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

mum2one

welshgirl90 wrote: »

hia, in my lil post yday I said I would put on some really dead simple recipes for coconut ice and peppermint creams. although I said Id put them on yesterday, I thought it better late than never. Made the coconut ice today and turned out perfect. Haven't made the peppermint creams yet but since I bought the condensed milk, I may try that soon too.

Coconut Ice
100g condensed milk
115g Icing sugar
85g Desiccated Coconut
a drop or two of red food colouring.

1. Line the inside of a small plastic box or loaf tin twice with cling film.
2. In a bowl, sift the icing sugar into the condensed milk and mix.
3. Add the coconut and mix well (the mixture will be very stiff).
4. Separate the mixture in half. Keep one half white and add the food colouring to the other half.
5. Press the white mixture into the box/tin, and then add the pink on top, pressing down firmly.
6. Set in fridge for roughly 2-3 hours or until set. Chop into squares, Makes roughly 12 pieces.

Note: if you would like chocolate coconut ice, replace the red food colouring with about 25g of melted chocolate.


Peppermint Creams
55g condensed milk
115g Icing sugar (plus a little more for dusting)
A few drop of peppermint extract.
25g plain chocolate (for decoration)

1. Combine the condensed milk, sifted icing sugar and extract until it forms a soft dough.
2. Lightly dust the surface and roll out the mixture untill about 5mm thick.
3. Use a small cutter to create the pieces, keep re-rolling to get as many as possible.
4. Melt the chocolate and use a spoon to lightly drizzel over the pieces, to create lines and patterns.
5. leave to set at room temperature.


Both are so easy and require no cooking. Only a few basic ingredients are needed and I think they would make great gifts. Maybe wrap in cellophane and ribbon, or a little box.

Hope this helps
mwah

Those look fab - won't let father near the coconut ice!! x

junior_j

mum2one wrote: »

I sobbed my heart out with that film, the 1st time saw it at the cinema, the whole lot of the people came out with red eyes. When we went to Tunisia last yr they had the film on, but had apparently got no headphones, but they put the film, Miss Hoodie and me were on the front row, - the one stewardess said could you let me know when the film ends - just said once all the when the tears start - give it 10 mins......they were running up the aisles with tissues.

Good luck with mum......xx

Lol me and mum are fine now. Even when i think of that film now my eyes well up Lol have the stewardess and tissues. x

Anglea

Hi all

The nearer to Christmas, the more reluctant I am to do anything

Today hopefully finished making DS's envelopes. Got ex to bring down all my decorations and stuff from the loft so I can see what it looks like, last year I decided not to have a big tree like usual, only a wall hanging one I used when the kids were small. Over the last few years I found taking all the decs down from the big trees was a massive chore and I spent days dreading it. So I want to put the wall tree up and see what it looks like.

Only written a few cards, I don't feel Christmassy at all yet. I'm thinking of a possible joint large hamper for the children as I remember their faces when we once had one delivered.

Also thinking of a large dish of gold to put out on the table
Christmas Day instead of small pots. Because I realised that if I did the pots and attached the labels, my parents wouldn't have their glasses on and probably wouldn't understand what it's all about even if I started explaining. So a large dish with a combination of gold choccies and might also get the scratch cards too.

Bought a couple of things for the freezer so far as I remember last year it was thick ice and I had to walk to the shops to buy the Christmas food :eek: can't go through that again so am buying a few bits each week, and some nice paper napkins. Decided against the linen ones this year.

I've caught up on all your posts and recipes. Hope you are better those of you with the water infection, bugs and colds.

piglet27

Hi all

You're all going great guns, takes longer to catch up on posts each time I log in!

Hope you all get better to people with colds, bugs, or infections. Sorry for not doing individual posts, been way too busy for me to keep up.

Have made 5 more christmas cards over weekend and made partners baby sock monkey to go in car, (he didn't stop talking about it for 3 days when I showed him what I made for dd.)

elysia2003

Morning everyone.

