All things British

[Ebonyfire]

No not yet. But I think we'll be working on it for Thanksgiving. Everyone will be home then.

If you can take a pic of it. I would like to see it, it is supposed to be impressive.

 

[A Desert Rose]

If you can take a pic of it. I would like to see it, it is supposed to be impressive.

ahhhhhh jeeeeeze. Now you're scarin' me. Impressive? I don't do anything in the kitchen that resembles impressive, Ma'am. LOL

 

[saw_man1]

********

 

[A Desert Rose]

Tonight PBS will air the last episode of Prime Suspect. Entitled The Final Act, it is Helen Mirren's last turn as Jane Tennison.

USA Today called this heartbreaking episode the best one yet and a fitting tribute to an astounding talented actress.

OMG.... I won't be missing that then. I loved that show and that show and Helen were the reason I actually started this thread.

I found out from shy the name of Helen's show (Prime Suspect) because I'd watched it ages ago on A&E and could not remember the name.

 

[A Desert Rose]

Tonight PBS will air the last episode of Prime Suspect. Entitled The Final Act, it is Helen Mirren's last turn as Jane Tennison.

USA Today called this heartbreaking episode the best one yet and a fitting tribute to an astounding talented actress.

And did you notice? We have matching AVs... kinda.

What a co-ink-e-dink.

 

[catalina_francisco]

Anyone like Tittybang Bang? I am hoping I remember to watch the new series tomorrow night.

Catalina

 

[riiayn]

xmas pud!

hi Desert Rose, well my xmas puds, are now made & maturing well i hope, with all the boose in them they ought to be anyway. Now just got to make the xmas cake & we're ready! lol
Take care

 

[A Desert Rose]

hi Desert Rose, well my xmas puds, are now made & maturing well i hope, with all the boose in them they ought to be anyway. Now just got to make the xmas cake & we're ready! lol
Take care

Okay... so now tell me about your Christmas cake, please. And include me a recipe too. ;-) Please.

 

[riiayn]

xmas cake

Okay... so now tell me about your Christmas cake, please. And include me a recipe too. ;-) Please.

hi, well again as its rich like a wedding cake, it can stay stored for a while. i make it now then a few days before xmas i ice & decorate it.

See what you think to this one, there are others so let me know if you'd like more. You simply add what you like & leave out the rest..
Xmas Cake

Preparation time 30 mins to 1 hour

Cooking time over 2 hours




Ingredients
225g/8oz plain flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
200g/7oz butter
200g/7oz dark brown sugar
2 tbsp black treacle
1 tbsp marmalade
1/4tsp vanilla essence
4 eggs, lightly beaten
800g/1 3/4 lb mixed dried fruits
100g/3 1/2 oz chopped mixed peel
150g/5oz glace cherries, halved
100g/3 1/2 oz blanched almonds, chopped
brandy

To Decorate the Cake:
200g/7oz marzipan
1-2 tbsp apricot jam, warmed
Royal Icing
3 egg whites
600g/1lb 5oz icing sugar, sieved
11/2tsp liquid glycerine - optional
1 tbsp lemon juice



Method
1. Heat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas2. Grease a 20cm/8inch round or an 18cm/7inch square cake tin and line the bottom and sides with baking parchment.
2. Sieve the flour, salt, mixed spice and cinnamon into a bowl.
3. Cream the butter and the sugar in a large mixing bowl and then mix in the sugar, treacle, marmalade and vanilla essence until light and fluffy.
4. Mix the eggs a little at a time into the mixture adding a tablespoon of flour mixture with the last amount.
5. Fold in the remaining flour mixture until well mixed and then mix in the dried fruit, mixed peel, glace cherries and the almonds.
6. Turn the mixture into the prepared tin and make a slight hollow in the centre.
7. Bake in the oven for 3 hours and then test with a skewer. If not ready bake for up to another hour testing every 20 minutes until the skewer comes out clean.
8. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes.
9. Turn out on to a wire rack and leave to cool.
10. Once cool, make a few holes in the cake with a skewer and pour over 3-4 tbspof brandy. Let the brandy soak into the cake.
11. Store the cake wrapped in foil and in an airtight tin or plastic container, holes side up.
12. OPTIONAL: For a rich and moist cake, spoon over a few tablespoons of brandy every week until you are ready to ice and decorate your cake.

