Old Style preparations for Christmas 2012!!!!!

Soworried

Thankyou Pink, I will have a read of those.

Phoolgrrrl

For those of you that put home made booze in the small wine bottles - do you make it in a big bottle then decant, or 'brew' in the small bottles?

How long do they keep in the scew top bottles? I was looking for kilner bottles as they look nice and have a good seal but wee wine one would be cheaper and if they do the job as well would go for them!

shellsuit

Possession wrote: »

Homemade gift ideas:
Chocolate drops
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/502631/homemade-chocolate-drops
Chocolate truffle egg box
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2066659/chocolate-truffle-egg-box
Double chocolate almond biscotti
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4988/double-chocolate-almond-biscotti
Pickled pears
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1302/pickled-pears
Gingerbread men tags
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/68611/double-ginger-gingerbread-men
peppermint lollipops
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/502634/peppermint-lollipops

Reindeer Christmas cakes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/reindeer_christmas_10412
Sea salt chocolate snaps
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/sea_salt_chocolate_snaps_81237

Christmas Pudding Cake pops
http://blog.maisoncupcake.com/CHristmas-pudding-cake-pops/
Cranberry and orange vodka
http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/cranberry-and-orange-vodka
Winter chocolate bark
http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/winter-bark
Pistachio & Cranberry Chocolate Bark
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/pistachio-cherry-chocolate-bark-holiday
Caramel crunch
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/caramel-crunch-holiday-gifts-recipes

Salted peanut squares
http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/candy/salted-peanut-squares
sugar coated pecans
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/2337/sugar-coated-pecans.aspx

Turkish delight vodka
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/17147/turkish-delight-vodka.aspx
Oaty choc chip cookies in a jar
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/19037/oaty-chocolate-chip-cookies-gift-in-a-jar.aspx
best ever nut brittle
http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/easy-food-gifts/12
Festive chocolate bark
[FONT=&quot]http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-recipes/gifts-from-the-kitchen/festive-chocolate-bark-684248/
[/FONT] Chocolate spoons
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/doityourself/ht/Chocolate_Spoon.htm
Butterscotch candy
http://baking.about.com/od/candy/r/butterscotchhea.htm
Sugared nuts
http://baking.about.com/od/piesandfruiteddesserts/r/sugaredpecans.htm
Pomegranate vodka
http://familyspice.com/recipes/recipe/?recipe_id=106
Salted white chocolate with rosemary
http://comfortbites.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/guest-post-by-christine-thompson-of.html
Christmas pudding vodka
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/christmas-pudding-vodka/60473
Apricot and white choc granite slice
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/22750/apricot+and+white+chocolate+granita+slice
Almond, cherry & aniseed cantucini
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/14735/almond+dried+cherry+and+aniseed+cantuccini
lebkuchen
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/25243/lebkuchen
mini gingerbread houses
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/28531/mini+gingerbread+houses

Strawberry vodka
http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/irenes-strawberry-liqueur-recipe-750/
White chocolate, strawberry and cranberry rocky road
http://technicolorkitcheninenglish.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/white-chocolate-cranberry-and.html
Peanut butter reindeer cookies
http://buddingbaketress.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/peanut-butter-reindeer-cookies.html
Fig bars
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettycrockerrecipes/6550808809/in/photostream
Sweet swirl marshmallows
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettycrockerrecipes/5297308432/in/photostream
Luxury mincemeat biscuits
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/5897/luxury-mincemeat-biscuits.aspx#
Christmas Pudding rice krispie cakes
http://www.engagetoday.org.uk/playtime/crafts/christmas-crafts/christmas-pudding-crispy-cakes

Ginger & cinnamon stained glass cookies
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/ginger_and_cinnamon_70538
Dan Lepard’s orange and pistachio stollen bars
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/02/christmas-party-recipes-dan-lepard?newsfeed=true

Ultimate 3 layer peppermint bark
http://orangette.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/look-at-that.html
Nigella’s Christmas puddini bombs
http://www.styleathome.com/food-and-entertaining/recipes/recipe-nigella-s-christmas-puddini-bonbons/a/18992/

Wow thank you for that!

I am sooo tempted to try to make a few things from this list and I never make anything ever!

