Old style Preparations for Christmas 2010!!

hellsbells45

Hi, wonder if any of your can help. Have been inspired by your posts and have decided to make home made tote bags with gifts inside, ie, sister, (who needs gluten free) cookie in a jar, poss muffin in a jar and something else. SIL some sock wool and knitting pattern, Mum, DVD, puzzle book, box of chocs and maybe fleece throw (do I make one £3 a meter or do I buy one from Primark.
Have also made Lemon curd - it is delish....would like to use it to make gourmet hampers for friends but it has a short life. However, I know you can freeze it. If I made a batch up and froze it could I defrost near to time and bottle then? Also have 4 large punnets of tomatoes can anyone direct to the appropriate link for suggestions for tomato relish/ketchup. ANd finally, friend is bringing me large bag of backing apples, any suggestions as to what would be a suitable make with these for the gourmet hampers?
Thanks for the inspriation.

TeegansNan

misscousinitt wrote: »

Got 2 more presents from our Arts & Crafts Fair on Sunday; and one with my Lakeland order.

Bought a birthday present too - November is terrible for birthdays!

Thinking of making a Christmas Cake this year - Grandma's recipe - haven't done it for a couple of years - have a cake board in the cupboard ready.

Going to put a foodie hamper together for my Mum and Dad - done this before, but not for a couple of years as Dad hasn't had much appetite. Will start to get bits in my next big shop. Going to do a photo in a frame for Dad of me and him at my Wedding earlier in the year - just need to find a nice frame - don't know what to buy him these days.

I got to that stage with my Mum - so I used to give her "vouchers" - for example for a day of spring cleaning, to get down curtains and wash them, to paint ceilings, wallpaper a room etc etc. She used to love that because it also meant a time where she could have my company for a long time!!! Depends what time you have and what you are good at, but it gives you an idea.:j

TeegansNan

hellsbells45 wrote: »

Hi, wonder if any of your can help. Have been inspired by your posts and have decided to make home made tote bags with gifts inside, ie, sister, (who needs gluten free) cookie in a jar, poss muffin in a jar and something else. SIL some sock wool and knitting pattern, Mum, DVD, puzzle book, box of chocs and maybe fleece throw (do I make one £3 a meter or do I buy one from Primark.
Have also made Lemon curd - it is delish....would like to use it to make gourmet hampers for friends but it has a short life. However, I know you can freeze it. If I made a batch up and froze it could I defrost near to time and bottle then? Also have 4 large punnets of tomatoes can anyone direct to the appropriate link for suggestions for tomato relish/ketchup. ANd finally, friend is bringing me large bag of backing apples, any suggestions as to what would be a suitable make with these for the gourmet hampers?


Thanks for the inspriation.

Apple and sage jelly is delish with pork, there are many recipes on tinternet .

hellsbells45

TeegansNan wrote: »

Apple and sage jelly is delish with pork, there are many recipes on tinternet .

I know, just can' decide, they all look wonderful:) Think it might be tomatoe chucney and apple chuckney
Thanks.

misscousinitt

Thanks TeegansNan - the voucher idea is a good one, but will have to find something other than cleaning etc... - did alot of cleaning for Mum when Dad was in hospital a couple of years ago...they really let the house go to pot - so I dare not offer cleaning services as I think I would have to have the next 6 months of work, just to get it up to scratch! Got Mum's pressie for this year already, but will have to get my thinking cap on for next year. Cheers.

Hellsbells45 - search for chilli jam on the bbc good food web-site there is a great recipe there that goes with chicken skewers I think it is - anyway- disregard the chicken part and make a triple or quadruple quantity of the receipe (each quantity uses 250g tomatoes) then pot in sterilised jars - keeps for months...

EstherH

Hi, can I join in. As I have said on other threads, I am not crafty, able to sew knit etc., also, people in our family don't tend to like chutneys etc., so the homemade stuff like that is out. Ideas, for parents/grandparents are difficult. They don't need food hampers as have enough money - they aren't struggling though not flush if you know what I mean. A couple of years ago we did baskets with nice biscuits, tea, coffee, drinking choc, pannetone, china mug etc etc in. they looked lovely, but can't really do them again. Really stumped.

On a positive note, I got a magazine subscription for brother last year with Tesco clubcard deals and they have sent me a renewal with a buy one get one free deal so will do that and get the other one for Ds as an extra. Have looked through clubcard mag for ideas but everything seems to be vastly overpriced compared to the real price, that it doesn't seem worth doing that way. For example, there was a four pack garden book set for £10 of clubcard vouchers which means £40 at 4x. When I looked on Amazon I could get them for under a fiver each.

Has anyone used those reading lights that clip on to the top of a book? That could be an idea as I have ordered a book for my mum. My dad objects to her reading in bed as the light keeps him awake. Does anyone know if they are any good, and if so, what other things could go with it and the book to make a themed set?

dreaming

EstherH wrote: »

Has anyone used those reading lights that clip on to the top of a book? That could be an idea as I have ordered a book for my mum. My dad objects to her reading in bed as the light keeps him awake. Does anyone know if they are any good, and if so, what other things could go with it and the book to make a themed set?

DD bought me one of those lights a couple of years ago and it is great - especially in a powercut when you realise that you can't really do anything else! How about some fingerless gloves to keep her hands warm while she reads, and a really nice bookmark? I am putting a personalised book stamp on my list this year as although I don't mind lending books to friends, I do like to get them back as well. Ooh, and some mints to suck as well.

EstherH

Some good ideas there, thankyou dreaming.

greent

I'd second how good the lights are - DD has one for in the car when it's dark.

TeegansNan

parsonswife8 wrote: »

What about heel balm, shea butter, fluffy bed socks, chocolate truffles, paperback book, wheat bags, relaxation cd, scented room spray, scented candles....

Matalan have some smashing ladies bedsocks -2 pairs for £3!!:rotfl: