crafty for christmas 2008

foreign_correspondent

I will be making some marmalade for christmas gifts - last year I made orange marmalade with scotch whisky (and a spoon of black treacle to make it richer and darker) and lemon marmalade and they both went down really well.
I used Ma Made for speed and convenience but it also works out economical too! I think it costs about £1.10 and (plus sugar) makes about 6lbs marmalade.

I also made some spiced apple chutney from apples from my OHs dads tree, but it hasnt fruited this year, so may get round to making some little jars of marrow or beetroot chutney if I get organised in time! (have made several big jars, but they arent so pretty as gifts!)

Athom02

gifts i'm planning on making this year include a cross stitched picture, some glass block lights, journal jars, door hangers, pickled bums, an elf lightbulb, and homemade hampers... oh my I'm going to have to get a move on, and that's not even the completed list!:eek:

rainmac

There's a fab thread here with ideas for making things for Xmas.

I am making...
door hangers for nearly everyone!
facts in a jar
homemade book of vouchers
cross stitch picture, coasters (to add to a mug, hot choc sachets etc - may do Snowman Soup)
no sew blankets
boxes of handmade cards
bath salts (lemon & chocolate)
flannel cupcakes
flannel reindeer
chocolate hamper inc baking ingredients and recipes
going to try and make fudge (never made before - going to have trial runs!)

Think there are more things but can't remember any more for now

cookiedough38

I am putting together hampers for christmas, these include;

Movie night in Hampers
Gardening Hamper
Golfing Hamper
Tea Hamper
'Goody' box hamper
Childrens cooking hamper
Hot chocolate mug sets
Jars of Sweets

Actually making;

Bath Bombs
Bath Salts
Reindeer flannels
Handbag flannels
Cupcake flannels
Christmas Crackers
Joke Pills
Hopefully the jam
Usually make some form of christmas biscuits
Pot pourri
Christmas Decorations

MrsTinks

LOL ok it was late last night and maybe I should have been clearer

I meant foodie gifts but crikey you lot have me beat on the stuff to make!

For those relatives who have plenty of mugs why not make them orange peel in dark chocolate??
I think it looks really posh and I LOVE the shop bough stuff

crispeater

i do hope there are some recipes going up for the

Sloe Gin
Chocolate covered Orange peel
Tomato Relish
Dried Tomato's in oil
Rasberry Vinegar Garlic Oil coz i'm rubbish at making things unless following a decent recipie

also pardon my ignorance but what is Fruit leathers?? or what are Fruit leathers?

MrsTinks

Fruit leather is like those fruit winders you can buy... Basically fruit pure that has been spread out real thin and dried - then you can chop it up in pieces or strips etc and you have great additions to the lunchbox or stick in jars/little bags for presents

Asfor recipies... I'll have to alter them a bit to get round the copyright stuff - or I can really recommend buying the river cottage preserves book! Or ask if your library has a copy

sarahf191979

crispeater wrote: »

i do hope there are some recipes going up for the

Sloe Gin
Chocolate covered Orange peel
Tomato Relish
Dried Tomato's in oil
Rasberry Vinegar Garlic Oil coz i'm rubbish at making things unless following a decent recipie

also pardon my ignorance but what is Fruit leathers?? or what are Fruit leathers?

I had the same thought's, Please do share. the Rasberry Vinegar Garlic Oil sounds divine;)

crispeater

fab!!! my kids adore those kind of fruity things

river cottage preserves book does that have the recipes for everything you have mentioned? i will have a hunt to see if i can find one

MrsTinks

LOL ok ok Rasberry vinegar - ever so slightly modified

for 1.5 litres

1 kilo of rasberries
600 ml cider or white wine vinegar
About 1 kg of granulated sugar - see recipe...

Either crush the rasberries in a large bowl or LIGHTY wizz in a blender - do not liquify.
Add the vinegar, cover and leave to steep for 5 days stirring when you pass.

Day 5 - strain using jelly bag or using a piece of muslin - leave to slowly drain over night.
Measure your liquid and for every 100 ml add 75 gr of granulated sugar - add both into a saucepan and gently bring to the boil. Keep stirring till all your sugar has dissolved. Leave to boil for about 10 minutes - remember to remove any scum that rises to keep the end product lovely and clear.

Remove from the hob and leave to cool - this should only be bottled when cooled - make sure you use sterilised bottles but as this is vinegar and sugar you shouldn't have any mold problems.

Use within 12 months.
You can replace the rasberries with other soft fruits