Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

Uniscots97

ditsykitchen wrote: »

I know this is a long shot, but does anyone have any ideas for a gluten free veggie Christmas main? I've had a few veggie xmases but this is my first one after eliminating gluten (sad but necessary for health reasons). It's for myself and dh. Sorry if this isn't the place to post this!

Being for health reasons its definitely not sad, what about gluten free nut roast? Not my recipe but I know someone who has tried it and loved it.

http://www.wheatfreemeatfree.com/mushroom-nut-roast/

Vala-Mal-Doran

I use loaf tins for the square cakes andbaked bean tins for the round cakes and theycome out perfect. Word of advice on the baked bean tins though- make sure you buy the ones you need a tin opener for, the 'easy open' ones have a lip around the top on the inside-makes it impossible to get the cake out once cooked-I found out the hard way! :eek:

mum2one

I've used the loaf tins from £1 shops, - thou the tip I would say is I found they burn quicker on top, just add cooking foil to them.

Agree re baked bean tins - used them before xx

mum2one

This is one of the recipies I use

Ingredients

1/2 kilo mixed fruit
1/2 kilo sultanas
1/2 kilo currants
250g glace cherries
200ml rum,brandy or sherry
290g plain flour
2 tsp ground mixed spice
225g butter
225g soft brown sugar
5 large eggs
zest of 1 med orange
zest of 1 lemon
150g ground almonds.

Utensils etc
Large mixing bowl
string
baking paper
deep 23 cm cake tin / square or round depending on shape.

Method.

1. Put all the dried fruit (bar cherries), in a large mixing bowl, add liquor, (you can use orange juice instead).

2. Cover with clingfilm, leave for 24 hrs stirring ocassionally.

3. Line the tin with 3 layers of baking paper, wrap outsides with double layer, of brown paper. Preheat over to Gas 2, 150C or 130C if fan oven.

4. Rinse the cherries in warm water, pat dry with kitchen paper. Cut each one in half,

5. Sift the flour and mixed spice together, (use seperate bowl),

6. Cream butter and sugar together, beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and adding a tablespoon of flour mix with each one.

7. Finely grate the zest of the orange + lemon, stir into the creamed mixture.

8. Stir in the rest of the flour mix, ground almonds, cherries and the dried fruit + alcohol mix. Mix well.

9. Put mixture into desired tin, pat top with damp fingertips.

10. Bake for 1 hour, reduce oven temperature to 140C / 120C (fan oven), gas 1 and bake for a further 3 hours or until a skewer in centre comes out clean.

Can cover tops with foil if browning too quickly.

11. Remove cake from cake tins, and cool completely on a rack, (leave baking paper on)

12. wrap in foil and store in a tin,

glitterkitty

quidsy wrote: »

I think it's only the dividers that are £12.99. ! otherwise I would have bought that. What a clever idea.

Same thing from Lakeland - £29.99 instead of £41.....

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/10972/Silverwood-Multisize-Foldaway-Cake-Pan

alja

I've been lurking a lot on here lately, as I haven't got much to report! Working during the week seems to get in the way of going out to shop for Christmassy bits, which is quite annoying! haha!

Last weekend I managed to pick up a lovely toiletries bag from the M&S sale for my mum, very pleased with it, so that's all stashed away nicely! I'm hoping to head off out again this weekend to hunt down those sales again as I'm really trying to rein in my spending this year

OLDBILL_2

Hi everyone,

I was looking for a christmas bargain thread but this is the closest I could find. hope you don't mind me posting here.

Started my Christmas shopping. Maternity leave dictates that I have to be super duper frugal this year. We have gone from spending approx £50-£60 per adult and £30 per child down to £30 and £20 repsectively last year but I would like to reduce this further as we have a huge family and I have been on maternity leave this year! We're also reducing our working hours to spend more time with the children so money is tighter than EVER!

I have to find a way of explaining this to my family who have a habit of going OTT on the gift giving. It's lovely that they like to give but it puts so much pressure on us to match them (although they insist there's no need).

Anyway this year I need to buy for:

My lovely man
My biggest son 5 yrs
My littlest son 1yr
My Biggest Nephew 7yrs
My Littlest Nephew 3 nearly 4yrs
My neice 7 yrs
My mum
My Dad
My other half's mum
My other half's brother
My other half's brother's partner
My sister
My brother in law
My brother

This is going to get expensive!
So far so good though... got my son and nephew a paper jamz guitar each. These have been anywhere between £20 and £8... got mine for £4 each on the Argos clearance! They have excellent reviews too!

Just got an Octonauts playset kwazi's ship wreck for £12.50 (half price!) in the Boots sale. Total bargain as my little one and my nephew love this. :T

On the look out on every clearance now for bits that will fit different people rather than looking for something specific for specific people.

Wish me luck, I get so stressed!

Skint_Catt

Why can't you buy orange/lemon zest in shops? It's one of my pet hate jobs along with grating cheese, lol. I believe you can buy zest in the US so why not here?

double_mummy

OLDBILL wrote: »

Anyway this year I need to buy for:

My lovely man a voucher booklet with little vouchers in with 1 back rub or 1 hour with control of the remote - go as sexy as you like
My biggest son 5 yrs
My littlest son 1yr a box full of shredded newspaper
My Biggest Nephew 7yrs
My Littlest Nephew 3 nearly 4yrs
My neice 7 yrs
My mum
My Dad grandparents generally like personalised things made by grandkids can you get a mug for them to decorate or buy a cheapy canvass from wilkos and do a hand and footprint picture
My other half's mum do the same as for dad
My other half's brother make up a movie night box for the couples a dvd bottle of wine cheap wine glasses popcorn and snacks maybe a lil blanket etc
My other half's brother's partner
My sister same as other couple
My brother in law
My brother

do you have ages for the rest it might help and a little bit about what they like etc

alja

Welcome Oldbill! I'm also trying to reduce my spending on Christmas this year as the last few years I think I've gone a bit over the top and I know I could save a few pennies here and there!

I only really have to buy presents for my parents this year (The last few years I've been with someone and had to buy for him & his family/friends. Which I loved doing, but I'm actually quite happy about the amount of money I'll be saving this year by not having to do that! haha!)

In my family we buy each other lots of little bits, so I'm doing the same by looking in the sales to see if I can see lovely little treasures for them! So far it seems to be working just got to keep an eye out...