Christmas Baking 2011

natlie

Hi
I have made 8 mini puddings - for xmas hampers - and I used delias recipe but I replace the candied peel with dried cranberries and I put more fresh zest in, I do the same with the mincemeat - I dont cook mine its got a ton of cointreau in it :beer: I have made marmalade, jam and chutney (River Cottage Chutney recipe) I am about to start on cake and will be doing fudge, biscuits, flapjacks, cranberry & cinnamon granola and truffles closer to xmas.

Over xmas I use delias book to do party foods sausage rolls, cheese and onion rolls, chestnut choc log, parsnip roulade etc

Mrs_Money

I'm thinking of adding small bags of home-made fudge to my Christmas gifts. I have a jam thermometer, but it's so long since I made any fudge (decades) that I cannot remember whether I used evaporated or condensed milk!
I've just googled quite a few recipes and it seems that they are split evenly between those that use evaporated and those that use condensed.
Anybody know which to use and why?

punkpink

Mrs_Money wrote: »

I'm thinking of adding small bags of home-made fudge to my Christmas gifts. I have a jam thermometer, but it's so long since I made any fudge (decades) that I cannot remember whether I used evaporated or condensed milk!
I've just googled quite a few recipes and it seems that they are split evenly between those that use evaporated and those that use condensed.
Anybody know which to use and why?

I made fudge for the first time this week and i just used milk, not condensed or evaporated. This was the recipe;
http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/513459

Although i needed mine to brown off slightly more, so it was a little pale when it set, but apparently it tasted great! I have been asked to make more!

hollieinbloom

This year will be my first year of being money smart and growing into my cooking testing. I have always bought mince pies already made from Tesco and other treats for when guests visit over Christmas to put on the table.
This month I've been testing lots of different recipes out! I have made coconut macaroons which were so easy to make! Although I swapped the ground almonds for some self raising flour. I also dipped the bottoms of them in chocolate and they we're wonderful!. here's the recipe i used:
http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/coconut-macaroons-145

Then I've made a Cherry and Coconut cake (my mums recipe) which I've made several times and i'm going to be making another mid December for visitors.
I've also decided to make some christmas biscuits (choc chip, vanilla and some peppermint) with my 2 and a half year old daughter. She loves cutting shapes out in her playdoh so i'm sure this will be a breeze to do! and have some fun at the same time
i want to make some treats for gifts also for the family, but knowing what to make is becoming a struggle!.
x

Lizbetty

Mrs_Money wrote: »

I'm thinking of adding small bags of home-made fudge to my Christmas gifts. I have a jam thermometer, but it's so long since I made any fudge (decades) that I cannot remember whether I used evaporated or condensed milk!
I've just googled quite a few recipes and it seems that they are split evenly between those that use evaporated and those that use condensed.
Anybody know which to use and why?

I make the Nestle Scottish Tablet fudge using condensed milk. It goes down quite well! I was going to post a link but the Nestle site appears to be down.

I'm not sure whether the condensed milk will always make the fudge more solid and crumbly, or if that's to do with the preparation. But that's how we tend to prefer it.

It was incredibly easy to make, no checking temperatures and suchlike. And it's much requested by friends!

http://aweebitofcooking.co.uk/2007/11/28/tablet-a-scottish-sweetie/
This was the nearest I could find to the recipe. The Nestle site is still down!

ps I used an electric whisk to beat it. Saves your arms

Well_Preserved

This is a recipe I've used with children where I work. We have taken a basket of these to a local home for the elderly. I'm not sure where it originated but can't claim it as mine. They're easy to make & cook a bit like muffins - then you could decorate like small Christmas Cakes, or ice however you like. Hope it's useful to someone! BTW you might be able to stretch it to more than 10 & I'm not sure it takes that long to cook - keep a close eye on them!

Individual Christmas Cakes

300g plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of mixed spice
225g margarine or butter
100g brown sugar
100g granulated sugar
1 dessertspoon black treacle
3 eggs
1/2 grated lemon rind and juice
300g mixed fruit
30g chopped cherries
3 tablespoons of milk

Sieve the flour, salt, baking powder and spice into a bowl. Cream the margarine and sugar in another bowl. Beat the eggs and add a little at a time to the margarine and sugar. Fold in the flour and then add the fruit, treacle, lemon juice and rind. Add milk if required to give a dropping consistency.
Spoon into large muffin cases.
Cook at 150’c for 30-40 minutes
Leave to cool.
Decorate with ready to use icing and small cake decorations.
This mixture makes about 10 small cakes.

XYZ1000

Hi never made a xmas cake before!! Just wondering if you cook in advance
do they freeze ok?

Well_Preserved

Do you mean a traditional Christmas cake, where you either soak the fruit in alcohol or 'feed' it with alcohol once made (or both!)? You shouldn't need to freeze these. I think you could if you wanted to, though.

The muffin style cakes I posted above wouldn't keep in the same way so freezing would be a good option for them I think.

moonpixiewitch

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

have just done another batch of spicy pickled pineapple.

Pretty please , could you tell me how you make this ? my husband adores anything spicy and loves pineapple , so this would make a fabulous addition to his 'homemade hamper' .

punitalemon

It is a great Christmas cake for me...

Ingredients:

* 8oz butter
* 6oz brown sugar
* 8oz self raising flour
* 1 tsp mixed spice
* 1 ½ llbs dried mixed fruits
* 1 tbsp treacle
* 2 tbsp brandy
* 2 tsp lemon juice
* 2oz ground almonds

Method:

# Grease and line cake tin.Heat oven 150c gas 2.beat butter and sugar until pale and creamy,amd mixture drops easily from the spoon,beat in eggs one at a time with 1tbsp flour,add treacle,brandy,flour,mixed spice,lemon juice and fruit mix together.Place cake in tin and smooth top.Bake in oven for 3hrs 45mins.Cool in tin and turn out onto cooling rack.

# Cover cake with marzipan leave to dry for a day.

# To make icing sugar sieve icing sugar into bowl and make a well,pour beaten egg whites into well and beat thoroughly until snowy white and the icing stands in peaks, use to cover christmas cake (to make the snow with the rounded side of the spoon bowl press into icing and flick sideways to form little peaks top with the snowman).