's chilled

Will road test and feed back!

Gracesmum Love it
I need to warm up - just back from a trip into deepest Perthshire where the snow is deep and crisp and even - absolutely beautiful but bloomin' freezing. A swig of mulled wine would help and may clear the tubes too

DS sometimes makes toffee vodka by melting a bag of Werthers Originals and adding a bottle of vodka. Interesting, but I prefer the fruity ones - from Finland, I think.

Would love the recipe please notso

Just popped back in to say I will bring the bacon sarnies tomorrow. The dog (Freckle) has slept all day. So full of bacon. I don't like Vodka so will have to put something else in the chocolate. See you tomorrow. Save a bit of the sofa for me.

Ooh chocolate vodka! How decadent. I'd love to try it. What do you have you do *notso'?

Here's some more mince pies. The last lot disappeared before I got chance to taste them, so I've already eaten three!

Just popped in to take a deep breath....I've managed to get myself involved in a rushing around day so doing this whilst eating a bowl of salad and in advance of rushing off again.

The bacon sandwiches would have been much better!

Talking of chocolate & mince pies, I've been given a recipe for chocolate vodka....has anyone tried it?

Chocolate and mince pies will be fine, glad sarnies went to a good home.[brave] emoticon (Own up, dog, you snarfed them didn't you?)