Old style Preparations for Christmas 2010!!

Birdy12

I am liking this thread! Can somebody tell me how I subscribe to it? I've not subscribed before and can't find a 'linky'.

Cheers, Birdy.

Cheapskate

Click on thread tools above top post, then subscribe to this thread, then add subscription when new window appears. HTH.
A xo

cornishlady

been getting some good idea from this thread ,need to start writing some list, i've always tried to keep my eyes open for a bargin so have some bits pyt away .i like the idea of the pots of gold and just got back from Morrisons & bought 4 packs of werthers on half price offer .one pack already opened to test as they were with a creamy filling and i havent tried these before;)also saw some othersweets to put in so will keep an eye on for when there on offer

Clurbur85

cornishlady wrote: »

been getting some good idea from this thread ,need to start writing some list, i've always tried to keep my eyes open for a bargin so have some bits pyt away .i like the idea of the pots of gold and just got back from Morrisons & bought 4 packs of werthers on half price offer .one pack already opened to test as they were with a creamy filling and i havent tried these before;)also saw some othersweets to put in so will keep an eye on for when there on offer

I had such fun with pots of gold last year and everybody loved them!!!! You can spend as much or as little as you want... to be honest I went a little overboard, but everybody was made up with them, so who cares!

xxx

melvis

Oooooh a Christmas Prep thread!! Just what I need!!

Really need to get organised as aside from the usual Christmas-ness, we're also have a Christmas Family party the weekend before the big day :eek:

and I haven't saved ANYTHING this year :eek: although I have been overpaying some bills so will have less to pay in December :T

I don't have any kids of my own, but buy for 6 children (nieces/nephews etc on both mine & Mr Melvis's sides). I got a few bargains in the Next sale last month, which I've put away already but will have to keep my eye open for bargains and pick them up as and when I can

xx

kirstyreanne

Hi Patchwork Quilt,

Could you please post your recipe for Blackberry Jam? I would like to add them to the hampers I'm going to make this year.

Last year, I did the same for Xmas presents & they were very well received. The favourite item, for which I have requests for this year is the Christmas Cake I made using the be-ro recipe - https://www.be-ro.com which as well as tasting scrummy was really easy to make.

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

Will be watching this thread with interest. Amongst our family and friends, home-made gifts are like Marmite - people either love them or are definitely unimpressed by the effort. The most surprising one was my brother, who was into clubbing and exotic holidays, raving about my blackberry jam.

This year, I'll be giving home made fudge to female friends as a treat, crocheted blankets to a couple of people who like snuggling up in front of the tv and preserves to my brother. I try not to give people the kind of thing that they make for themselves. One of our best presents is a traditional, home made Christmas pudding from a friend, which I return with a batch of shortbread.

morg_monster

Hi,
So far in the last week or so I have made blackberry jam, and chutney, and sweet chilli jam with stuff from our own garden. They were fairly small batches so I am going to be doing more now I know the recipes work, especially the chilli jam which was a Nigella recipe. One of my tomato plants collapsed with 3.5kg of green tomatoes on yesterday, so tomorrow's job is a huge batch of green tomato chutney! I got a load of random jars off ebay for £3 so am having to grit my teeth over my usual strong desire for everything to be identical but when you have to pay 25-50p for a jar the moneysaving aspect reduces a bit!

I'm going to be sewing some bags for a few people as well I think and I'm going to try and sew some fabric "baskets" to give away the jams and chutneys in which can then be used as rather cute storage. Will help get my fabric stash down a bit as well!

I have made turkish delight in the past which is absolutely yummy and perfect for christmas. It also tastes a hell of a lot nicer than shop bought stuff. I'll be looking for recipes for sweets that can be stored in a jar without becoming a sticky mess, as some of the jars from the ebay lady have plastic lids which can't be sterilized. Think i may be trying the fudges - they look awesome!

One page I have had bookmarked since the spring is this one
http://www.momadvice.com/blog/2009/11/gifts-you-can-make-delicious-hot-drink.html
Basically recipes for cocoa mix and a chai tea mix, which like the cookie or muffin dry mixes you put in a jar as a gift, and then they are made up by adding just hot water. Unfortunately it is a US site so some of the ingredients are not familiar really, but I have found out that the "choc fudge pudding mix" in the cocoa mix is chocolate angel delight essentially, and I think most of the ingredients we can get here, although I haven't found any vanilla coffee mate here. I'm thinking of doing a trial to see how expensive it works out and what it tastes like...

oh well anyway, thanks for getting me all excited about christmas in AUGUST!!!!! grr!! :-)

pollyskettle

morg_monster wrote: »

One page I have had bookmarked since the spring is this one
http://www.momadvice.com/blog/2009/11/gifts-you-can-make-delicious-hot-drink.html
Basically recipes for cocoa mix and a chai tea mix, which like the cookie or muffin dry mixes you put in a jar as a gift, and then they are made up by adding just hot water. Unfortunately it is a US site so some of the ingredients are not familiar really, but I have found out that the "choc fudge pudding mix" in the cocoa mix is chocolate angel delight essentially, and I think most of the ingredients we can get here, although I haven't found any vanilla coffee mate here. I'm thinking of doing a trial to see how expensive it works out and what it tastes like...

oh well anyway, thanks for getting me all excited about christmas in AUGUST!!!!! grr!! :-)

How about buying a normal jar of coffee mate and sticking a vanilla pod in it for a few weeks - it's how vanilla sugar is made so I can't see why it wouldn't work!

EDIT: Thanks for the linkie - duly bookmarked

Ladyhawk

Any recipes for mince meat?

kippers

morg_monster wrote: »

Hi,


I have made turkish delight in the past which is absolutely yummy and perfect for christmas. It also tastes a hell of a lot nicer than shop bought stuff.

Will you post the recipe for turkish delight as i'd love to make it for my sister as she loves it...thanks