LOW COST homemade christmas gifts

mum2one

greentiger wrote: »

Hi mum2one

I got 4 full 1lb jars from my making, plus a teeny wee scraping for sampling.

How much vodka do you add to the lemon base?

Tomorrow I'm going to try to get more rhubarb and oranges and I'm going to lakeland for some wee presentation jars, so I can see some lemon marmalade mix falling into my basket along with ....... oh I love that shop - it's bad for my wealth

Thanks for your ideas. x[/QUOTE

With the vodka - I put 1/4 pt in added the water to 3/4pt, do the same with the orange marmalade - used brandy so far, next batch going for whisky.

xx

greentiger

Thanks mum2one. I'll prob have ago at them too soon x

debndot

Hi all,
I'm making hampers for christmas gifts and wanted to do jams and chutneys, does anyone who makes them know how soon I can start making them, I don't want to do it too early and they're gone off or something by christmas. Thanks

Savvybunny2009

debndot wrote: »

Hi all,
I'm making hampers for christmas gifts and wanted to do jams and chutneys, does anyone who makes them know how soon I can start making them, I don't want to do it too early and they're gone off or something by christmas. Thanks

I think it may depend on the jam/chutney. I make Christmas chutney, it's delicious and is recommended to be matured for at least a month, three being ideal but as it has an acidic vinegar base It would keep much, much longer unopened.

I'm not sure about jam as it doesn't have an acidic base, would love to hear other's thoughts on this too.

I intend on making hampers too but I find family fussy very fussy so no alcohol, or cakes and biscuits etc. have my work cut out this year I think

debndot

Thanks savvybunny, would you know where I could find the Christmas chutney recipe please, it would be nice to have a tried and tested recipe :-)

Savvybunny2009

I use Mary Berry's recipe, everybody loved it and was raving about it afterwards, I'm not much of a chutney person but it was quite delicious, the only adjustment we make is only one teaspoon of cayenne pepper as it's very spicy otherwise http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1158/mary-berrys-christmas-chutney

ScottishOstrich

I am loving this thread
I have a note pad beside me, ebay and a few trips to the co of cost ;-)
my family don't realize it will be a home made christmas from me
trying to take advantage of the crop of onions - onion chuntney for my parents
Blackcurrants - jam already made
Raspberries - jam
Strawberries - Jam - already made
my theory is that if i do this all now, i will cut my christmas spend and make it more worth while
my sisters are very materialistic and like gifts , no matter how much time and effort it takes
I am planning on doing chocolate slabs for them as they will look so expensive but will be personalised.
need to get bits and pieces for partner and his kids, but i might just get them bog standard gifts in my budget
not a huge fan of christmas itself but love being in the kitchen doing this stuff
thank you all

Ostrich xxx

debndot

If anyone is making hampers, sainsburys have a set of 3 white willow baskets reduced to £10 but only if there's any left in your local store, really good sizes if not seagrass are £20 for set of 3, also latte glasses reduced to £1.50, great for Irish coffee

pateroo

Ill add some of the bits I made for xmas 2011.i think pretty much all f the, we're ideas I found on MSE I'll be starting my Xmas stash soon ad adding my own tutorials to my blog page xx

bargainfinder1992

would love a tutorial on those, they look great!