crafty for christmas 2008

MrsTinks

crispeater wrote: »

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

Yes It's only just out I think - I got mine from Amazon. But the libraries might have one in - they often get the river cottage books!

Angie100

Have a look at the River Cottage website http://www.rivercottage.net/SeasonalRecipes/ there are lots of recipes and info on there.

There are some very nice fruity things under September including blackberry whisky.

crispeater

just looked on fleabay and its about a £10 i might have a look in 'the works' see if they have it in stock as they are usually quite cheap. failing that.... library!

MrsTinks

Amazon is cheaper than fleabay Ok so you need something else to make it over £15 for the free delivery but somehow I ever have a problem with that... hmmm

Soubrette

MrsTine wrote: »

I have finally gotten inspired! My Rivercottage Handbook No. 2 arrived today and I feel really inspired!

Sloe Gin - small bottles!

Hello MrsTine :j

I don't know if this will work for sloes as I know they are quite bitter but last year I made some blackberry gin and then made blackberry chocolates with the steeped blackberries.

I used a shell shaped icecube mold - half filled each one with chocolate (I used some milk and some white) then put in 3 of the blackberries as they were quite small) I then topped up with the rest of the chocolate and put in the fridge.

This year I'm considering making teeny tiny christmas cakes in bean tins

Sou

Angie100

crispeater wrote: »

just looked on fleabay and its about a £10 i might have a look in 'the works' see if they have it in stock as they are usually quite cheap. failing that.... library!

If you know anyone who works in an office where the Book Club man/lady comes in, you may find you can get it there much cheaper. Otherwise keep a look out in the cheapy bookshops.

mary43

The bulk of christmas pressies this year are recycled (charity shop finds or stuff I've been given and don't need/want..........but to add to that I'm making
flannel cupcakes
flannel yule logs
flannel christmas cakes (really small ones bout the size of cupcake)
jars of pickled bums
stress/survival kits
door hangers
shaker style pegs


Might have a go with this snowmen soup and think there's a coffee/chocolate drink in a jar I've seen

Angie100

mary43 wrote: »

The bulk of christmas pressies this year are recycled (charity shop finds or stuff I've been given and don't need/want..........but to add to that I'm making
flannel cupcakes
flannel yule logs
flannel christmas cakes (really small ones bout the size of cupcake)
jars of pickled bums
stress/survival kits
door hangers
shaker style pegs


Might have a go with this snowmen soup and think there's a coffee/chocolate drink in a jar I've seen

Pickled Bums - lol haven't seen those around for years.

If anyone has any good links for instructions on how to make any of the things mentioned on this thread, it would be great if you could post them.

Just found a nice one for pickled bums, with smelly bums and beach bums variations!!! http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1621

MrsTinks

Soubrette wrote: »

Hello MrsTine :j

I don't know if this will work for sloes as I know they are quite bitter but last year I made some blackberry gin and then made blackberry chocolates with the steeped blackberries.

I used a shell shaped icecube mold - half filled each one with chocolate (I used some milk and some white) then put in 3 of the blackberries as they were quite small) I then topped up with the rest of the chocolate and put in the fridge.

This year I'm considering making teeny tiny christmas cakes in bean tins

Sou

Ooooo so kinda like cherry chocs that you can buy? Ooooo I like! I might have to expand my liqueur (sp?) making and include other alcohols too! In Russia the traditional one they make is with cranberries & vodka - again not sure how well they'd do in chocs but maybe I could experiment!

mary43

I first found them via link from another website and googled in 'how to make pickled bums'.............loads of sites came up with instructions but I think the link given here www.craftbits.com was about the clearest.
Very fiddly to do (well for my ageing fingers.......lol ) but I've managed 4 so far (thats bums not jars of them..........lol)