To Decorate the Cake:
1. Place the cake on a foil board or cake plate.
2. Dust your hands and the work surface with a little icing sugar and knead the marzipan until soft.
3. Roll out half the marzipan to fit the top of the cake and roll out the rest in strips to fit around the sides of the cake.
4. Brush the cake all over with the warmed apricot jam and then place the marzipan on top and around the cake.
5. Cover the cake with a clean tea towel and then leave in a cool place for at least one day.
6. To make the icing, lightly whisk the egg whites adding the sugar at intervals. Beat well until the icing reaches soft peaks. Add the glycerine if using and the lemon juice.
7. Spread icing all over cake either flat iced using a clean ruler or by forming soft peaks. Decorate with Christmas ornaments.

 

[bronntanas]

My gran makes this, but she doesn't use Christmas ornaments. She has as many grandkids (great grands, now) as possible come over the weekend before and make sugar cookies, and then she makes that really thick decorator style icing to glue them on.

 

[Netzach]

hi, well again as its rich like a wedding cake, it can stay stored for a while. i make it now then a few days before xmas i ice & decorate it.

See what you think to this one, there are others so let me know if you'd like more. You simply add what you like & leave out the rest..
Xmas Cake

Preparation time 30 mins to 1 hour

Cooking time over 2 hours




Ingredients
225g/8oz plain flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp mixed spice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
200g/7oz butter
200g/7oz dark brown sugar
2 tbsp black treacle
1 tbsp marmalade
1/4tsp vanilla essence
4 eggs, lightly beaten
800g/1 3/4 lb mixed dried fruits
100g/3 1/2 oz chopped mixed peel
150g/5oz glace cherries, halved
100g/3 1/2 oz blanched almonds, chopped
brandy

To Decorate the Cake:
200g/7oz marzipan
1-2 tbsp apricot jam, warmed
Royal Icing
3 egg whites
600g/1lb 5oz icing sugar, sieved
11/2tsp liquid glycerine - optional
1 tbsp lemon juice



Method
1. Heat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas2. Grease a 20cm/8inch round or an 18cm/7inch square cake tin and line the bottom and sides with baking parchment.
2. Sieve the flour, salt, mixed spice and cinnamon into a bowl.
3. Cream the butter and the sugar in a large mixing bowl and then mix in the sugar, treacle, marmalade and vanilla essence until light and fluffy.
4. Mix the eggs a little at a time into the mixture adding a tablespoon of flour mixture with the last amount.
5. Fold in the remaining flour mixture until well mixed and then mix in the dried fruit, mixed peel, glace cherries and the almonds.
6. Turn the mixture into the prepared tin and make a slight hollow in the centre.
7. Bake in the oven for 3 hours and then test with a skewer. If not ready bake for up to another hour testing every 20 minutes until the skewer comes out clean.
8. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes.
9. Turn out on to a wire rack and leave to cool.
10. Once cool, make a few holes in the cake with a skewer and pour over 3-4 tbspof brandy. Let the brandy soak into the cake.
11. Store the cake wrapped in foil and in an airtight tin or plastic container, holes side up.
12. OPTIONAL: For a rich and moist cake, spoon over a few tablespoons of brandy every week until you are ready to ice and decorate your cake.

To Decorate the Cake:
1. Place the cake on a foil board or cake plate.
2. Dust your hands and the work surface with a little icing sugar and knead the marzipan until soft.
3. Roll out half the marzipan to fit the top of the cake and roll out the rest in strips to fit around the sides of the cake.
4. Brush the cake all over with the warmed apricot jam and then place the marzipan on top and around the cake.
5. Cover the cake with a clean tea towel and then leave in a cool place for at least one day.
6. To make the icing, lightly whisk the egg whites adding the sugar at intervals. Beat well until the icing reaches soft peaks. Add the glycerine if using and the lemon juice.
7. Spread icing all over cake either flat iced using a clean ruler or by forming soft peaks. Decorate with Christmas ornaments.

This actually sounds delightful!
I love marzipan though, it's one of those things that divides people kind of sharply.

 

[Ebonyfire]

Tonight PBS will air the last episode of Prime Suspect. Entitled The Final Act, it is Helen Mirren's last turn as Jane Tennison.

USA Today called this heartbreaking episode the best one yet and a fitting tribute to an astoundingly talented actress.

Uh Uh. Sounds like she is gonna die in it, like Morse did.

 

[Ebonyfire]

Since I no longer have cable, someone should tell PM me and let me know if they killed her off last night.

 

[A Desert Rose]

Since I no longer have cable, someone should tell PM me and let me know if they killed her off last night.