I sat and watched that program The Highstreet or whatever and made another 20 toppers for the bags. Bah humbug, Santa's Elves poop, and Santa's kisses this time. I was going to ask my mum to take them to the bingo club she goes to, to sell, but I think I may have too many. The Christmas fayre at the school is in a fortnight but I'm not up to the level of having a stall, and I'd need loads more stock too. I'm going to start earlier next year with the homemade stuff and maybe cross stitch some cards too.

Rufus - have you tried asking for a stall at the local school christmas fayre or are you going to do it next year now?

susan42

Hi everyone

esmer been on your blog - whats this about dating?

Elysia - you should go for it and have a stall, i was given a weeks notice...lol and my silhouette i love, i think they`re £240 which i think is a lot (i won mine). But i dont buy any punches now at all. Its the same as a craft robo i worked out, i dont know if its any better than one or not but people i talk to including the craft robo stall, they all run the silhouette software. Im on a forum in america and i cut out all shapes, like toppers for sweetie bags. Scalloped punches for eliz shaw mints, circles, i have all the nestibilities dies for it $0.49 each. ummmm all themed things, cupcake wrappers, anything really. Just started using vinyl for etching glass. Transfers for tshirts, and pens. I dont know if i`d pay £240 for it but I love it...lol. One thing though, its noisy as %**% . Its not something you can do quietly...lol

well done piglet on your makes , any photos??

mcjordi - i get what you mean now....god i`m thick sometimes

mum2one - i remember marley and me well;) i didnt realise that was happening at the end and broke my heart

angela - i remember the ice so dangerous, think i`ll stock the freezer as well

juniorj - well done maintaining :T:T

mary - no magnets:(

pink flop - hope your well soon

cdsmiler- where you gone....lol

are we all busy crafting?

went to spa yesterday so when i came home done the prep for crafting today , so i`m off here now. be back this evening

cookiecrumbs

Hi everybody

Looks like I am the latest to go down with something. Stomach bug I think. Not good.

As for Marley and Me, I read the book and was sobbing by the end so I refuse to watch the film, it's far too traumatic.

elysia2003

I read the book too Cookie. I watched the beginning of the film but that actor drives me crazy with his drawling accent, so I gave up half way through. Even though it's based on a diary, the film as never the same as a book, so I'd rather read it and get the proper version.

Susan - I wish you lived near me. I really do. Thanks for telling me about the silhouette, I sounds just what I want and what the eclipse did, but cheaper. You download the software for it can't you? The eclipse came with cartridges that were £30 or so, a time. That's what put me off in the end, the extra expense.

OH (our postie) has just come through the door - I'm just going to see if he's brought my cello bags so I can start bagging up.

rufusdog52

elysia2003 wrote: »

Morning everyone.

I sat and watched that program The Highstreet or whatever and made another 20 toppers for the bags. Bah humbug, Santa's Elves poop, and Santa's kisses this time. I was going to ask my mum to take them to the bingo club she goes to, to sell, but I think I may have too many. The Christmas fayre at the school is in a fortnight but I'm not up to the level of having a stall, and I'd need loads more stock too. I'm going to start earlier next year with the homemade stuff and maybe cross stitch some cards too.

Rufus - have you tried asking for a stall at the local school christmas fayre or are you going to do it next year now?

Probs next year Elysia, I have asked around but cant seem to find any local schools having a fayre where you can actually have your own stall. I will try next summer or may be nearer to next Xmas, should have quite a bit by then to put on it as I think the proper craft stalls would probably cost a lot more per stall. In the meantime, if I hear of anyone who might be able to sell some bits for me around my town I will let them have a go.

Off up town this afternoon with OH. Did say we could go out for the day as its his pay day today but he went to his Mums yesterday (funeral to go to) and stayed overnight with her and when I rang him not long ago he was still in bed so day out gone out the window. Not sure what to look out for up there now as I havent much else to get, just bits for him and cant do that while he is around. Might have a look in the sewing shop and see what fabrics she stocks in case there is something I can make a mans shirt out of.

esmer

susan42 wrote: »

Hi everyone

esmer been on your blog - whats this about dating?

I did a blog on dating, and the !!!!! I met. I you want a read I will PM, not sure I can post a link to it here.