I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
for my husband and myself and no one else.
But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
am doing today.
Happy New Year
Janet US

On 12/30/2016 11:18 AM, U.S. Janet B. wrote:
>
> I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
> Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
> to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
> even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
> all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
> a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
> feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
> our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
> can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
> for my husband and myself and no one else.
> But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
> sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
> meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
> around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
> wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
> am doing today.
> Happy New Year
> Janet US
>
Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks for her parents for
the inevitably large, family gatherings over the xmas/NY. They were all
consumed without a thought for the trouble she had gone to so one year
she ordered all the sausage rolls from the village baker. No-one noticed
so from then on, she stopped doing the mega-bakes and bought-in instead.
Her only regret was not having done so sooner!
Graham

On 2016-12-30, graham > wrote:

> Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
> quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks.......

Excuse me, but what language are you speaking? Seriously.

nb

On 30 Dec 2016 19:11:56 GMT, notbob > wrote:

>On 2016-12-30, graham > wrote:
>
>> Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
>> quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks.......
>
>Excuse me, but what language are you speaking? Seriously.

jes looks like plain old English to me.

On Friday, December 30, 2016 at 10:18:36 AM UTC-8, U.S. Janet B. wrote:
> I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
> Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
> to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
> even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
> all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
> a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
> feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
> our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
> can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
> for my husband and myself and no one else.
> But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
> sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
> meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
> around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
> wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
> am doing today.
> Happy New Year
> Janet US

It takes time to decompress from all the expectations and "shoulds". Pat yourself on the back for being able to just say "no more". Enjoy the relief.

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 11:59:23 -0700, graham > wrote:

>On 12/30/2016 11:18 AM, U.S. Janet B. wrote:
>>
>> I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
>> Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
>> to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
>> even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
>> all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
>> a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
>> feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
>> our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
>> can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
>> for my husband and myself and no one else.
>> But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
>> sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
>> meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
>> around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
>> wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
>> am doing today.
>> Happy New Year
>> Janet US
>>
>Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
>quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks for her parents for
>the inevitably large, family gatherings over the xmas/NY. They were all
>consumed without a thought for the trouble she had gone to so one year
>she ordered all the sausage rolls from the village baker. No-one noticed
>so from then on, she stopped doing the mega-bakes and bought-in instead.
>Her only regret was not having done so sooner!
>Graham

I didn't know for sure what a skep was so I looked it up -- I had the
gist of that in my mind. The Suffolk rusks have me puzzled. I know
what a rusk is from using them as a teething soother for babies. I've
looked at the recipe for Suffolk rusks and I can't quite imagine them.
I my mind I have it sort of like a crisper english muffin half -- not
hard like a US cracker. ???? More info please
Janet US

On Sat, 31 Dec 2016 06:18:13 +1100, Jeßus > wrote:

>On 30 Dec 2016 19:11:56 GMT, notbob > wrote:
>
>>On 2016-12-30, graham > wrote:
>>
>>> Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
>>> quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks.......
>>
>>Excuse me, but what language are you speaking? Seriously.
>
>jes looks like plain old English to me.

'ees from Suffolk

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 16:35:54 -0400, wrote:

>On Sat, 31 Dec 2016 06:18:13 +1100, Jeßus > wrote:
>
>>On 30 Dec 2016 19:11:56 GMT, notbob > wrote:
>>
>>>On 2016-12-30, graham > wrote:
>>>
>>>> Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
>>>> quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks.......
>>>
>>>Excuse me, but what language are you speaking? Seriously.
>>
>>jes looks like plain old English to me.
>
>'ees from Suffolk

'skep' was new to me (although the context made it self explanatory),
but other than that, all easy enough to understand.

"U.S. Janet B." wrote in message
...


I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
for my husband and myself and no one else.
But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
am doing today.
Happy New Year
Janet US

===

Good for you! I can see it hasn't been easy but stick with it and it will
get easier.

