Challenge: Handmade 2010 xmas

gingerandrubarb

sarymclary wrote: »

I've found a lovely recipe for Melting Middle Truffles. http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8272/melting-middle-truffles
They look gorgeous :


The ingredient dulce de leche is easily found in the Co-Op, it's about £2 in cans by Carnation. If you want to make your own, you can use sweetened condensed milk, pierce the can, and simmer for an hour or so (longer if you want it thicker), as you would to make banoffee pie. I like the fact that these can be made a month in advance, and frozen.

I saw an image today of some snowy truffles, rolled in icing sugar, which had been put into pretty organza pouches, tied up with ribbon. I thought that would look quite luxurious as a gift.

that's exactly what mine look like, but i coat them in chocolate to give a hard shell and the melt in the mouth inside, I use a tub of double cream, 1 packet of chocolate and a bit of butter, melt together and fridge overnight, and it gives that inside, roll in cocoa, chopped almonds, pistachios, or dip in melted chocolate and fridge, everyone loved these, :T

she_grinch

Thankyou sarymclary these are really a really good idea and I am going to give them a go

sarah3891

Hi all,

I've been lurking a little while on this thread and am so inspired by all of you that I'd like to join in too!! Me and the boyf are saving for a house at the moment so every penny counts, and I'm trying to save as much money for what is usually a very expensive time of year for us!! :-)

I am hoping to make the following:

Lemon curds, Marmalade, Fruit jams
Chutneys and pickled onions (Dad will be in his element. Mum will not be amused....)
Soaps and bath bombs
Fudges and truffles
Iced cookies
Flavoured vodkas and sloe gin
Handmade jewellery for the girls (luckily I have most of the bits already lurking around from an age ago!!)
Cross-stitched decorations as little token gifts...

The one thing I'm struggling with is recipes for bath bombs and soaps - anyone got any good ones? I keep seeing people talking about them but as the thread is so long I keep missing them :-)

Is there any central place where people post all the links/recipes etc. for easy access? I'm gettin a bit over-excited and worried I might miss something!

The only thing that's worrying me is that I'll end up spending more on ingredients and bits than just buying soaps and jams etc. in the first place!! How has everyone else found this for keeping costs down??

Thanks,

Sarah

dramarama

Welcome Sarah3891!
You've definately come to the right place for ideas. Your ideas sound lovely!! I haven't really made much in the past for xmas but have always loved crafts/ artsy stuff and am gaining more confidence by joining in with the wonderful ideas in here and other threads. :j

When i need some inspiration I always turn to Martha!!! http://www.marthastewart.com/article/natural-beauties-bath-fizzies That link is for bath fizzers- I've not made them so don't know how hard they are to make...she has lots of crafty ideas though!!

I once made lemon curd in the microwave but can't seem to find the recipe- it was nice though!!

Keep on going, I'm sure everyone who receives your gifts will be very grateful.

jetty

sarymclary wrote: »

I've found a lovely recipe for Melting Middle Truffles. http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8272/melting-middle-truffles
They look gorgeous :


The ingredient dulce de leche is easily found in the Co-Op, it's about £2 in cans by Carnation. If you want to make your own, you can use sweetened condensed milk, pierce the can, and simmer for an hour or so (longer if you want it thicker), as you would to make banoffee pie. I like the fact that these can be made a month in advance, and frozen.

I saw an image today of some snowy truffles, rolled in icing sugar, which had been put into pretty organza pouches, tied up with ribbon. I thought that would look quite luxurious as a gift.

i'm Definitely going to do these! Thanks for the recipe

jetty

Well, i went to the pound shop, bought some xmas cards and also bucket loads of stuff i don't need for the kids :doh: forgot my lists :mad:

sarah3891

Thank you dramarama they look fab!!! I shall absolutley be trying those - and martha sure does have so many suggestions!! I can see this becoming an obsession.......And I just found the link to the jelly babies mould from another post so I am now ridiculously excited.....can't wait to get cracking!!!! :-) x

chasingsunshine_2

sarymclary wrote: »

I've found a lovely recipe for Melting Middle Truffles. http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8272/melting-middle-truffles
They look gorgeous :


The ingredient dulce de leche is easily found in the Co-Op, it's about £2 in cans by Carnation. If you want to make your own, you can use sweetened condensed milk, pierce the can, and simmer for an hour or so (longer if you want it thicker), as you would to make banoffee pie. I like the fact that these can be made a month in advance, and frozen.

I saw an image today of some snowy truffles, rolled in icing sugar, which had been put into pretty organza pouches, tied up with ribbon. I thought that would look quite luxurious as a gift.

I made these as a trial run last week and they are gorgeous! Messy to make and not all that MSE when you're done but probably still a bit cheaper than shop bought truffles

sarymclary

chasingsunshine wrote: »

I made these as a trial run last week and they are gorgeous! Messy to make and not all that MSE when you're done but probably still a bit cheaper than shop bought truffles

I made some truffles last Christmas, and they were so hard to shape, because they just seemed to melt all the time. I tried using 2 teaspoons, but even that was proving difficult. How did you make your's? I'm wondering if I should try getting a melon baller to use this year?

Hippychick

If anybody has virgin tv they are showing Kirsties Homemade Christmas on demand, just been watching to get inspired again