*Stop The Cavalry* It's The 2014 Christmas Chatter Thread

MrsSave

Hi, I've been reading this thread for a while and thought I'd say hi! I love christmas and all the preparation! I've decided to make a few gifts myself this year. I will be making some scrabble frames for people (got everything I need, just need to make them!), and also some fudge. I'm guessing I'll have to leave the fudge until a day or two before Christmas (though a trial run or 10 won't be a bad idea ).

newthrift

mrssave welcome to the christmas madness:xmassmile
hollieinbloom I didn't make mine totally from scratch I just added odd bits in last year. For the ladies I did some christmas theme earrings I found reasonable and for the men I added in a hot choc stirrer with marshmellows in I found at the local shop.
fluffysocks ooo I want to find one to hide around our house to, there is only me and OH at the moment but we are big kids
If I spot one will let you know - maybe amazon?
GTQ a little unfair of your sister, but I hope it all goes OK and is not as stressful as anticipated

Tonight I am finally going to bake the first christmas cake :snow_grin
and hopefully while that is baking go through the Christmas presents plus will need to make my list for shopping with mum soon as that is only 2 weeks away :rotfl:

MrsPoppyGirl

lazysheep wrote: »

Is this the link you wanted? QUOTE]

Thank you for providing that link for me! x

pixtotts

MrsSave Hello Have you made fudge before? is it particularly tricky? For years now (started when I was in college) I've been making my friends truffles, used to be just chocolate but may or may not have had large amounts of rum/baileys/ameretto/vodka in them in recent years , thinking I could shake things up add some fudge to the mix if it isn't too difficult .Very intrigued by the scrabble frames too...


hollieinbloom the skys the limit with crackers... well... that along with anything bigger than a cracker... lol. Depends what kind of price you want to be putting in. We've done both extremes. Fun things to be played with at the table, hawkins bazaar is brilliant for little bits of silly bits and bobs! (We now have no children at our dinner table my little sis was youngest and she turned 18 yest! and yet the stupid little spinning tops, and toy cars are always flying here there and everywhere lol). Miniature alcohol bottles, could be handy depending who you end up sat by ... Nail varnish, embroidered hankies, musical ties and Christmas earrings. Or we once did crackers as an extra present with things like jewellery and cuff links in them.
One I always request when we buy crackers... the nail clippers!! I am always losing them so I make everyone aware before opening them whoever gets the nail clippers must swap with me! lol

If anyone spots the colouring in table cloths let me know, I regretted not buying one last year! What with my gran and grandad taking 10billion hours to eat half a potatoe and a bit of turkey could be needed this year....
x

MrsSave

pixtotts wrote: »

MrsSave Hello Have you made fudge before? is it particularly tricky? For years now (started when I was in college) I've been making my friends truffles, used to be just chocolate but may or may not have had large amounts of rum/baileys/ameretto/vodka in them in recent years , thinking I could shake things up add some fudge to the mix if it isn't too difficult .Very intrigued by the scrabble frame ....

I've never made the fudge, but dh has. He wanted a sugar thermometer (I think that's what they're called) for his last birthday, and made some soon afterwards. To be fair it was yummy!! Thinking of looking at different flavour fudge instead, though it could just be simpler to make vanilla. It was the first time he'd made it, don't think it was difficult. Just need to get it to the correct temperature.

As for the frames, I have bought deep box frames from ikea (around £3.50ish each). I've bought scrabble tiles off ebay for a couple of pounds (need to check what letters I have so which others I need to buy!). I've got scrapbook paper here for the background and small wooden hearts that can go in the corner so I'm guessing these are going to cost around £5 each, whereas I've seen them selling for £20 plus! Just need to make them now!!

quidsy

If you have a slow cooker you can make Fudge in there too.

Arthien

MrsSave wrote: »

I've never made the fudge, but dh has. He wanted a sugar thermometer (I think that's what they're called) for his last birthday, and made some soon afterwards. To be fair it was yummy!! Thinking of looking at different flavour fudge instead, though it could just be simpler to make vanilla. It was the first time he'd made it, don't think it was difficult. Just need to get it to the correct temperature.

You can make fudge without a sugar thermometer, but it's supposed to be easier with it. I made this Carnation chocolate fudge for my wedding last year (https://www.carnation.co.uk/Recipes/Recipe.aspx?RecipeId=64) about 2 weeks in advance, but I've read that you can make it up to a month in advance if you want. I think I saw somewhere that you can freeze fudge, but I've never tried that. It went down a storm though, and much cheaper than wedding favours from a shop, so I may have to do round 2 for Christmas this year! :j

MrsSave

Arthien wrote: »

You can make fudge without a sugar thermometer, but it's supposed to be easier with it. I made this Carnation chocolate fudge for my wedding last year (https://www.carnation.co.uk/Recipes/Recipe.aspx?RecipeId=64) about 2 weeks in advance, but I've read that you can make it up to a month in advance if you want. I think I saw somewhere that you can freeze fudge, but I've never tried that. It went down a storm though, and much cheaper than wedding favours from a shop, so I may have to do round 2 for Christmas this year! :j

Thank you for the recipe link. They look delicious! Will definitely need to test these out! I may do a couple of different batches and mix the fudge up for people!

nicki_2

Arthien wrote: »

You can make fudge without a sugar thermometer, but it's supposed to be easier with it. I made this Carnation chocolate fudge for my wedding last year (https://www.carnation.co.uk/Recipes/Recipe.aspx?RecipeId=64) about 2 weeks in advance, but I've read that you can make it up to a month in advance if you want. I think I saw somewhere that you can freeze fudge, but I've never tried that. It went down a storm though, and much cheaper than wedding favours from a shop, so I may have to do round 2 for Christmas this year! :j

Thanks for the link! DD is wanting to bake/make gifts this year so this is something she can have a go at. Doing cookery in secondary school has really got her interested in cooking at last! Now I don't have to spend ages in the kitchen baking cakes/cookies as she does it

Peppapig

Wow Arthien, that fudge recipe looks so simple I think even I might give it a go (my skills in the kitchen aren't exactly legendary - at least not for the right reasons)