I don't blame you one little bit! I don't do that any more either

Hogmanay just for us. Lovely))

Happy New Year)



--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk

"graham" wrote in message news
On 12/30/2016 11:18 AM, U.S. Janet B. wrote:
>
> I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
> Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
> to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
> even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
> all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
> a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
> feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
> our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
> can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
> for my husband and myself and no one else.
> But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
> sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
> meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
> around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
> wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
> am doing today.
> Happy New Year
> Janet US
>
Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks for her parents for
the inevitably large, family gatherings over the xmas/NY. They were all
consumed without a thought for the trouble she had gone to so one year
she ordered all the sausage rolls from the village baker. No-one noticed
so from then on, she stopped doing the mega-bakes and bought-in instead.
Her only regret was not having done so sooner!
Graham

==============================

Pity she hadn't) But she got there in the end



--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk

wrote in message ...

On Sat, 31 Dec 2016 06:18:13 +1100, Jeßus > wrote:

>On 30 Dec 2016 19:11:56 GMT, notbob > wrote:
>
>>On 2016-12-30, graham > wrote:
>>
>>> Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
>>> quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks.......
>>
>>Excuse me, but what language are you speaking? Seriously.
>
>jes looks like plain old English to me.

'ees from Suffolk

===============

He is. I am not but it was still clear enough

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 16:35:54 -0400, wrote:

>On Sat, 31 Dec 2016 06:18:13 +1100, Jeßus > wrote:
>
>>On 30 Dec 2016 19:11:56 GMT, notbob > wrote:
>>
>>>On 2016-12-30, graham > wrote:
>>>
>>>> Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
>>>> quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks.......
>>>
>>>Excuse me, but what language are you speaking? Seriously.
>>
>>jes looks like plain old English to me.
>
>'ees from Suffolk

'mees too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffolk_County,_New_York

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 21:33:06 -0000, "Ophelia" >
wrote:

>"U.S. Janet B." wrote in message
.. .
>
>
>I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
>Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
>to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
>even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
>all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
>a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
>feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
>our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
>can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
>for my husband and myself and no one else.
>But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
>sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
>meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
>around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
>wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
>am doing today.
>Happy New Year
>Janet US
>
>===
>
>Good for you! I can see it hasn't been easy but stick with it and it will
>get easier.
>
>I don't blame you one little bit! I don't do that any more either
>
>Hogmanay just for us. Lovely))
>
>Happy New Year)

any traditional foods for Hogmanay? I've read of steak pie. What's
that all about?
Janet US

On 12/30/2016 1:26 PM, U.S. Janet B. wrote:
> On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 11:59:23 -0700, graham > wrote:
>
>> On 12/30/2016 11:18 AM, U.S. Janet B. wrote:
>>>
>>> I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
>>> Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
>>> to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
>>> even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
>>> all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
>>> a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
>>> feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
>>> our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
>>> can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
>>> for my husband and myself and no one else.
>>> But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
>>> sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
>>> meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
>>> around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
>>> wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
>>> am doing today.
>>> Happy New Year
>>> Janet US
>>>
>> Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
>> quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks for her parents for
>> the inevitably large, family gatherings over the xmas/NY. They were all
>> consumed without a thought for the trouble she had gone to so one year
>> she ordered all the sausage rolls from the village baker. No-one noticed
>> so from then on, she stopped doing the mega-bakes and bought-in instead.
>> Her only regret was not having done so sooner!
>> Graham
>
> I didn't know for sure what a skep was so I looked it up -- I had the
> gist of that in my mind. The Suffolk rusks have me puzzled. I know
> what a rusk is from using them as a teething soother for babies. I've
> looked at the recipe for Suffolk rusks and I can't quite imagine them.
> I my mind I have it sort of like a crisper english muffin half -- not
> hard like a US cracker. ???? More info please
> Janet US
>
Initially, they look like what you would call a biscuit but they are
then halved, while still warm and put back in the oven for a few
minutes. They are firm to hardish, depending on how long you leave them
for the second bake. They are spread with butter and eaten with cheese
or with a dollop of jam. They are poor people's food, cheap and easy to
make and limited, I think, to Suffolk and Norfolk in eastern England.