No, they didn't. Sunday was part one and this coming Sunday (the 19th) is part 2. I don't think they will kill her off, either. But I'm recording part 2 because I'm not sure I'll be home in time to see it.

 

[Ebonyfire]

No, they didn't. Sunday was part one and this coming Sunday (the 19th) is part 2. I don't think they will kill her off, either. But I'm recording part 2 because I'm not sure I'll be home in time to see it.

Good move, then you can fill me in please in private. Hope you are enjoying yourself!

Thanks,

 

[neonflux]

Hope you don't mind...

my poking my face in to ask a question - it may seem tongue-in-cheek but it's actually a quite serious one from a somewhat ignorant gal from the other side of the pond...

went to see "The Queen" last weekend and it really got me wondering what the relationship really is between the British royal family and the public. it doesn't seem at all like celebrity worship, but much more personal - and deeper. just wondering how folks would describe it.

have been thinking about this since I saw the film (which I loved - have now decided that not only is Helen Mirren hot, she's also probably the best actress of her/my(?) generation...)

anyway, please excuse my ignorance and hope I don't offend...

Neon

 

[Soumis]

Not sure this belongs here, but it relates to Britain a bit...I finally confirmed my plane ticket! yay! I'm leaving Dec. 30th. I'll be spending the first few days in Keyworth near Nottingham with a friend, and then we'll spend one night in London before heading south to Paris and Rome! Probably rather cold...but oh well.

 

[A Desert Rose]

my poking my face in to ask a question - it may seem tongue-in-cheek but it's actually a quite serious one from a somewhat ignorant gal from the other side of the pond...

went to see "The Queen" last weekend and it really got me wondering what the relationship really is between the British royal family and the public. it doesn't seem at all like celebrity worship, but much more personal - and deeper. just wondering how folks would describe it.

have been thinking about this since I saw the film (which I loved - have now decided that not only is Helen Mirren hot, she's also probably the best actress of her/my(?) generation...)

anyway, please excuse my ignorance and hope I don't offend...

Neon

You know, I think this is a great question and kinda piggybacked on this question, I have one too.

Jane and I listened to the new Beatles CD last night. She bought it. (My kids must know the words to every single Beatles song ever recorded.) And we both marveled at how fabulous the music is. She said it was so sad that Lennon was murdered when she was only 6 months old. And that Harrison was gone now, too.

I wonder if the Brits realize what a National treasure they had and still have, thanks to the technology of recording.

Not sure this belongs here, but it relates to Britain a bit...I finally confirmed my plane ticket! yay! I'm leaving Dec. 30th. I'll be spending the first few days in Keyworth near Nottingham with a friend, and then we'll spend one night in London before heading south to Paris and Rome! Probably rather cold...but oh well.

Lucky, lucky you!!! It's my dream to see Great Britian and Italy, both. Have a wonderful and safe trip!!!

 

[nymphee]

my poking my face in to ask a question - it may seem tongue-in-cheek but it's actually a quite serious one from a somewhat ignorant gal from the other side of the pond...

went to see "The Queen" last weekend and it really got me wondering what the relationship really is between the British royal family and the public. it doesn't seem at all like celebrity worship, but much more personal - and deeper. just wondering how folks would describe it.

have been thinking about this since I saw the film (which I loved - have now decided that not only is Helen Mirren hot, she's also probably the best actress of her/my(?) generation...)

anyway, please excuse my ignorance and hope I don't offend...

Neon

Dear Neon.

The British public's oppinions of the royal family vary wildly, however very few people dislike the queen. There are many anti-monarchists in England, but more of us I think are pro royal family than con. There is a larger degree of respect towards them, and meeting the queen is still the ultimate in celebrity handshakes.
However, Price Charles gets a very hard rap, most of which is entirely underserved and entirely the fault of his horrid little slut of a late wife. Camilla also gets much more of a grilling than she deserves.
The younger monarchs are seen as much more normal. Harry and Beatrice especially are regular party goers and good fun. I think really we look at the Royal Family quite affectionately. Most people appreciate what a hard job they do and how well and cheefully they do it.

Hope helps a little.

<Stands>

God save the Queen!

 

[neonflux]

Dear Neon.

The British public's oppinions of the royal family vary wildly, however very few people dislike the queen. There are many anti-monarchists in England, but more of us I think are pro royal family than con. There is a larger degree of respect towards them, and meeting the queen is still the ultimate in celebrity handshakes.
However, Price Charles gets a very hard rap, most of which is entirely underserved and entirely the fault of his horrid little slut of a late wife. Camilla also gets much more of a grilling than she deserves.
The younger monarchs are seen as much more normal. Harry and Beatrice especially are regular party goers and good fun. I think really we look at the Royal Family quite affectionately. Most people appreciate what a hard job they do and how well and cheefully they do it.

