❄❄ Let It Snow ❄❄ :: Christmas 2012 Chatter Thread

pinknfluffy28

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Ok Chocolate slabs are in the fridge.

Here are some pics


200g melted and poured in small cake mould.


Melted white chocolate dolloped on top.


Use knifed and swirl white choc around.


Add some decoration.


Ready for the fridge.

---

My take on this -
http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/christmas-gifts-for-kids-P400066/



Cost about £1. After purchase of moulds.

what a fab idea! i would love to make something similar to add to hampers. this may be a daft question but how far in advance can i make them? some of my hampers need to be delivered very early december, but of course wont be opened until 25th!

msgigglewick

love the chocolate slabs! we're doing our own halloween and christmas ones too love playing with chocolate ... and eating it of course lol.

Sorted through a handful of xmas pressies today, just to find the bday pressies i need next week.. is it bad i didn't remember buying half of them :S and that was only one part of the bedroom not the pressies cupboards yet :S oops. ho hum teehee

Own_My_Own

afeitar wrote: »

On My Own - they look fab!

I've been doing some crochet tonight to get back into the swing of things. I want to make my own Christmas wreath, based on this: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2012/05/may-rose-wreath-ta-dah.html but with christmassy colours and crocheted holly, etc. Maybe some bells too! Getting all excited and planning now.

afeitarThat is beautiful. I am sure it will look great in Christmassy colours.

It is one of my aims to learn how to crochet. I was only looking at tutorials on youtube last night.

That has given me a even greater urge to learn. Definitely a site to save.
Thanks

Vintage_queen_72

katy1987 wrote: »

i haven't read back so apologies if these are old news - but £1.99 christmas pinnies! aaargh i want them all!

http://www.hm.com/gb/subdepartment/HOME?Nr=90001

Oh wow thanks for this have ordered 2 one for my dd and one for me . They also have lovely cushions kids bedding and all sorts of christmas stuff :T sorry I do get excited and the aprons are a bargain !!!!

zippybungle

http://asda.scene7.com/is/image/Asda/5053120693336?hei=1800&wid=1400&resmode=sharp&op_usm=1.1,0.5,0,0&defaultimage=default_details_George_rd

Just spotted these Boys snowman tops on Asda website, only £2.50 for ages 4 - 14!
Just ordered one for my son.

Zippy x

cornishorchid

Hi All
Loving the chocolate slabs!
We actually run our own chocolate factory (not quite as glam as it sounds..especially when we are busy!) so thought you might all like a little advice when your making the slabs.
Firstly, dont buy expensive chocolate, as this will only contain cocoa butter and will require re-tempering when you melt it (much more trouble than its worth) and when it sets you will get a bloom (thats the white blotches you get on the top) its completely safe to eat but doesnt look too appetising.
If you wanted to flavour the chocolate use only oils, as any flavouring which water in it will seize the chocolate and will make it go rock hard and grainy.
same goes when your melting it, if you doing it in the microwave, do it in short bursts as it burns easily, and if youre doing it in a bain marie (glass bowl over a simmering pan) make sure no water touches the chocolate.

If you have any other questions, I will do my best to help you!
HTH

Hanley25

katy1987 wrote: »

i haven't read back so apologies if these are old news - but £1.99 christmas pinnies! aaargh i want them all!

I just bought 2. I wanted 3 but noticed that when you put more than 2 in the basket the price changes to £7.99 for the 3rd apron. I'm gonna pop into my local store and see if they have them there to pick up an extra one.

Own_My_Own

pinknfluffy28 wrote: »

what a fab idea! i would love to make something similar to add to hampers. this may be a daft question but how far in advance can i make them? some of my hampers need to be delivered very early december, but of course wont be opened until 25th!

They should last if you make them in mid to late Nov. Just tell the recipient to keep hamper in a cool place.

I suppose they would last if you made them now. We buy shop bought chocolates now that are not really wrapped tight. You could store them in an tupperware container or similar until you need them. Just put a piece of kitchen towel between them.

Melon78

Not sure how to add a picture, but I had a trial run of peppermint bark today with my DD. Melted white chocolate, poured onto baking parchment on a baking tray, crushed some candy canes and sprinkled them on top - in the fridge to set and then broken into random pieces it was in the jar for approx 2 minutes as DH, my 2 sons and my brother came home from watching football and devoured the lot! It was lovely! My brother has now requested some or Christmas lol!

Am planning on it for teacher pressies - christmas mugs with a cello bag of peppermint bark inside should be fab!

Own_My_Own

cornishorchid wrote: »

Hi All
Loving the chocolate slabs!
We actually run our own chocolate factory (not quite as glam as it sounds..especially when we are busy!) so thought you might all like a little advice when your making the slabs.

Firstly, dont buy expensive chocolate

If you wanted to flavour the chocolate use only oils, as any flavouring which water in it will seize the chocolate and will make it go rock hard and grainy.


If you have any other questions, I will do my best to help you!
HTH

Thanks cornishorchid It rather flattering a PROPER chocolate maker thinking they look Ok.:D

As you can see in the last picture, I used Lidl chocolate. It's 36p for a 100g bar.

I try to use natural colouring and flavouring where I can.
To make orange I grate the peel of an orange and dry it in the microwave , then grind it to a powder as stated in the link.

http://eyecandy.nanakaze.net/?p=385

Some of them are a little to much for me.:rotfl:
Although I do use the dried berries from Special K.