New Thrifty Gifty - Organised for Christmas and all ocassions 2010- Santas Challenges

SugarSpun

I've done everything on the challenge list except freezer meals because we don't have the room for them :j

And (please don't laugh at me) I've almost finished my shopping for 2011! Just my nephews' birthdays left to sort, they're getting lasers for Christmas and goodness knows what for their birthdays.

fedupandskint

SANTA’S CHALLENGE – OCTOBER

FROM MISS HOODIE – THE CLEANING CHALLENGE

Done, all cupboards neat and tidy and decluttered

CHRISTMAS GOODIES – Food
Non stop preserving this year - hearty ale chutney, picalilli, tomato chutney, plum and pear chutney, apricot and date chutney, strawberry jam, seville marmalade, nigella's christmas chutney, delia's christmas chutney, beetroot relish, beetroot and ginger chutney and pickled onions plus 3 bottles of blackberry and apple gin.
I'm starting to feel a bit like the character from Vicar of Dibley with strange food combinations

HAVE THAT CHAT - all done and dusted on that front - only mum needed to chat to

WRAPPING - All got now

CHRISTMAS CARDS - All bought ready in last years sales

CHRISTMAS ORDERING - This is also more or less done. Maybe one more amazon order then that's it.

VISTA PRINT - never used these!

UNWANTED / GROWN OUT OF - trying to sell but no takers so far

TABLE TOP SALES - none round here unfortunately so freeshare it is or ebay etc

MAKING PRESENTS/ CRAFTING - 3 cards to make. Will have a look for 3 large cards blanks sometime soon

FOOD -2 cakes made, 2 more to do then can tackle the final food list

CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS - no one likes these but if they did I would make one! Ok, might make some mini ones for gifts and scale the quantities down - better go and check the ingredients and see if I have enough in to do this!

TURKEY OR XMAS MEAT - ordered and ready to arrive 2nd week in Dec, freezer clearout needed before then so freezer meals here we go for the next month :rotfl:

STUFFING - i love making this and starting it on Christmas Eve from scratch. chestnut and the traditional sage and onion

FOOD LIST - Will do this when I have finished the HM presents and cakes and find my list on here somewhere.

FOOD FOR THE FREEZER - need to clear it out first then get ready to refill with casseroles, meals and christmas meats!

CARS - ready to go after I get 3 new tyres

WRAPPING PRESENTS - Leaving this for later on in Dec!

MEDICATION - all stocked up ready

LADIES - Haircut booked for Dec if needed and plenty of pampering going on inbetween now and then to cheer me up

SECRET SANTA - Ok, better remember to PM the answers!

The Questions….

1. What is your favourite hobby?
2. What is your guilty pleasure?
3. What would your worst present be?
4. What was the most thoughtful item you ever received?
5. do you wear earrings?
6. If you were on a desert island – what 3 things would you take.
7. if you had to describe yourself in maximum 5 words, what would they be.

foxy219

OMG... the kids have found my chocolate stash - how do I know? The empty wrappers!!! I've told them that Santa is NOT going to be happy and they are begging me not to tell him!!!

esmer

@ Foxy219 - I could not find my stash, I did it so well lol.............. so no chance of anybody eating it. Sounds like they got the message you were not pleased.

I have just trashed my living room, trying to make One, yes just ONE pot of Gold........... hoping the others will be less tasking. I think I got too big a tub, and I had to pack it with foam, then cover in gold tissue. I might have to look for a new tub size.

What do you think?

elysia2003

Esmer - it looks fab. Well done. :j

I've got everything to make all my christmas bits - snowman soups etc. I just have to put them together nearer the time. I can't believe how fast Christmas is coming now. I've make some more jewellery bits this afternoon, a memory wire bracelet, a bracelet with coloured stone chips on, and a bag charm/key ring. Nothing special but extra stocking fillers.

I've been here all year, yet I feel a bit out of it at the moment, having been away due to holiday and Avon. It's all done for another two weeks, trouble is the campaign after the next is due christmas week, and the following two are every two weeks and not three, so I'll be away a bit then. The orders will be really low though, so hopefully won't take too long to deliver. I was delivering last night in the rain and dark and kept thinking of all the Christmas presents I could buy with the money.

Oops just remembered I need to pm about the secret santa. Mum2one if I don't do it tomorrow (going to bed now) can you pm me a reminder please? Thanks so much.

Mary, had trouble finding the magnet as I put it away 'safe'. It's on it's way! Fingers crossed this one reaches you safely.

Night all. Take care everyone. xxx

elysia2003

I made my Christmas cake two weeks ago now, when do I need to feed it and how much? Sorry to be a nuisance.

