OS Yuletide...what have you made so far??

Christina_F

Paulie'sGirl wrote: »

That's a cracking start Infamy.

So far I've made tomato chutney (ageing nicely in the garage), mango chutney (ALDI super 6 mangos, cheap as chips but delicious!!), and have a massive bag of pickling onions

These sound lovely - can I please ask for the recipe for the two chutneys?

Reverbe

Wow you guys impress me!!Well done!! I was planning to make truffles but a combination of last yrs HM gift going down like a lead balloon(I made some lovely cranberry & orange sauce with port) and the serious state of finances of me and my flatmate has meant that we have cancelled Christmas this year altogether.

greenbee

Reverbe wrote: »

Wow you guys impress me!!Well done!! I was planning to make truffles but a combination of last yrs HM gift going down like a lead balloon(I made some lovely cranberry & orange sauce with port) and the serious state of finances of me and my flatmate has meant that we have cancelled Christmas this year altogether.

This may not apply in your situation, but it's worth remembering that if you can't afford to buy or make things, you can always make up vouchers for time e.g. an evening's babysitting, a couple of hours help in the house/garden, a sunday afternoon walk etc.

We often don't see enough of our friends & family, so simply committing to spend time with them is in itself often appreciated.

For cash-strapped, time-poor friends & relations, an evening's babysitting may be appreciated far more than an expensive gift. It's the thought you put into making the gift meaningful to the recipient that often makes the biggest impact.

pinkparrott

i made quite a few batches of christmas cookies with the kids last year and they went down a treat.

I used Nigella's recipie for pecan, cranberry, and white chocolate chip cookies but i'm sure i added mixed spice to make them more christmasy.

We just wrapped them in greaseprrof paper and then in cellophane and added a hand made tag and ribbon.

I've been collecting nice box's for a few weeks now and asking friends to do this too and i'm going to cover them in brown paper and stamp them with snowflakes.

and i've been collecting the ingredients too for a few batches, as pecan are really expensive but i found than if you buy them from mr t's in the baking section there 1/2 the price than in the christmas nut section

Paulie'sGirl

Christina_F wrote: »

These sound lovely - can I please ask for the recipe for the two chutneys?

Ummm, I can try. I fiddle with recipes a lot. I'll be back to edit this with the recipes I used

Ok, the green tomato one I used this as a base (mostly for quantities): http://margeland.co.uk/blog/2008/09/17/green-tomato-chutney/

I made the following changes:
I substituted finely chopped onions for shallots
I peeled the tomatoes
I used dried chillies in my first batch to no ill effect
I made a spice bag of: (square of muslin tied up with these in the middle, removed when it starts to get really reduced)
2 cardamoms crushed
1 tsp corriander seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
2 inches ginger
3 cm cinnamon
3 cloves
the chilli

http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6431/kokub-s-mango-chutney.aspx

this is similar to the recipe I used for the mango chutney, but not identical, I'll keep looking.

HTH,


PGxx

InfamyInfamy

Paulie'sGirl wrote: »

Katherine, I have my pickling onions but am looking for a recipe, do you have one you might share please???

PGxx

Pickled Onions

Peel the onions & leave in a bowl of salt water overnight to soak.
Place in sterilized jars, pour on spiced malt vinegar to cover, cut a ring of baking paper to fit over rim & screw down lid on top.
You can do a bowl full at a time to save your streaming eyes or a large batch. Last year we did it over a month and store jars so we knew which to use first. You can cut a circle of pretty material & attach over lid with elastic band, ribbon or string if you want to give as presents!

Frith

I make sloe gin every year but even Mr S's basics gin is quite expensive this year. I make bottles for the boys' teachers and T.A's but the Basics gin is £7 for a bottle... one bottle makes 2 bottles of sloe gin but thats still fairly pricy when you have to go to Mr Wilk's to get the spare bottles and corks!

Haven't done anything else yet but have bought all the ingredients to make Turkish Delight!

foxgloves

On the food front, have made pickled beetroot, chutneys, pickled pears, damson jam & damson gin. For presents, I've knitted 3 pairs of socks (some of that funky sock wool like 'Regia' knits up into fab colours & patterns) & 2 shawls with glittery bits & fringes. Still to do, another pair of socks & a 'hoodie' for my 20 mth-old nephew. Got all the ingredients for Christmas cake & pudding on a list and am buying a couple of things a week to avoid paying out for it all at once. I love this time of year. I like to get everything done early then can spend the run up to Christmas enjoying myself.

NoahsPennilessMummy

Have made pickled onions.
Have made jars of chilli jelly and cider apple butter for the teachers and childminder.
Want to make some biscotti for packaging up for gifts too.
I dont drink alcohol and neither does OH so not making any of that.
I am not making a big christmas cake this year.....I am making an Italian panforte instead.

Butterfly_Brain

I got the idea for the booze from this thread - plenty of recipes on here
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=6151
As for cheese and onion rolls they are quite simple to make - You can use SC, flaky or puff pastry, I prefer flaky
Into a bowl
Grate 12oz strong cheddar cheese and 1 onion ( I also add half a mozzerella ball cut into small pieces) add 1 egg and mix until well combined
Spread over pastry and make as you would sausage rolls.
I sometimes add a little garlic or chives as well