OS Christmas 2014 thread!!!!

agreenmess

Hello all, just popping in as its that time to start thinking about pressie's for everyone. Still trying to finalise my list but I know around 90% will be homemade, fingers crossed.

First thing to do - go back through and get some ideas and finalise my list!

pigpen

I've misplaced my present book... :eek:!!!!! Anyone seen it??

Yarn ordered for a scarf for OH's sister I think.. though I may decide to keep this and do her a neutral colour type one.. I need to find yarn for my mothers too.

fairy3

Older_But_Not_Wiser wrote: »

Any of you brilliant people got any ideas for a traditional-ish feast for one that doesn't involve TOO many leftovers (want some of course, Christmas just isn't Christmas without a Leftovers Sarnie at some point!)?

How about a small plump chicken on a bed of roast vegetables and roasties in one baking tray with a few mini pigs in blankets - when cooked remove to a warming plate and make the gravy in the bottom of the tray so you get all the juices? Leftover chicken could be made into a curry and/or sandwiches.

A pack of pre cooked mixed fish to have with salad - waitrose were selling off crab and lobster last year on xmas eve very cheaply. Nice piece of salmon would work too.

Not a christmas pud fan so if it were me would indulge in a couple of different slices of gooey choc/lemon desserts.

A cheese board with crackers and grapes - this would last all week probably so no waste. Excess cheese could be used to make a cauliflower cheese.

And not to forget - well if it were me - a one man bacon buttie with squidge of brown sauce yum

F x

natlie

Hi
Sorry, I have been very slow in posting my recipes - tomorrow I will post them up
Nat
x

laura_hoggle

I'm reading this thread with excitement, and will subscribe once I remember how to!

Last Xmas was our first one as a married couple, but because we were buying a house & waiting to hear on an exchange date, we didn't bother with decorations as a lot of our stuff was packed (we also forgot we had thrown out our hand-me-down Xmas tree the year before! :rotfl:)

Now we have our own house, and I got a lovely artificial tree in the sales along with lots of lovely decorations, I can't wait to put it all up!! We also have a 5 month old kitten though, so not sure how long the tree will stay up...

We are lucky and have a couple of holly plants in our garden, one which has some lovely red berries and also some ivy along the edging of our borders, so I'm hoping to use some to make a mantle swag or something!

I've invited my family (mum, dad & older brother) here for Xmas day, but my brother (aged 34!!) seems reluctant to break his tradition of the local pub on Xmas day, although dad seems keen to let someone else do the cooking for once (he is a chef so it's not really a day off for him!) so we shall see what happens!

I'm saving my nectar & boots points for Xmas & keeping an eye out for any bargains. I've got a John Lewis/waitrose credit card so I earn vouchers, and I'm saving them for presents or food. I've got a stash of wrapping paper & cards left over from the last few years that I managed not to lose during the move which I'm pretty pleased about!

Can't wait!!

natlie

Hello


Some recipes to start you off - these one aren't xmassy as such but on xmas I eve I bake Chocolate Brownies and I give them to family, friends, neighbours in little gift bags or as part of a hamper, they are very rich so you can cut them quite small.


6oz (85g) very dark chocolate - milk doesn't work at all
6oz (85g or three quarters of a cup) of unsalted butter
3 large eggs
14oz (440g or 1 and three quarters of a cup) of sugar
half a teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of vanilla
5oz (155g or 1 cup and 2 tablespoons) of plain flour (I have used self raising too but it makes them more cakey)


Put the butter and chocolate in the microwave for 2 mins ish to melt (you can use traditional method if you wish)


in a mixer of bowl mix the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt


add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and mix


fold in the flour


pour the mixture into an 8inch square tin


now for the exciting part -


Salted Caramel


you will need a can of dulce de leche (Carnation Caramel) and some sea salt (Maldon is good or Halen Mon)


blob teaspoons of the caramel into your prepared brownie mix sprinkle with salt then take a skewer or knife and drag through the mixture to make swirls of caramel


bake in the oven for up to 35 minutes (I prefer less as I like them gooey) at 185 degrees centigrade








For baileys cheesecake version


Mix at least 3 tablespoons of baileys (you can add more don't let the mixture get too wet) (I use Aldi Ballycastle) into a tub of mascarpone cheese (cream cheese will work too) then blob and drag and cook the same as above.


I have also added to my brownie mixtures - snickers, crème eggs, Ferrero Rocher which all worked well and peanut butter which didn't work very well but a peanut butter cream cheese frosting worked very well


Mincemeat tomorrow
Nat
x

MoonJelly

Definitely subscribing to this thread. I am knitting pressies (just a couple people) with yarn I already have (except for DH -I need to buy 100% wool as he is always outdoors). The only pressies which really need buying is for our boy and maybe 1 present from Santa and 1 present from mum and dad. That is IT.

Many butchers take orders early so we can pay for the meat/sausages/etc. a little at a time.

We have a small pine tree on a pot by the front door we can decorate. Maybe buy a small tree for indoors. We get it from out local farmer quite cheap and very fresh along with potatoes and other veg. We will recycle ornaments and baubles. Not buying anything new.

We have been doing less and less Christmas cards -this year we will be using whatever didn't get used in the past. Most people won't remember what cards they got 2-3 years ago!

I know it sounds a bit grim but we are tired of being saddled with credit card debt after the holiday.

skogar

I also love the smell of greenery. I have an huge rosemary bush which needs cutting back and my parents have a large garden with various bits and bobs in so it should be easy to find something for some free decorations. I have a pack of tealights somewhere - will have to look them out. I think this autumn I will try and find a few really nice pinecones and then I will be all set to go.

I keep wondering about ideas for an alternative Christmas tree but I'm trying to think of something that would be cat proof. Our rescue cat would enjoy a Christmas tree I think but I'm not sure a decorated tree would last long! :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

In Germany people find a dead but nicely twigged branch paint it silver or white and hang it on the wall then decorate it with tinsel, baubles, little figures, sweets and candles. Sometimes they wire on long strands of ivy and red ribbon bows and you can get clip on candle holders so those are used too. It would keep things out of the kitties reach and they look really pretty. I think you can get solar/battery powered little strings of fairy lights too so they should be lightweight enough to go on as well.

PlymouthMaid

Super thread. I can't remember if I have already posted in here but this is where I am at so far for Christmas: making socks for my daughters and OH, a ripple crochet blanket too for one girl; have stashed away posh handcreams and a couple of lovely glass candle 'balloons' half price from garden centre as presents for the ladies in my family. I will be making sloe gin later in the season so maybe a couple of little gift bottles. Men are much trickier but you lot have reminded how much my son in law likes onion marmalade so may do some of that, I also overdid the woolly hats last year and have a stash of those - not sure they will want another one so soon though.