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

mum2one

Claire_Bear wrote: »

Hello all, I've been away for a while but plan to join you all again now that it's the run-up to Christmas (in my eyes anyway!)

So far for edible gifts I'm planning blackberry vodka, toffee vodka and cola cube vodka to go into a cocktail hamper for my brother's girlfriend.

Chutneys and jams plus other baked goods to go into a food hamper for OHs parents. Last year I made them one with HM mince pies, boozy Christmas fudge (it wouldn't set though so it ended up more like a sludgy sauce, think I might have overdone it on the booze - whoops!) and cranberry and white chocolate cookies, along with some shop bought stuff too.

I tried to make some blackberry and apple jam but a couple of the jars have gone mouldy on top even though I sterilized them Anyone got any ideas what went wrong? I have quite a lot of the blackberries left in the freeer so could always try again. Will try and go on another foraging mission in the next week too to see if there's any left now so I have enough to last me through the winter.

I'm making the OH a coffee hamper too so might make some coffee cake or coffee truffles to go in that.

Hope u don't mind me being cheeky, noticed the coffee hamper for OH, does he like flavoured coffees, - all it was on the xmas thread last yr, one of the ladies posted a few coffee recipies - mocha, latte etc, - (had the bright idea of going through last yrs thread for ideas - done a couple of xmas planners - borrowed the best tips. I have the coffee stored on other comp, post it in the week. x

nic2075

Morning ladies. The high winds last week blew my poly greenhouse over and snapped 2 of my tomato plants. They were Italian plum tomatoes that ripen late Sep/ early Oct. So they are all green. Was going to try and ripen them on the window sill, next to bananas etc but just noticed someone a few pages back making green tomato chutney. Sorry to sound thick but could I use my toms to make this or does it mean a different form of green toms?

got-it-spend-it

nic2075 wrote: »

Morning ladies. The high winds last week blew my poly greenhouse over and snapped 2 of my tomato plants. They were Italian plum tomatoes that ripen late Sep/ early Oct. So they are all green. Was going to try and ripen them on the window sill, next to bananas etc but just noticed someone a few pages back making green tomato chutney. Sorry to sound thick but could I use my toms to make this or does it mean a different form of green toms?

I made green tomato chutney last night! It is indeed made with under-ripe tomatoes so yours would be perfect. I used this recipe http://www.allotment.org.uk/recipe/906/green-tomato-chutney-recipe/ although it's come out quite spicy so I would halve the cayenne next time. It's very nice though and was really easy.

Vaila

ive heard of fried green tomatoes, you coat them in breadcrumbs first

nic2075

Thanks for that. I wasn't sure if it was an actual type of tomato that stays green or unripe ones. I'll have a go at the chutney. I have loads and it would be a crime to see them rot.

Love this thread. I followed a similar last year and made loads of chocolate and vanilla fudge, coconut ice and rocky road. I'll be starting on those end of nov.

lazysheep

nic2075 wrote: »

Love this thread. I followed a similar last year and made loads of chocolate and vanilla fudge, coconut ice and rocky road. I'll be starting on those end of nov.

How long would rocky road last do you think? I might make some for my work colleague to go with the bottle of wine I'm getting her but as I don't know what days I will be working with her before Christmas I might need to make it in advance to give her when I see her.

nic2075

I made all my stuff and froze it at the beginning of Dec. It all defrosted great. Some of the fudge was great eaten straight from the freezer. I'm not sure how long it would last making it fresh.

nicola00

Ok, I'll introduce myself as a total novice regards to Jams and Chutney's. I don't eat them myself, (have to steer clear of quite a lot of foods due to a bladder condition I have) but would love to make for others.

My daughter and I usually make pots of gold (about £10-£12 inc 2 scratch cards) for the teachers and grans, aunts and my friends, but I'm thinking of making them smaller this year, maybe just a bag of gold, just some sweets and 1 scratch card and including them in a mini hamper with the vodka, jam, chutney and maybe cookies.

I have the small Ikea jars that I was going to make jars of love & kisses, the jelly sweets, but not sure if you can buy these without all the other sweets in the bag, because I will have to eat whats left. Is there somewhere online to get these wholesale a huge jar maybe?, I know there is lots of retro sweets websites but I think they are really expensive.

I'm also thinking of doing the snowman soup (is that what its called?)

So my question is as a novice what recipes would you recommend for the jams & chutney and what is the tastiest vodka to make.... and the easiest, i think the bottles SeaBee posted , Asda vinegar will be ideal for the vodka, does it take long to get the smell out?

Also do you think I could do these and stick to the £12 budget per person, I think I would have around 10 mini hampers to make and for my mum and my aunt I'd include some extras.

The link that got-it-spend (278) posted for the jams jar I thought looked quite good, £12.50 for 25 is this a good price, £7 postage tho.....the jars looked nice and you can choose which colour of lid, Gold would be good for Xmas.

I have rambled a bit have'nt I , SORRY

fedupandskint

Sorry for the delay, just popped back on now

got-it-spend-it wrote: »

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

The granola will be gifts x 2 and a lot for me I'll present it in a large clip jar eg bought last year from £1 from Mr A with a tag attached to it saying what it is, when to eat it by and what goes with it. The recipe is from Nigella's Christmas Book, first time I've made this one. Last year made a version from Feast (?) which was nice and tasty

jollymummy wrote: »

Fedupand skint - what do you put in your Winter compote? sounds nice.

This is made up of dried fruit eg apricots, prunes and figs soaked in a mixture of honey, orange juice and tea and then kept in clip jars etc. I made this for the first time last November and finally got around to eating it in July - it had kept well and was lovely with a banana and yoghurt.

This year I'm making some more and will eat it sooner, I was a bit dubious last year. The recipe is from the River Cottage Preserves Book

hogshead

Nicola do you have a market stall in your area?
We have an indoor all year round & they have the jars of sweets so you can buy only the jellies you want & I'm certain I've see the lips & hearts. failing that a cash & carry ( if you know someone who has access ) as I get the tuck sweets & they are def in there.