Hope helps a little.

<Stands>

God save the Queen!

Thank you for your response - now another question - again along the same lines. When it comes to celebrity worship, it seems that the public enjoys seeing people lose their status... Is there any family feeling attached to how pro-monarchy folks view the individual members of the royal family? For instance, do people actually delight in Prince Charle's lack of charisma and absolute unlikability or do they view him as that cousin or uncle that no one in the family likes and about whom everyone is a little ashamed?

singing along...
Neon

 

[nymphee]

Thank you for your response - now another question - again along the same lines. When it comes to celebrity worship, it seems that the public enjoys seeing people lose their status... Is there any family feeling attached to how pro-monarchy folks view the individual members of the royal family? For instance, do people actually delight in Prince Charle's lack of charisma and absolute unlikability or do they view him as that cousin or uncle that no one in the family likes and about whom everyone is a little ashamed?

singing along...
Neon

I can't really reply to that becuase Prince Charles is, in my oppinion, an absolutley lovely, kind and generous man, who has brought up his adulterous wife's son as his own, and taken every bit of crap thrown at him without question. I think the public are gradually coming round, but yes, he is a bit of a royal scapegoat. He is certainly the least popular monarch, but it is Prince Phillip who is most frequently cocking up and falling from Grace, as it were. We half expect to see him in public with a ball gag in.

 

[St_George]

Thank you for your response - now another question - again along the same lines. When it comes to celebrity worship, it seems that the public enjoys seeing people lose their status... Is there any family feeling attached to how pro-monarchy folks view the individual members of the royal family? For instance, do people actually delight in Prince Charle's lack of charisma and absolute unlikability or do they view him as that cousin or uncle that no one in the family likes and about whom everyone is a little ashamed?

singing along...
Neon

I would take issue with your description of Prince Charles as 'unlikable'. He may not be widly charismatic but I think most 'pro-monarchists' tend to feel sorry for him.
To answer your question I think it rather depends on who it is. The tabloid newspapers will seize upon any scandal involving the royal family, but a scandle about Prince Harry will bring about a different reaction to one about his brother. Pro-monarchists, in-so-far as such a thing exists, will usually chuckle at Prince Harry's latest blunder (Little scamp!) or Prince Philip's latest faux-pas, but shake their heads sadly if someone has a pop at Prince Charles or Camilla.

 

[neonflux]

I would take issue with your description of Prince Charles as 'unlikable'. He may not be widly charismatic but I think most 'pro-monarchists' tend to feel sorry for him.
To answer your question I think it rather depends on who it is. The tabloid newspapers will seize upon any scandal involving the royal family, but a scandle about Prince Harry will bring about a different reaction to one about his brother. Pro-monarchists, in-so-far as such a thing exists, will usually chuckle at Prince Harry's latest blunder (Little scamp!) or Prince Philip's latest faux-pas, but shake their heads sadly if someone has a pop at Prince Charles or Camilla.

point taken about Prince Charles! thank you for the info - that's interesting. it sounds like people actually get very protective then...

 

[nymphee]

George and I get quite protective, but we are part of a decidely anti-modernist movement. Strangely, the Royal Family holds strongest in strong working class and upper class families, and less so with the middle classes.
I think it's a case of "only the english are allowed to slate the Royal Family"

 

[A Desert Rose]

Midsomer Murders has become kinkier and so much funnier. On the episode I watched last Sunday, one of the characters was the owner of a riding school. On the side, she was a dominatrix and she used a horse thingy on certain paying customers. One of them of course, died (of a gunshot wound) but in the autopsy her handiwork was evident. That was a funny scene. Another of the female characters ran a culinary school out of her home. On the side, she roleplayed for certain paying customers who came to visit and wanted a June Cleaver-type who would be submissive to them, sexually. (June Cleaver really wasn't the submissive type but you get the idea, I think.) And the last scene with Tom and Joyce in bed, discussing the sexual exploits of their neighbors made me laugh.

The humor is subtle and you need to pay attention to catch it. And I just so love this show. For Christmas, I want the 3rd and 4th season on DVD. Then I'll have them all. ;-)

Now, for a question or 2: Jane asked me last night if the court officers (lawyers and judges) still wear those wigs in court. I told her yes, they do. Why do they wear them? What's the history behind wearing them? Does anyone know about this?