Old style Preparations for Christmas 2010!!

couteaux

Fab ideas here!

This is the first year I feel quite organised as I have been squirrelling away gifts since the sales last year where I picked up a few good things from Boots & other sales. Also just got a couple more as Boots had/have? 3 for 2 on selected children's toys - I had to get my son his b'day present so thought I'd make use of it and buy 2 more. Love a bargain

I already have some good pressies for son (5) Daughter (3) and a few other bits. We'll be telling most people that its just gifts for the children this year as I'll be on maternity leave and can't afford to buy for lots of adults. But will be making up homemade goodies to give as little presents.

Planning on making:

Chutney (hopefully using up the glut of courgettes!)
Plum Jam
Shortbread
Malteaser rocky road

Also need to find some good diabetic recipes for some family members.

I enjoyed putting together hampers last year, so will see what I can do - think the beginning of my maternity leave (pre baby arrival) will have a couple of Xmas shopping days while I am able to get out

misscousinitt

What a great thread....

I've been quietly getting ready for Christmas as shopping in ernest doesn't really start till October - things just tend to creep up on you once the summer holidays are out of the way.

However, so far I have:

* Been putting £25 per month by in a savings account since January for pressies and £10 per month for Christmas Food.
* Been collecting Boots points - with the wedding and the honeymoon I had quite a big spend so the points have really ramped up this year - great for stocking filler presents.
* Just started doing surveys on Valued Points, if I just get 1 voucher before Christmas it will help - hopefully much more for next year...
* We were given a £50 Waitrose voucher for a wedding pressie so we are keeping that for some nice Christmas Food and bits...
* Bought Mum's main pressie in March when I saw it.
* Have got a list I keep in my bag of pressies that people mention or adverts I see for things that might make good presents, then I look out for them and grab them when I see them.


Also, I make quite alot of chutneys, preserved lemons and biscotti etc for fundraising purposes on the lead up to Christmas, but usually keep a few back for pressies and own use.

ginnyknit

Just been in B &M their union jack biscuit tins are reduced to 1.00 for set of 2. thought they would be nice as a little hamper as they are very pretty.

Alwaysthebusybee

Hi,

I am too starting to think about Christmas and the fact I have 18 people to buy for is often quite hard.

I really like the idea of doing a foodie hamper for some family members but would appreciate some help on the chutney recipes and jam recipes. How do I sterlise jars and will be chutney/jam be ok until Christmas (Sorry but this will be my first attempt at home made gifts and don't want to give people mouldy gifts on Christmas Day):rotfl:

My main problem in my IL's they never seem to appreciate gifts however I am making some homemade calendars this year for them with family pictures in.

I am also thinking a bake in the bowl for my neice with a nice cookbook, an apron, mixing bowl, some wooden spoons etc etc.

I've yet to get started on OH's scarf and some other crocheted gifts.

Thanks for the inspiration and the help with the chutney / jams.

wssla00

ginnyknit wrote: »

Just been in B &M their union jack biscuit tins are reduced to 1.00 for set of 2. thought they would be nice as a little hamper as they are very pretty.

Brill! Will grab some today then! They are what I am putting the cakes in for presents!

wssla00

Alwaysthebusybee wrote: »

Hi,

would appreciate some help on the chutney recipes and jam recipes. How do I sterlise jars and will be chutney/jam be ok until Christmas (Sorry but this will be my first attempt at home made gifts and don't want to give people mouldy gifts on Christmas Day):rotfl:

Chutneys take at least six weeks to mature and the longer you can leave them the better. Jam will be fine until at least christmas. I have six jars of seville marmalade made in Feb and they will be fine until at least feb next year.

Rule of thumb equal sugar to fruit weight and the juice of a lemon if the fruit is low in pectin. Plums and oranges are high in pectin so you don't need it in them.

To steralise jars, put them in a low oven on a baking tray and bake them until they are hot.

Enjoy I also have made pickled beetroot and am growing some flowers for flower pots for christmas- small terracotta pots are about 30p in homebase and i leave them out in the garden to get a bit grubby so they have the shabby chic look!

purpleheather2810

purpleheather2810 wrote: »

I have seen a link somewhere on OS! I cannot for the life of me think where!

It was for Christmas muffins, not cookies! Sorry!

VK-2008

thats fanstastic amount of planning you have done. i have got 6 nephws and 1 niece and one due in november, i have got all the kids presents in, got wrapping paper and tags and cards sorted. only thing to get them is box of sweeties nearer the time.
only have husband and mines parents and grandparents to get. sooooo far soooooo good.
unfortunatly i need to work xmas day BOOOOO!!!! so not looking forward to that but off for first 3 weeks of dec so spose i can live with that.
hope everyone start xmas shopping soon,
just think that is summer nearly over, it will be halloween candy in shops, fireworks and then xmas decorations all about and before you know it come boxing day you will see cadburys cream eggs in the shops which means easter and then bikini time for summer lol

Owl

OK, googled a bit more and found:

The metric kitchen - http://www.jsward.com/cooking/conversion.shtml, converts cups to metric weights for everything but it apparently only works for american recipes, which is great if you use
http://www.cookie-recipes.net/ for your cookie in a jar recipes.

1 litre jars are in @SDA for £1

So, I think I have solved the problem of only needing 500ml recipes in metric.

Owl x

bges

Does anyone have a recipe for truffles - I quite fancy making them for friends at Christmas time.:j