Fedup - me again! How do you make Marmalade out of the oranges in the tin (Lakeland)? I'd love to do some, if you wouldn't mind sharing. Thanks so much.

Right I'm definately off now. TTFN

esmer

elysia2003 wrote: »

I made my Christmas cake two weeks ago now, when do I need to feed it and how much? Sorry to be a nuisance.

Fedup - me again! How do you make Marmalade out of the oranges in the tin (Lakeland)? I'd love to do some, if you wouldn't mind sharing. Thanks so much.

Right I'm definately off now. TTFN

Got this from Delia

Several times before Christmas you can 'feed' your cake – make small holes in the top and base of the cake with a cocktail stick or small skewer, then spoon over a few teaspoons of brandy. (I get a number of letters from people who never touch alcohol, so let me say that freshly squeezed orange juice can be substituted for the booze in the recipe.) I like to wrap the cake in a double layer of silicone paper, then in double foil, before storing it in an airtight container.

Most say a few tablespoons every 2 weeks. I have never made christmas cake before, not a fan. Was very tempted with the mini ones made out of the baked bean tins for hamper, its a thought for next year

xrestrictedx

elysia just found this off the net about the tins of oranges to make the marmalade, sorry for butting in but i was intrigued myself lol apparently its supposed to be 1.47 in tesco but i cant find it on the tesco website. lakeland its 1.99.

Ma Made Prepared Seville Oranges Thin Cut 850g

Price per kg: £1.73
Tesco Price Match**

£1.47
Prepare & Use
1. Empty contents into a large 8 pt saucepan. Add 3/4 pint of water using the measure mark on the side of the can.
2. Stir in 4lbs of sugar. Bring to boil, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon.
3. Reduce heat, maintain boil for further 15 mins, stir occasionally. Add a knob of butter during boiling to disperse foam.
4. Test for setting-remove from heat, put 1/2 teaspoon of marmalade onto cold saucer and put in cool place. Test after 2 minutes by drawing a finger over surface. If it wrinkles, setting point has been reached. If not reboil for a few minutes. Test again.
5. Stand for further 2-3 minutes before pouring into warmed jars. If peel floats, stir contents of each jar.
6. Cover each jar with screw cap, parchment or film.

Country of Origin
Spain.
Manufacturer
Chivers Hartley Ltd.,
Bridge Road,
Long Sutton,
Spalding,
Lincs.,
PE12 9EQ.

mum2one

fedupandskint wrote: »

2 Christmas Cakes on the go - fruit soaking overnight ready to go tomorrow

I decided to crack on with the marmalade tonight and made 7 jars of Seville Orange Marmalade out of one tin of prepared Sevilles from Lakeland. Talk about easy to make, much easier than thinly slicing and soaking from scratch and took less than an hour to make.

Cost approx £1.20 per jar which is way cheaper than the equivalent from the supermarkets

So that's practically all the preserving done now, just need to check my lists to see if anything is left.

Feeling a bit down in the dumps tonight so decided to open one of the boxes of Thorntons to eat to cheer myself up (blame the ex for this one who is giving me a hard time for no reason at all).

Next is time to update the challenge list....

Sorry to be nosey, but with the marmlade, do you need a sugar theromonitor (excuse spelling), or is it easy to do.

Just waiting for last 2 cakes to come of the oven, did the tradational fruit cake and the tropical one, doubled the ingredients, - got
3 x round cakes
6
x med loaf tin
2 x smaller loaf tin
2 x mini xmas trees
2 x mini gingerbread men (but turned over look like angel shape)

Give some away with xmas prezzies and split the one loaf cake between the 2 eldery neighbours.

Thou darling mother - offered to help - her helped she dropped the scales and broke them - had to use Miss Hoodies little scales - the maximum could get on the top was 80g sugar - so was fun and games, last batch be ready at 2am...... then bed!

Poor Miss Hoodie, she had chesty cough last ngt, so slept in with me........ then threw up this morning over the bed, bless her........6am changing the duvet - she then goes and lies on her bed - poorly again. Touch wood she has been brighter this afternoon, but is full in the face and her cheeks are scarlet, if shes no better 2mor pop to the local nhs walk in. Guess makes a change - not a holiday!!
xx

Give you all a laugh, I'm on the "beg" - local businesses for donations for the xmas raffle at the school, got 2 replies yeserday with vouchers for days out, - put them up so safe can't remember where!!......... There safe...

SugarSpun

mum2one did you know that Lush shops have a charity amount they're allowed to give out each month?