Does anybody know where you can get the lolly sticks from though please? (for the christmas pud lollys)


And for the vodka, can you just pour it into a plain bottle? (to tart up to give as a gift)

chirpychick

Do you guys think it would be unwise of me to put off having people visit when the baby is born, give me and hubby time to bond with baby ourselves but then have an open house for an afternoon when he is about 2 weeks old when the tree is up, hubby will be home, gets people all done in one day. Hubby can make endless cups of tea, mince pies and apple pies.
Or perhaps it is a completely mad idea? I don't know, lol I haven't ever had a baby before.
But I think it might be nice because we can give them their christmas presents (saving on postage & petrol) it gets all guests done and out the way, hubby will be here to help and it will be festive which is nice.

oooh and I have finally decided on a name... hubby says he likes it, I just now need to convince him he likes it enough...we are having a 4d scan today which was a present and i cannot wait!

Soworried

That sounds lovely chirpychick.

What is the name?

Malfiore

mossy wrote: »

Ha ha, well it's one of those, this would be a good idea but I haven't actually attempted it yet. I was thinking of using the sowing machine, but I'd need to leave reasonable gaps between each chocolate so that it doesn't get squished! I bought some really nice gold and red foil wrapping paper from Waitrose just after Christmas for 10p each so I was going to try and use that.

But there are other ways to 'wrap' the chocolate bars up. You could cut out two sheets of wrapping paper (not too thin) in a stocking shape and punch holes along the edge (not too close) and wrap ribbon through the holes, and then pop the chocolates in to them.

Or you could use some fabric. You could use any old clothes and cut out Christmas type shapes on it. When I attempt one I'll try and put a photo up.

All this talk of flavoured vodka has got me thinking of gifts, I think I might try the Christmas pudding one. Okay, I'm getting excited, I think I'm going to work out my list of homemade presents. :xmastree:

Amazing! Thank you So many ideas!!

I'm also off to add toffee vodka to the list, I already have blackberry gin and plum vodka :rotfl:

ETA - I love this thread!! So many ideas and I'm properly excited now!!!

mossy

chirpychick wrote: »

Do you guys think it would be unwise of me to put off having people visit when the baby is born, give me and hubby time to bond with baby ourselves but then have an open house for an afternoon when he is about 2 weeks old when the tree is up, hubby will be home, gets people all done in one day. Hubby can make endless cups of tea, mince pies and apple pies.
Or perhaps it is a completely mad idea? I don't know, lol I haven't ever had a baby before.
But I think it might be nice because we can give them their christmas presents (saving on postage & petrol) it gets all guests done and out the way, hubby will be here to help and it will be festive which is nice.

Hey Chirpychick, I think you need to do what feels right for you. I don't know how close you are (relationally or geographically) to family so they may burst if they have to wait two whole weeks to see you all, lol. You might feel different when your little one arrives in which case you can always change your mind and do something different.

One of my friends (30+ years my senior) gave me a great piece of advice which was, mum always knows best, trust your instincts. I found that very helpful when I was freaking out to begin with.

One tip if you have friends/family who live nearby who might pop in on the off chance of seeing you, is that you can put a little note on the front door saying something like 'Thanks for popping over to see us, mum and baby are currently having a well deserved sleep but we hope to see you soon'. A friend of ours did that as they lived in a village with lots of family and friends nearby, not such an issue if they're all miles away.

I'm sure you'll have a fab Christmas. :rudolf:

ginnyknit

shellsuit wrote: »

Wow thank you for that!

I am sooo tempted to try to make a few things from this list and I never make anything ever!

Does anybody know where you can get the lolly sticks from though please? (for the christmas pud lollys)


And for the vodka, can you just pour it into a plain bottle? (to tart up to give as a gift)

I saw the lolly sticks in Asda but they are cheaper from e bay. some great idea's on here and saved me some googling as I wanted the tutorial for pencil rolls, thanks mossy :beer:

shellsuit

ginnyknit wrote: »

I saw the lolly sticks in Asda but they are cheaper from e bay. some great idea's on here and saved me some googling as I wanted the tutorial for pencil rolls, thanks mossy :beer:

Thanks ginnyknit, will have a mooch on eBay for the sticks then!

Soworried

Today I have bought 2x pkts of sausage meat stuffing from MrT for just 36p. I guess they are about to change the packaging ready to the christmas one as all the other types were still a £1ish.
I have put a storage box under the stairs for them.:)