As they are twice-cooked, they are a biscuit in the real meaning of the
word.
Graham

On 12/30/2016 1:51 PM, Je�us wrote:
> On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 16:35:54 -0400, wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 31 Dec 2016 06:18:13 +1100, Jeßus > wrote:
>>
>>> On 30 Dec 2016 19:11:56 GMT, notbob > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 2016-12-30, graham > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
>>>>> quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks.......
>>>>
>>>> Excuse me, but what language are you speaking? Seriously.
>>>
>>> jes looks like plain old English to me.
>>
>> 'ees from Suffolk
>
> 'skep' was new to me (although the context made it self explanatory),
> but other than that, all easy enough to understand.
>
A skep in this context, is a very large, tapering, circular wicker
basket. The ones at home were about 16" in diameter at the top and
16-18" deep.

"U.S. Janet B." > wrote in message
...
>
> I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
> Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
> to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
> even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
> all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
> a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
> feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
> our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
> can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
> for my husband and myself and no one else.
> But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
> sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
> meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
> around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
> wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
> am doing today.
> Happy New Year
> Janet US

I hear you, I have cut down a lot on the holiday cooking, entertaining etc.
in the past couple of years, going to our kids/grandkids houses now mostly.
We will spend NYE by ourselves and be happy to be doing that. I always throw
out bread for the birds on NYE, my mom and grandma always did so I do too.
Happy New Year to you.

Cheri

"U.S. Janet B." wrote in message
...

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 21:33:06 -0000, "Ophelia" >
wrote:

>"U.S. Janet B." wrote in message
.. .
>
>
>I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
>Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
>to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
>even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
>all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
>a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
>feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
>our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
>can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
>for my husband and myself and no one else.
>But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
>sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
>meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
>around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
>wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
>am doing today.
>Happy New Year
>Janet US
>
>===
>
>Good for you! I can see it hasn't been easy but stick with it and it will
>get easier.
>
>I don't blame you one little bit! I don't do that any more either
>
>Hogmanay just for us. Lovely))
>
>Happy New Year)

any traditional foods for Hogmanay? I've read of steak pie. What's
that all about?
Janet US

==================

Have a wee look here)

http://britishfood.about.com/od/hogm...-and-Drink.htm

A lot of stuff that might interest you) I do very little now. I have
made the (almost) Cock a Leekie Soup already (I like mushrooms in mine), and
will have Rumbledethumps with some leftover lamb)

Whatever you have, enjoy, just you and your husband! How much better can it
get That is what is happening here)


--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk

In article >,
says...

> any traditional foods for Hogmanay? I've read of steak pie. What's
> that all about?

Black bun (a traditional cake) and whisky.

https://www.alex-dalgetty.co.uk/prod...tch-black-bun/

Hogmanay is less about eating and more about shared company, social
traditions such as first footing, traditional song (auld lang syne) and
shared toasts to the coming year, and to absent friends, especially any
who died during the previous year.

We now do Hogmanay with all our neighbours on the afternoon of the
Ist, all gathering together to reduce the First-Foot walking and booze
intake.Food will be a buffet of cold nibbles; smoked salmon, cheeses,
ham. We prefer it now we've mostly reached a fogey stage when we'll be
in our pyjamas for "the bells" at midnight the night before and in bed
shortly after.

J and I will stay up for the bells to keep the dog company until all
the village midnight fireworks and firing of guns are over. Dog is
already wearing his Hogmanay fireworks calming collar as the soothing
pheremones have a cumulative effect. I'll take it off the next morning,
recommend it to anyone whose dog is scared of distant bangs.

http://www.adaptil.com/uk/Adaptil/Adaptil-Collar

Janet UK

On Sat, 31 Dec 2016 10:34:00 -0000, "Ophelia" >
wrote:

