Thrifty Gifty - Organised for Christmas and all ocassions 2009- Santas Challenges

Pips_Mum

Happy Birthday in advance Sarah x x
Ive been looking for cheap party food too as I am planning DS 1st Birthday. This lady did quite well http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1862545&highlight=birthday+cakes

sarahf191979

Pips_Mum wrote: »

Happy Birthday in advance Sarah x x
Ive been looking for cheap party food too as I am planning DS 1st Birthday. This lady did quite well http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1862545&highlight=birthday+cakes

Thanks hun, thats great, gonna go shopping today and get the last of what I need. I really want to do it as cheap as I can as budget it a bit tight this month...

I really want to try making one of these as DS2 wants one for his birthday so thought I could have a trial run..

http://www.baskinrobbins.com/Cakes/

He wants the Oreo one, but its figuring out how to do it myself lol :rotfl:

Gonna buy some Cheap Ice cream today and try see if I can figure it out, any ideas or tips would be great.

sarahf191979

What do snowmen eat for lunch ?


Icebergers !

sarahf191979

Bunbun, how about

make your own Christmas Crackers, (ready for Christmas Dinner) you can get the kits most places

Christmas Puzzle Book, Loads of colouring pages and activities you could print of line

Make Christmas Decorations using salt dough

Decorate your own gingerbread men, Most super markets start selling those mini ginger bread men and they have quite a good shelf life, or if you have Ikea they do heart shaped ones

Make Sock Snowmen, these are great and my boys loved doing these last year that much that I had to go and buy them more socks so they could make more

Thats all I can think of at the mo, if I think of anymore will let you know, not had enough coffee yet lol

sarahf191979

fedupandskint wrote: »

Thought about a travel survival kit for when he works away, plus it is his birthday in Oct too and need some more ideas for this.

Any ideas to help?

Does he travel abroad or just in the uk??

you can loads of travel bit in the £1 shops at the moment but mainly for going abroad. If its just the UK they probably wouldn't be any use.

sarahf191979

Bet this would look really nice.....Instructions.

rainmac

bunbun2 wrote: »

I have started thinking about my advent box for my 2 boys. this is what I have come up with so far:
advent calendar (my mum usually buys them one so hopefully she will this year!)
jar of jokes - thanks Sarah!
christmas book
choc coins
christmas DVD
post it note holder
coaster calendar
bonbons - thanks Mary! (I can't remember what you used them for but will look back)
choc lollipop
decorating the tree
christmas chocs
christmas quotes in a jar - thanks Sarah!
lush bath bomb
christmas mug
door hanger
reindeer food
making christmas cards
christmas eve hamper - pyjamas, DVD, popcorn/chocs

I will duplicate a few such as the chocs. last year I managed to make all 24 christmas related but not sure if I will be able to this year!
if anyone has any more ideas - the more the merrier!

Hi bunbun could you make a decoration (e.g.decorate a bauble or make one from felt) or paperchains? How about baking biscuits and decorating them, you could add the recipe and cutter to the box? Also making sweets would be fun!

I'm going to do an advent box for my mum & dad this year but theirs is going to be filled with Xmas trivia, Xmas facts and a few 'do xxxx today' such as 'go for a drive in the evening to see the Xmas lights', 'go and buy some mince pies today' etc. I'm going to add scratch cards for one day and a homemade decoration for Xmas Eve. Bit different for them but hope it gets them in the Xmas mood ready for the big event x

sarahf191979

These Cute Little Hats Look good and would make a lovely gift or holiday party treat.






RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

2 egg whites, at room temperature 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup sugar Red colored sugar




1. Heat the oven to 200° F. With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks start to form. Beating all the while, add the cream of tartar and vanilla extract, then slowly add the 1/2 cup of sugar. Continue to beat until the peaks stiffen.

2. Spoon the meringue into a quart-size plastic bag. Snip off a corner and pipe 2 dozen 1 1/2-inch-tall Santa hat triangles onto a parchment-lined baking sheet (you should have about 1/4 of the meringue left).

3. Sprinkle the triangles with the red sugar, then use the remaining meringue to give each one a pom-pom and trim. Bake the hats until they're hard but not browned, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the hats in it for an hour to crisp before removing.


Courtesy of: http://jas.familyfun.go.com

sarahf191979

These Lovely Cookies, would look great on any tree and are so easy and simple you could turn it into a great activity for the kids to help.









RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 tsp. peppermint extract 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour Red food coloring



1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg and beat well. Stir in the peppermint and vanilla extracts. Gradually mix in the flour.

2. Divide the dough in half. Color one half with red food coloring and leave the other half plain. Roll out a tablespoon of red dough and a tablespoon of plain until they are each 6 to 8 inches long. Twist them into a candy cane, pinching the ends. Repeat.

3. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but not brown.
Makes about 25.

Courtesy of: http://jas.familyfun.go.com

sarahf191979

Another Simple Recipie that looks really good and easy to make....







RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 2/3 cup granulated sugar 2 large egg yolks 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour Green sprinkles Red hots

1. Heat the oven to 375. In a large mixing bowl, use a wooden spoon to cream the butter and sugar together until smooth.

2. Stir in the egg yolks and almond extract. Gradually stir in the flour.

3. Assemble the cookie press and fit it with the star-shaped plate. Alternatively, fit a pastry bag with a star tip.

4. Spoon the prepared dough into the press or bag and check the consistency of the dough with a test squeeze. If the dough is too soft, place the press or bag and remaining dough in the refrigerator to make it firmer. (Keep in mind that the consistency of the dough as it is squeezed through the press affects the look of the wreaths. If it is firmer, it is a little more difficult to press but gives a more jagged, leafy look to the wreaths. If the dough is warmer and softer, you will create smoother ridges.)

5. Working on an ungreased baking sheet, pipe the dough into circles to make wreaths, leaving 1 inch between the cookies. Decorate the cookies with green sprinkles and garnish each one with 3 red hots (you can use the candies to cover up the spot where the circle joins). Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes or until lightly browned.

6. Cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. Using a metal spatula, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat until all the dough is used. Makes about 4 dozen Holiday Wreaths.

7. KIDS' STEPS: Kids can mix up the dough, squirt it out onto a baking sheet, and decorate the baked cookies to look like holiday wreaths.

Courtesy of: http://jas.familyfun.go.com