Ideas for Make-Ahead Food Gifts

Libra1975

I would love the recipe for garlic/rosemary olive oil and green tomato chutney please

Lara

I am ashamed to say I have never made jam or chutney . Now I know my Dad would love some chutney................something else to put in his hamper. Just need to route around for a recipe .

Christmas cakes are made. Mincemeat made. I wanted to make some mince pies but they won't last very long in a hamper unless I make them 24hrs before:think:.

Kethry - where did you buy your 250ml square bottles with screwtop lids please? Presumably these could be good for flavoured oil too? Thanks.

kethry

Lara wrote: »

I am ashamed to say I have never made jam or chutney . Now I know my Dad would love some chutney................something else to put in his hamper. Just need to route around for a recipe .

Christmas cakes are made. Mincemeat made. I wanted to make some mince pies but they won't last very long in a hamper unless I make them 24hrs before:think:.

Kethry - where did you buy your 250ml square bottles with screwtop lids please? Presumably these could be good for flavoured oil too? Thanks.

Lara: bottles would do for flavoured oil as well, in fact, they're sold as oil bottles. I got them from Wares of Knutsford. Hope that helps.

mince pies: you could make them quite a lot beforehand, but *not* cook them, just freeze them in the tins, then once they're frozen, pop them out and into a bag. You can then just put them in the tins when you're ready to cook - just add 5-10 minutes cooking time and turn the oven up a little too. That should take some pressure off. You can also try doing delia's caramelised mincemeat ravioli, which would be nice in a cellophane bag, like sweets - again, you could do these, then freeze uncooked or freeze post-cooking but before the glazing part right at the end.

chutney: may i suggest this one? its a lovely chutney and one i made 2 years ago. Was a big hit with everyone. Particularly nice with cheese or meat. this may be good as well. Its not a chutney, but pickled cucumber slices. They're fabby eaten with pizza or put into a sandwich, like gherkin slices. very nice flavours.

hope all that helps!!

keth
xx

gargoyle

Acemoola - could I have the recipe for tomato and chilli chutney please?

Lara

kethry wrote: »

Lara: bottles would do for flavoured oil as well, in fact, they're sold as oil bottles. I got them from Wares of Knutsford. Hope that helps.

mince pies: you could make them quite a lot beforehand, but *not* cook them, just freeze them in the tins, then once they're frozen, pop them out and into a bag. You can then just put them in the tins when you're ready to cook - just add 5-10 minutes cooking time and turn the oven up a little too. That should take some pressure off. You can also try doing delia's caramelised mincemeat ravioli, which would be nice in a cellophane bag, like sweets - again, you could do these, then freeze uncooked or freeze post-cooking but before the glazing part right at the end.

chutney: may i suggest this one? its a lovely chutney and one i made 2 years ago. Was a big hit with everyone. Particularly nice with cheese or meat. this may be good as well. Its not a chutney, but pickled cucumber slices. They're fabby eaten with pizza or put into a sandwich, like gherkin slices. very nice flavours.

hope all that helps!!

keth
xx

What a wonderful helpful lady you are!:D Thank you!!! I never thought about making the mince pies and freezing uncooked. Well they say you learn something new everyday. Ooooooo want to start now! lol

I always make Delia's mincemeat and for anyone who hasn't tried it - try it! It is sooooooooooo easy and tastes delicious! :)

foreign_correspondent

I am trying to make food as christmas gifts this year... so far I have made lemon marmalade, and seville orange marmalade with scotch whisky as gifts (both using ma-made!)
I intend to make some Marzipan fruits, Guinness Christmas puddings, some apricot preserve with Ameretto and maybe some flavoured vodkas. I have a nice little mary Berry cookbook of Gifts of Food which has some nice ideas too.

Kimberry

I would love to recieve a home made food hampers! What are sweet idea

How about adding some infused ingredients? Here are some combination:
Sugar: cinnamon power, Lavender buds (from herbel tea) or Vanilla pods with caster, icing or brown crystal sugar.
Oil: Dried mixed herbs (rosmary, bay, thyme, oregano with a hint of lemon oil) or dried chillies with olive oil.
Vinegar: thyme and raspberry with red wine vinegar or rosemary with white wine vinegar
Salts: mixed herbs and a pinch of whole pepper corns with sea salt flakes

Put them into a pretty bottle (cleaned and dried) with a hand written note!

pobby_2

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I am trying to make food as christmas gifts this year... so far I have made lemon marmalade, and seville orange marmalade with scotch whisky as gifts (both using ma-made!)
I intend to make some Marzipan fruits, Guinness Christmas puddings, some apricot preserve with Ameretto and maybe some flavoured vodkas. I have a nice little mary Berry cookbook of Gifts of Food which has some nice ideas too.

I would LOVE your marmalade recipes please if you don't mind...pretty please?! :T

Yoga_Girl

This thread has really inspired me, thanks for all your ideas.

Having never done any of this preserve making before, (sorry if this is a daft question!) but do I need to buy the special jars or can you use any sort of jar? I know that ikea do some nice jars but not sure if they would be suitable - this is what they look like:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40065867

angel

Does anyone know how far ahead shortbread can be made? It's the only thing that I'm really good at!