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

SeaBee

abdonz wrote: »

Hi how much vodka do u use in jam? I am a total novice at any homemade things like jams etc.
Also if anyone could give me a basic jam and xhutney recipe I would be very grateful xx.

Hi Abdonz - I added a good slug to the jar after I had filled it with jam then mixed it around with a sterile spoon. No idea if it will work or what it will taste like which is why I only made a few jars. If it's a success I will do more next year.

Nicola - I washed by bottles in hot water then put in a couple of teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda and topped up with more hot water, put the lid on overnight then washed again in the morning - voila, no more smell of vinegar :T

Anglea

mum2one, nothing would surprise me with your family LOL after reading your anecdotes, that must have been very funny to watch round the pool were you embarassed or were you laughing?

Love those jars of sweets Nicola and all the other ideas on here lately, I haven't been reading for a while, been trying to deal with an excess of fruit. Yesterday I got 2 large cartons of strawberries 20p each!

mum2one

Anglea wrote: »

mum2one, nothing would surprise me with your family LOL after reading your anecdotes, that must have been very funny to watch round the pool were you embarassed or were you laughing?

Love those jars of sweets Nicola and all the other ideas on here lately, I haven't been reading for a while, been trying to deal with an excess of fruit. Yesterday I got 2 large cartons of strawberries 20p each!

It was funny, but at the time I fancied the rear off the life guard..... he went down in my estimation after that, I was 17.......
Our family doesn't do things by half!! xx

SugarSpun

hogshead wrote: »

Tips on cleaning the lids to rid it of the smell? The jars will clean up nice in the dishwasher.

If the dishwasher doesn't do it you'll need to coat the insides of the lids with a very thin coating of wax

hogshead

Lids came up a treat, no smell at all. I made the chilli jelly today but my jars are slightly on the large side as I only managed to make it stretch to fill 3 jars. They are 350g or thereabouts so I need 300g max really.
I can still use the jars for buttons etc so not wasted & if I can't source smaller ones they'll get used for the gifts & I'll plan better next time.

nicola00

Just told my daughter this story and she thought it was hilarious, but she was full of questions. Lol

Was it all his teeth, did they float first, did he put them straight back in, did he wash them?...

I was like it's just a funny story an she was like I know but do you know the answers

mum2one wrote: »

digressing completely, but think the false teeth poems are brilliant, reminded me of an incident dad had many yrs ago, (just realised ova 20yrs ago - showing me age!!)

We were on holiday and he had coconut ice, this one bit was very chewy, got stuck to his false teeth, thought no more of, he came swimming with me, small outdoor pool, at the time was the focal point of the site and that was when we had summer in August!! - the piece of coconut ice came back to haunt him, he flicked it with his toungue, the teeth came out flying and landed on the bottom of the pool, the poor lifeguard had to get everyone out, I couldn't go under water - so this kid of about 10.... went and got his dad to come out with the goggles and dive to the bottom of the pool to get them.. (it was only 6ft deep!!) xx

mum2one

nicola00 wrote: »

Just told my daughter this story and she thought it was hilarious, but she was full of questions. Lol

Was it all his teeth, did they float first, did he put them straight back in, did he wash them?...

I was like it's just a funny story an she was like I know but do you know the answers

It was a complete top row, apparently when he was young he got beat up mistaken identity, think they just sank...... don't worry he did wash them!! xx

SugarSpun

Six jars of plum jam today. I'd feel like a domestic goddess but I'm exhausted now so we're having frozen food for dinner - fish fingers, scampi, oven chips and spinach-cheese potato pockets.

I did the washing up before I started, too, and now there's a jammy pan and the spoon/spatula/funnel soaking. They can alllll wait.

nicola00

He he oh dear I'll let her know, lol

mum2one wrote: »

It was a complete top row, apparently when he was young he got beat up mistaken identity, think they just sank...... don't worry he did wash them!! xx

SmlSave

Hi, how is everyone?

I've been ill and haven't made anything for a while, completely missed out on the local apples as they've all been had

I've been promised some quinces but I'm not sure what to do with them - any ideas?

Likewise with elderberries!