>"U.S. Janet B." wrote in message
.. .
>
>On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 21:33:06 -0000, "Ophelia" >
>wrote:
>
>>"U.S. Janet B." wrote in message
. ..
>>
>>
>>I come from a long tradition of big deal Christmas Eve/Day and New
>>Year's Eve/Day meals, guests, cooking, baking and decorating. It got
>>to the point where I was getting seriously out of sorts, depressed
>>even when the first of December rolled around. I didn't want to do
>>all those cookies and breads and spreads etc., etc., anymore. It was
>>a real challenge for me to work up the courage after several years of
>>feeling this way to contact the people that were used to coming to
>>our house for the events and tell them I wasn't doing it anymore. I
>>can't tell you what a relief it is to be able to enjoy the holidays
>>for my husband and myself and no one else.
>>But, here I am today, kind of fidgety. I doesn't seem right to just
>>sit down and read a book . I seems like I should be making a special
>>meal or something. I think I am going to order a pizza delivered
>>around dinner time instead. I did put out half a loaf of my honey
>>wheat bread for the squirrels -- but that's all the food prep that I
>>am doing today.
>>Happy New Year
>>Janet US
>>
>>===
>>
>>Good for you! I can see it hasn't been easy but stick with it and it will
>>get easier.
>>
>>I don't blame you one little bit! I don't do that any more either
>>
>>Hogmanay just for us. Lovely))
>>
>>Happy New Year)
>
>any traditional foods for Hogmanay? I've read of steak pie. What's
>that all about?
>Janet US
>
>==================
>
>Have a wee look here)
>
>http://britishfood.about.com/od/hogm...-and-Drink.htm
>
>A lot of stuff that might interest you) I do very little now. I have
>made the (almost) Cock a Leekie Soup already (I like mushrooms in mine), and
>will have Rumbledethumps with some leftover lamb)
>
>Whatever you have, enjoy, just you and your husband! How much better can it
>get That is what is happening here)

thank you
Janet US

On Sat, 31 Dec 2016 14:00:00 -0000, Janet > wrote:

>In article >,
>says...
>
>> any traditional foods for Hogmanay? I've read of steak pie. What's
>> that all about?
>
> Black bun (a traditional cake) and whisky.
>
>https://www.alex-dalgetty.co.uk/prod...tch-black-bun/
>
> Hogmanay is less about eating and more about shared company, social
>traditions such as first footing, traditional song (auld lang syne) and
>shared toasts to the coming year, and to absent friends, especially any
>who died during the previous year.
>
> We now do Hogmanay with all our neighbours on the afternoon of the
>Ist, all gathering together to reduce the First-Foot walking and booze
>intake.Food will be a buffet of cold nibbles; smoked salmon, cheeses,
>ham. We prefer it now we've mostly reached a fogey stage when we'll be
>in our pyjamas for "the bells" at midnight the night before and in bed
>shortly after.
>
> J and I will stay up for the bells to keep the dog company until all
>the village midnight fireworks and firing of guns are over. Dog is
>already wearing his Hogmanay fireworks calming collar as the soothing
>pheremones have a cumulative effect. I'll take it off the next morning,
>recommend it to anyone whose dog is scared of distant bangs.
>
>http://www.adaptil.com/uk/Adaptil/Adaptil-Collar
>
> Janet UK

Thank to both you and Ophelia. I learned a lot about Hogmanay from
you.
Understood. I just gave Baxter's (now passed) Thunder shirt to a
neighbor for their dog.
http://www.thundershirt.com/
Janet US

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 16:38:08 -0700, graham > wrote:

>On 12/30/2016 1:51 PM, Je?us wrote:
>> On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 16:35:54 -0400, wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 31 Dec 2016 06:18:13 +1100, Jeßus > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 30 Dec 2016 19:11:56 GMT, notbob > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 2016-12-30, graham > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Every xmas my Mother would bake a skep full of mince pies, the same
>>>>>> quantity of sausage rolls and also of Suffolk rusks.......
>>>>>
>>>>> Excuse me, but what language are you speaking? Seriously.
>>>>
>>>> jes looks like plain old English to me.
>>>
>>> 'ees from Suffolk
>>
>> 'skep' was new to me (although the context made it self explanatory),
>> but other than that, all easy enough to understand.
>>
>A skep in this context, is a very large, tapering, circular wicker
>basket. The ones at home were about 16" in diameter at the top and
>16-18" deep.

Thanks Graham, I didn't know what they were made out of.