Old style Preparations for Christmas 2011!!

MaggieBaking

A zester will do a much better job than the grater if you can afford it. The Microplane zesters are expensive but the best brand for the grater types.

This is the one I have, but it produces thick zest that you can see and feel as you eat it. http://www.amazon.co.uk/OXO-Good-Grips-Lemon-Zester/dp/B00004OCJO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316120629&sr=8-1

Skint_Catt

Thanks - that looks good - I need to pop out tomorrow so will see if I can pick one up
C xx

findingmyfeet

hi all,

having a productive morning today-first batch of chutney bubbling away in the pan and scones for the weekend in the oven.

off to town later to hunt for bargains to go in my dd's hamper later and considering a little hamper for my friend. my friend has had a tough year moneywise, cant afford to go out or anything much else either so i didnt want her worrying about expensive gifts for us for christmas. i told her this year im doing a fair bit of home made gifts to keep the cost down to a minimum and would she mind if we did the same with her and her dh. Her face never flinched-thought id may have caused offence but then she broke a huge grin and admitted they were dreading the cost. so now im sharing ideas of here with her to help because she doesnt have a computer .
any way i was thinking of a mini hamper with hm damson gin, hm chocs/fudge and possibly an invitation to dine out at mine anytime they like over xmas and new year - what does everyone think?? or i could just put loads of jars of hm stuff in a hamper instead.

need to check the oven x

Kitchenbunny

I think this will be a good thread to have a good read through sat down with a notebook. I've started my prep for Christmas 2011 by:

Finding the offers for items I know will get used/eaten at Christmas and getting them in - slowly so as not to notice the major increase in the shopping bill. For example, I've a box of chocolate biscuits in from Mr M, and a big tube of those disc-shaped crisps in a tube because they have been on half price offers. I'm sure these will be decreased in cost closer to the time, but the time spent queuing and getting irritated because of lots of people with the same idea makes me much prefer this way of doing things.

Starting to batch cook homemade "ready meals" so I don't have to go into the shops on the run up to Christmas unless for things like milk or salad.

Looking for recipes for things I normally buy. I'm not sure if I can cut the cost by making biscuits for cheese from scratch as opposed to buying them, but I want to have a go and then freeze the dough ready to bake closer to the time. I've already searched out recipes for poppy seed thins (good recipe in the latest Mr M magazine), sea salt water biscuits, oaty biscuits, and plain good old fashioned cheese biscuits.

Present-wise, I've been on the lookout for little bits and pieces all year, so I'm not too behind. Just need to get organised with regards to who gets what.

I bought my cards and wrapping paper in the January sales and had lots left over from last year, so that's another thing off the list.

For me, this year is about being as relaxed over the Christmas period as possible. I want to enjoy it. I'll start getting the main meal in when we know what's going on. It's all in hand.

KB xx

Reverbe

Love all these prep threads. Good luck everyone. Luckily I have zero prep as we no longer do Xmas x

Taadaa

I am learning to knit, so everyone can expect a knitted square from me this Christmas :rotfl:

No idea what we are doing as FIL died earlier this year so it will be MILs first xmas by herself. SIL still lives at home but she will probably want to go her own thing. Would be better if we go there I guess as that means we can leave when we want...not so easy to get rid of visitors :eek:

kippers

I have a question regarding xmas cakes....#

A couple of years ago i bought a small loose bottem cake tin, approx 3 inch across. I want to make little xmas cakes in it but i haven't got a clue how long to cook each cake for? How do i work this out?

Thanks for any replies

Skint_Catt

For 2" this says an hour - 30mins @ 150deg & 30 mins @ 120deg, so maybe just over an hour for a 3"?
http://www.lindyscakes.co.uk/Blog/2009/05/19/baking-mini-fruit-cakes/

Though this one says 30 mins @ 150degs
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2562/little-frosty-christmas-cakes

Sorry - not a lot of help, but I'd probably go for about 45mins and check them at that stage with a skewer.

C xx

SnowBelle_2

findingmyfeet wrote: »

hi all,

having a productive morning today-first batch of chutney bubbling away in the pan and scones for the weekend in the oven.

off to town later to hunt for bargains to go in my dd's hamper later and considering a little hamper for my friend. my friend has had a tough year moneywise, cant afford to go out or anything much else either so i didnt want her worrying about expensive gifts for us for christmas. i told her this year im doing a fair bit of home made gifts to keep the cost down to a minimum and would she mind if we did the same with her and her dh. Her face never flinched-thought id may have caused offence but then she broke a huge grin and admitted they were dreading the cost. so now im sharing ideas of here with her to help because she doesnt have a computer .
any way i was thinking of a mini hamper with hm damson gin, hm chocs/fudge and possibly an invitation to dine out at mine anytime they like over xmas and new year - what does everyone think?? or i could just put loads of jars of hm stuff in a hamper instead.

need to check the oven x

Hi,
I think that your first idea about the mini-hamper is a lovely idea.
I wish I had friends who would give me damson gin.

My SIL was deeply offended & took to her bed last year when we said we could'nt buy too many gifts.
but as we said to each other she'll get over it.
And sure enough she did.:)

ragz_2

Flibsey wrote: »

Anyone looking for jars or bottles, this place is AMAZING service and th products are fab. no I'm not connected with them, just REALLY impressed with my order

http://www.colouredbottles.co.uk/store/

Ahhhh, excellent. Must repress the urge to fill my house with pretty little bottles until I decide on a purpose for them...