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

spacecadet1

pinknfluffy28 wrote: »

On my phone so cant copy & post link, but heres a breif run-down of what the site says:
melt two thirds of your chocolate, add remaining third to melted chocolate (tempering)
pour into moulds
leave to set at ROOM tempreture, to prevent any sweating of the chocolate
once completely set wrap your chocolates, individually into tin foil, making sure all the chocolate is securely covered
store in a tin (im using an old quality street tin)
wrap tin in an old, clean towel,
store in garage, or a similar cool dry place away from sunlight and damp
chocolates WILL keep fresh & perfect for upto 3 months!!!

im hoping their right cos ive got 3 slabs, 12 stirrers and six mini slabs sat "setting" on my kitchen worktop!!!
Im going to get mine out the week before xmas and try one of the mini slabs, if theyre ok i will then wrap in cellophane & package, if not...it'll be a mad dash to lidl & all hands on deck!!

Thanks, fingers crossed. I'm sure it'll be fine. I made a few a couple of weeks ago & have just left them loosely wrapped in a food bag & they're fine. They haven't bloomed & they have a definite snap so if that works, I'm sure storing them properly will definitely work

pinknfluffy28

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Owls are very popular this year. I have an owl umbrella from Primmy.

There are loads of bits you could get her.

http://www.poundland.co.uk/product-range/a-z/owl-money-bank/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chicks-Water-Bottle-Knitted-Cover/dp/B004D3OR2W

http://direct.asda.com/ASDA-Glitter-Owl-Christmas-Decoration/001869889,default,pd.html

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/the-pencil-case/wilko-pencil-case-felt-owl-design/invt/0318220/?htxt=SzX4uPvOjHnQ2Xw3%2FyzELfSpFnmTH6vQV0L6zKk3bX2OQGJrZGKSkfQgFuIkHFnDumTbT6xCa%2FpP%0AwDz8T0euAQ%3D%3D

http://shop.scholastic.co.uk/products/84333

http://www.flamingogifts.co.uk/Product-Deluxe_Silver_Owl_Lip_Balm-1456.cfm

http://www.flamingogifts.co.uk/Product-Owl_Bath_Set-1454.cfm

http://www.superdrug.com/princess-pink/princess-pink-shower-gel/invt/444696/&bklist=

I am sure Primmy had socks as well.

Poundland and 99p shop could have more bits in.

thanks omo, lots of ideas. not sure if she's into animals/birds but will run it past her mum, seems like an easy one to source! was toying with a gardening hamper as i know they have veggie patches...maybe i could include some of the owl items, a bird guide type book, garden creatures...ahh now the wheels are turning!

*Louise*

Been working on more stuff for my Christmas Fayre:

Christmas Stockings

Snowman Choc

Own_My_Own

*Louise* wrote: »

Been working on more stuff for my Christmas Fayre:

Christmas Stockings

Snowman Choc

Love the Snowman Choc

Great Blog:D

Nanamia

Glad you are feeling better Linky I think it was probably excitement ! I love your minty decorations definitely less is more. You are on a roll tonight with the owl links - truly living up to you name:)
Princesskitty thank you so much for your kind words. It really does make a difference:) I love this thread and the people it has attracted. Thank you Gleek for starting it off. It really is full of Christmas spirit and love:)
Louise what a lovely thing for a teenager to say. You are obviously doing a fantastic job:) Just popped on to read your other pages. Wow you are a busy lady:)
SandC what a ridiculous thing to say. Bah humbug. Don't let that put you off. I can see that many of our lovelies have already reassured you that you don't need to have children to enjoy Christmas! My babies are 29 and 25 but I will still be tracking Santa on Christmas Eve
Misspiggy your truffles sound yummy. I saw a recipe last year for truffles using condensed milk but can't remember where ( I hadn't met Linky then - so had nobody looking after me!)
Moneysavingmumofone I'm not going to make you emotional tonight but please don't put yourself down. You are always contributing brill ideas:) xxx
AAAB we've missed you. Is your hubby still home with you? Your house sounds lovely and you sound as if you've got everything organised. Well done you - if you feel like popping to mine I could do with a few of your skills:)
Night night Linky hope you get more sleep tonight xxx

calicocat

princesskitty29 wrote: »

Talking of loving Christmas when you don't have children, I am planning to track Santa on Christmas Eve and there will be no-one in the house under 30 years old!

p.s. Does that make me sad??

sounds good to me...........:D

:j:T.....i can spray paint the tree.....thanks for the info.

Busy at work so cant read much....gotta go:(, will read more tomorrow hopefully

popularfurball

MaggieMcQ wrote: »

Quick question, hopefully my fellow Christmas nuts can help

Im thinking about making a chocolate slab for my step dad who is diabetic, so does diabetic chocolate melt the same way and set the same as regular chocolate? Should I just make him a mini hamper???

I can't help on the melting however I know it produces a laxative effect so to give a slab might be too much. My relatives all prefer smaller amounts of normal chocolate if that's any help

SugarSpun

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Forgot to tell you all yesterday, that after a family con-flab, we have decided

NOT TO HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE this year.

I spat my tea out when I got to this bit - it was like Santa was standing in front of me scratching his bum and declaring he didn't fancy an international sleigh ride this year :rotfl:

The forest sounds really lovely and I love your minty makes. Actually, I love all your makes.

pinknfluffy28 wrote: »

sorry, multi-post time, but I have been asked to put together a hamper for a friends 6 year old daughter. mum said "just bits & bobs really, something different" !!!

I like the idea of gardening. Halfcost and H&B both have garden implements for kids for sale, you could add some seeds and gloves, maybe a kneeling cushion, some books - and perhaps an amaryllis bulb and an explanation of how to care for it and make it grow again and again? Those have always been magical to me (I may or may not have six in various stages of germination on my windowsill), that they grow and flower and then you cut them down and they sit there and then bloom again.

Own_My_Own

SugarSpun wrote: »

I like the idea of gardening. Halfcost and H&B both have garden implements for kids for sale, you could add some seeds and gloves, maybe a kneeling cushion, some books - and perhaps an amaryllis bulb and an explanation of how to care for it and make it grow again and again? Those have always been magical to me (I may or may not have six in various stages of germination on my windowsill), that they grow and flower and then you cut them down and they sit there and then bloom again.

Oh yes, an amaryllis :j

Every child should have one.:j

Put it somewhere it can be easily measured. We put ours on the welsh dresser. DD used to be so excited on her way home from school, wanting to know how much it had grown.
And when it flowered, , her face.:D

Own_My_Own

Have been meaning to add a link to this thread for ages, but kept forgetting

It has some amazing food makes in it.

Coconut Ice pg 3

Honeycomb pg 3

Pineapple jam pg 3 (I'm going to try this on:D)

Fridge cake pg 4 (all my friends love this, one only comes round if I promise to make it)

Cheese biscuits pg 5

Carrot marmalade pg 7

Coconut maroons pg 9

Cherries in vanilla Brandy pg 11

Dried Fruit salad in Rum pg 11

The list keeps going. There are loads of lovely recipes. I have just picked out a few that could be made as gifts, to save you scouring though all the pages with a note pad, like I did.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/710445