Edible Xmas gifts that can be made well in advance.....

Claire_Bear

Oh, also two other things :rotfl:

For the flavoured vodkas I was going to use the small wine bottles too, but I don't like wine. Obviously it would be a crime to throw it away so is there any recipes using it that I could include in hampers? Maybe mulled wine? Or..... I'm stuck lol I'd prefer the bottles to be clear and red wine always seems to come in dark bottles so would probably have to be white or rose.

Also, on the road leading to my mam's house there are two trees that have tiny little plum-type things on, There's red and yellow ones and every time I go past there's a layer of mushy ones on the pavement where they've fallen off. Does anyone have any idea what they are and if I could make anything nice out of them? Seems a shame that they're all going to waste

mum2one

Claire_Bear wrote: »

Oh, also two other things :rotfl:

For the flavoured vodkas I was going to use the small wine bottles too, but I don't like wine. Obviously it would be a crime to throw it away so is there any recipes using it that I could include in hampers? Maybe mulled wine? Or..... I'm stuck lol I'd prefer the bottles to be clear and red wine always seems to come in dark bottles so would probably have to be white or rose.

Also, on the road leading to my mam's house there are two trees that have tiny little plum-type things on, There's red and yellow ones and every time I go past there's a layer of mushy ones on the pavement where they've fallen off. Does anyone have any idea what they are and if I could make anything nice out of them? Seems a shame that they're all going to waste

Just a though re bottles, you don't like wine, thinking if yo brought the wineand froze it in ice cubes, when you do a mince dish, shepherd pie etc, beef bourgion, anything beef related chuck in a couple of wine - soon shift them

Another though re bottles, if you have a home bargains near by - they do a small bottle called champers - do check the top can't remeber if its screw top or popper - its not champagne, its perry - pear cider, but cooking wise you can do pears poached in cider, also do pears poached in red wine, (don't know whether you like wine in food).

If u do a syllabub (showing my age, its from a 1970s dairy cook book) that has some cider in it, but when all together can't taste it.

Does it need to be glass for the vodka once made, just thinking if you made it in a bigger bottle - can it be decanted into plastic bottles - (thinking duty free sales a lot of them are plastic bottles), just that most supermarkets do water / flavoured water in different size bottles, (kids water - usuallly pull up cap), buit 330cl bottle most are plastic screw cap, save you buying wine that not going to be drunk.

Soz can't help re fruit. def sounds interesting xx

Claire_Bear

I was just going to do small glass bottles for the presentation side of things really. Yep we have a home bargains, if I bought the pear cider that would definitely be drunk instead of used in cooking though! Thanks for the tip, will check that out as I don't really use wine in cooking. I bought a jar of apple and cider chutney when I was in Plymouth a few weeks ago and was thinking of trying that myself, shame the cider is perry otherwise I could have used that and killed two birds with one stone!

mum2one

Claire_Bear wrote: »

I was just going to do small glass bottles for the presentation side of things really. Yep we have a home bargains, if I bought the pear cider that would definitely be drunk instead of used in cooking though! Thanks for the tip, will check that out as I don't really use wine in cooking. I bought a jar of apple and cider chutney when I was in Plymouth a few weeks ago and was thinking of trying that myself, shame the cider is perry otherwise I could have used that and killed two birds with one stone!

That apple and cider chutney sounds lovely, got my mouth watering. Completely digressing, love that end of the country, we just got back last weekend stayed 3 miles from Tavistock, def worth a visit, been down to Plymouth, many years ago, literally got off the park and ride, and my friend took me with him so he could have a tatoo, I ended up getting 5, then we couldn't remember which park and ride we'd used. Keep meaning to go back to Plymouth, but keep getting drawn to the pannier market in tavistock. maybe next yr.

x

got-it-spend-it

Claire_Bear wrote: »

Oh, also two other things :rotfl:

For the flavoured vodkas I was going to use the small wine bottles too, but I don't like wine. Obviously it would be a crime to throw it away so is there any recipes using it that I could include in hampers? Maybe mulled wine? Or..... I'm stuck lol I'd prefer the bottles to be clear and red wine always seems to come in dark bottles so would probably have to be white or rose.

Also, on the road leading to my mam's house there are two trees that have tiny little plum-type things on, There's red and yellow ones and every time I go past there's a layer of mushy ones on the pavement where they've fallen off. Does anyone have any idea what they are and if I could make anything nice out of them? Seems a shame that they're all going to waste

I'm using these bottles for the Limoncello I'm making.

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Soft_Drinks/Fentimans_Victorian_Lemonade_275ml.html

The one shown there has a 'beer bottle' type lid, but the ones I've bought in Waitrose have screw tops. They're not too expensive and a nice shape.

mum2one

got-it-spend-it wrote: »

I'm using these bottles for the Limoncello I'm making.

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Soft_Drinks/Fentimans_Victorian_Lemonade_275ml.html

The one shown there has a 'beer bottle' type lid, but the ones I've bought in Waitrose have screw tops. They're not too expensive and a nice shape.

You have me drooling now, love some of the Fentmans drinks, the shandy tastes like proper strong beer, they've brought out a new one Rose lemonade - thou its very sweet.

Brillaint size bottle xx

s_michaels

sorry if these have been posted http://www.christmasiscoming.co.uk/Raspberry_and_White_Chocolate_Chunk_Cookies.html

SeaBee

Hi All, can I join in too please?

I've been following this thread with interest over the last few weeks and thought I might share (though not literally I am afraid!) the things I have been making for Christmas presents.

The strawberry and vodka jam was pinched from tinksy (thank you) - it will be perfect for several of my friends.

http://s466.photobucket.com/albums/rr23/scootataxii/Christmas_10/

Claire_Bear wrote: »

I was just going to do small glass bottles for the presentation side of things really.

I bought a jar of apple and cider chutney when I was in Plymouth a few weeks ago and was thinking of trying that myself, shame the cider is perry otherwise I could have used that and killed two birds with one stone!

Claire Bear _ I am also shamelessly pinching the idea for fruit flavoured vodkas. Can you see a theme with presents for my friends? :rotfl:I used Mr A's white wine vinegar for my chutneys, it comes in lovely tall, thin, unlabled bottles which I am going to recycle to hold the vodka. It's 57p (I think) a bottle, but as you can use it for your chutney it is money well spent :T

[URL="http://s466.photobucket.com/albums/rr23/scootataxii/Christmas_10/?action=view&current=DSCN1380Copy.jpg]"][/URL]

fedupandskint

Hi there everyone

I've been busy making chutneys last month ready for Christmas presents and for me - pear and apple, date and apricot, picalilli, pickled runner beans.

Also for the first time making blackberry and apple gin. Now its on its weekly shake for the next 2mths then its going into old washed and cleaned cider vinegar bottles and hopefully will fill about 4x 350ml bottles. The recipe says it lasts for many years and improves with age

Having a little rest for this month ready to go all out in Oct - granola making, winter fruit compote and christmas cake making plus anything else I can find to make

got-it-spend-it

Thanks for that idea SeaBee. I have some of that vinegar in my cupboard for chutney making but I hadn't thought of re-using the bottles!

Is the granola or gifts fedupandskint? I so can I be nosey and ask how you plan to present it? Thanks!


I have a mass of Bramley apples and green tomatoes here so I need to get chutney making. I've got a day off tomorrow so can hopefully get some done then.