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

springdreams

Or a movie hamper with a cinema voucher or Lovefilm voucher?

xcarlyx

I got my parents christmas presents back in september

Still gotta got my other halfs presents yet. he "likes" expensive clothing e.g t-shirts at £75 which makes me feel vile and like hes got too much money.

springdreams

I found a snow flake air freshener for the car for anyone doing car hampers. This one is £1 delivered. I've seen them for close to £5 in a few places:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fragranced-Magic-Tree-Hanging-Freshener/dp/B000ETAGYC/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1351409041&sr=8-13

xcarlyx

springdreams wrote: »

I found a snow flake air freshener for the car for anyone doing car hampers. This one is £1 delivered. I've seen them for close to £5 in a few places:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fragranced-Magic-Tree-Hanging-Freshener/dp/B000ETAGYC/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1351409041&sr=8-13

There cute Wish i had a car.

autumngirl

I went onto Amazon to look at the snowflake air freshener which springdreams mentioned (thank you!) but then ended up buying one of those California Car Scents air fresheners in a can, in Cinnamon Apple 'flavour' from ebay instead! Has anyone tried that one? Fingers-crossed it's nice.

MrsNoir

Morning everyone Now this is my kind of thread! I joined ages ago but was always more of a lurker than a poster!

Im going to go to Primark this morning, and then give this thread a good read when I get back, its full of fab ideas you awesome people ;D

Yesterday I sorted through my Christmas recipes a bit, then my husband lit the fire and as I was feeling thoroughly Xmassy I had some mulled wine! Tonight I hope to make a start on some wrapping, as usually I dont bother until xmas eve and then spend the entire evening cursing why on earth I didnt start sooner.....

Hope you all have a lovely day!

ellie9ellie

springdreams wrote: »

I found a snow flake air freshener for the car for anyone doing car hampers. This one is £1 delivered. I've seen them for close to £5 in a few places:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fragranced-Magic-Tree-Hanging-Freshener/dp/B000ETAGYC/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1351409041&sr=8-13

That would be me - thank you x I ordered a car map and Top Gear DVD as suggested as well xx

I bought a red storage box from B&M yesterday for £2.99 - it's not massive but it fits my hamper stuff in and I'm going to put cellophane around it - if I can work out later I'll post some piccies. I need to get some celephane bags to put the pocorn kernels in.

Picked up to more Christmas throws from Primark yesterday £5 each and M&S have quite a few half price offers on. I picked up there Symphony of Fizziness for £5 instead of £10 and their mini stacking boxes for £5 instead of £10 (Chocolate Santa, large chocolate buttons and chocolate snowballs). Also picked up a lovely candle from TK Max for £3.99.
:T

autumngirl

Hi MrsNoir! Sounds like you had a lovely time yesterday. I'd love a fire to snuggle up by. I live in a period property but sadly all the open fireplaces were closed up long before I moved in.

Have fun in Primark. I spent way too much last time I was there as they had loads of lovely Christmassy things - it's so easily done!

cornishorchid

spacecadet1 wrote: »

Does that mean cheaper choc doesn't need tempering? Is it right that to temper the choc, you can melt a certain amount in a Bain Marie then add a few more pieces of the choc & that reduces the temperature (or something!:p) rather than having to spread the melted choc over something cold? Or do you need to get a thermometer & make the choc a certain temperature? Does that even make sense? :eek:

Also, if you use cheaper choc & don't temper it, will it still crack like choc & not melt as soon as you hold it or do you need to temper it to do this?

TIA for any suggestions (hoping to make some this year too :j)

Well some does and some doesn't, but if you want the 'crack' you will need to temper it.
Yes you're right with regards to tempering, make sure you hold some of the bar back which you are melting to temper it with.
they say you don't need to thermometer now, just melt the choc and then take off the heat and add the extra chocolate (usually around 10%-15%) and mix until melted..this should temper it, but chocolate is very fickle and will just decide to not temper when it doesn't feel like it!!!

fab idea Own My Own about using Orange zest too, and love the freeze dried berries...they are sooo expensive if you just buy them on their own! we make a rocky road 'bark' which is honeycomb, marshmallows and fudge..thats my fave!

Possession

Very interesting! I made (what I thought were) lovely slabs and shapes last year but they got a horrible bloom and I couldn't use them. I used Thorntons chocolate (or rather the huge easter eggs when they were reduced to £1). I didn't actually check the cocoa butter content, but I did do the 'easy' tempering method of adding some unmelted and it still didn't work. Shame as the choc drops particularly looked so pretty.

OwnmyOwn your slabs are lovely.

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, 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