Make your own Christmas Prezzies!

whiteandlight · 22-12-2013 8:42pm

My first fudge was a disaster, got a candy thermometer and it seen perfect everytime since!

What's the recipe for the cranberry and orange biscotti? Sounds interesting! And the gingerbread??

MurdyWurdy · 22-12-2013 10:47pm

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Sorry, I don't know dundrum but if you are in town both Tiger and Reads have it.

Hmm, no I won't be going near town, avoiding it at all costs! Thanks anyway though. My husband works near both of those places but he's off work now. I knew Tiger had it too. Why did I not get my **** together earlier?!

The florist is a great tip, we have a nice one 3 minutes walk away so I'll go beg from them

MurdyWurdy · 22-12-2013 10:48pm

Also, I had trouble pouring all my concoctions, i was faffing about making funnels out of grease proof paper. I need a jam funnel so badly. I bought one this afternoon as I randomly came across one in a little shop - after I've made all my Christmas stuff and don't need it. I was all over the place this year

I'm looking forward to making chutney in the future with my funnel though!

RosyLily · 24-12-2013 12:58am

Musicmental85 wrote: »

My first fudge was a disaster, got a candy thermometer and it seen perfect everytime since!

What's the recipe for the cranberry and orange biscotti? Sounds interesting! And the gingerbread??

I used Paul Hollywood's recipe for cranberry and pistachio biscotti but I omitted the nuts and added orange zest instead of lemon. Cranberry and orange tasted really good together!

The gingerbread is Nigella's Guinness gingerbread recipe. The family doesn't like Guinness so I just left that out. Really easy recipe and so tasty!!

Wurly · 24-12-2013 1:54pm

I made an absolute balls of the honeycomb!! I'm confused because it worked out perfectly last year. It was just a layer of sticky flatness. How long should you whisk it for? I whisked like billio for about a minute or so.

RosyLily · 24-12-2013 1:56pm

What honeycomb recipe do you use?

Michellenman · 24-12-2013 1:57pm

I whisk for 5-10 seconds. just until the bicarb is distributed and there's no powdery residue.

Michellenman · 24-12-2013 1:59pm

5 full forkfuls of golden syrup.
200g white sugar
melt together in wide bottom pan, will turn a slightly darker golden colour. add 2tsp bicarb and whisk until all distributed.

Princess Peach · 24-12-2013 2:53pm

I found a good honeycomb recipe of 10 tbsp of sugar, 4 tbsp of golden syrup and 1 tsp of bicarb. Of course every batch turned out different, should have timed the first perfect batch for cooking the syrup! But only whisked briefly before turning it out.

Wurly · 24-12-2013 3:53pm

Princess Peach wrote: »

I found a good honeycomb recipe of 10 tbsp of sugar, 4 tbsp of golden syrup and 1 tsp of bicarb. Of course every batch turned out different, should have timed the first perfect batch for cooking the syrup! But only whisked briefly before turning it out.

Thanks all. I think that was my problem. I think I over whisked it. I used the recipe on the first few pages of this thread. It was perfect last year. I'll make a new batch when I can be arsed to peel myself off the couch! Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is on.

whiteandlight · 24-12-2013 4:41pm

Ya I only whisk briefly!

leahyl · 26-09-2014 8:53am

Anybody start making some luscious treats yet for Christmas....??!!

This thread was revived around the same time last year so I'm just doing my bit :pac:

Teyla Emmagan · 26-09-2014 8:59am

I am making everything on this thread this year!! Well, at least a few hampers worth.. Getting excited already :-)

Raminahobbin · 26-09-2014 9:15am

My people did not appreciate chutneys and jams last year. I just don't have that kind of family/social circle

none of them got eaten/opened.

So! Alcohol and sweet things for this year. The spiced Arancello I made last year went down really well, so that plus cookie dough truffles and cookies and fudge. And whatever else looks fun

Gots to start making my Arancello around now- if anyone spots any deals on Vodka let me know! Need 3 litres.

The Hill Billy · 26-09-2014 9:16am

leahyl wrote: »

Anybody start making some luscious treats yet for Christmas....??!!

This thread was revived around the same time last year so I'm just doing my bit :pac:

leahyl - banned for 3 months. :pac:

tHB

homemadecider · 26-09-2014 9:26am

O Briens have bottles of Absolut for 20 quid this weekend.

Princess Peach · 26-09-2014 10:19am

I won't have time to do anything this year, but from last year I have created an expectation! So be warned, people are not happy that I have to spend time studying rather than making them jams!

leahyl · 26-09-2014 10:21am

The Hill Billy wrote: »

leahyl - banned for 3 months. :pac:

tHB

:pac:

Dizzyblonde · 26-09-2014 12:02pm

It's officially "the run up to Christmas" now we've had our first Santa :rolleyes:

Couch Potatoette · 29-09-2014 9:55am

Has anyone used vodka from Aldi or Lidl before? I'm thinking about getting started on Limoncello and Orangecello this week

Raminahobbin · 29-09-2014 12:14pm

Couch Potatoette wrote: »

Has anyone used vodka from Aldi or Lidl before? I'm thinking about getting started on Limoncello and Orangecello this week

I used this vodka last year for a similar liqueur and it worked quite well. Got it in Lidl IIRC.

It was the cheapest decent quality I could find last year.

RosyLily · 29-09-2014 3:12pm

"Chrriiissstmaaasss time, mistletoe aannnd wiiiinnneee...":D

I have 6 jars left over from last year. Need some deliciousness to fill them.

livinsane · 30-09-2014 10:15pm

I was actually going to revive this thread a few weeks ago but I chickened out. I've made a few nice things in the last week.

Beetroot Chutney from a Darina Allen recipe:

Also made Tomato and Chili Relish using my home grown tomatoes. I usually make it when Lidl cherry toms are 39c and it turns out lovely but this batch is the real deal - dark, sweet, spicy and sticky. Nobody but me is having any!!

RosyLily · 30-09-2014 11:16pm

Tomato and chili relish sounds delish! Recipe? If I give my aunt another 4 jars of cranberry chutney, I think I'll be wearing it Christmas morning!!

Faith · 30-09-2014 11:20pm

I'm making nothing this year as I've no-one to give it to

. It's our first emigrant Christmas!

Pistachios & cream · 01-10-2014 10:11am

I haven't started anything yet and i think i might scale it down a bit this year and just do the greatest hits!

If anyone is looking for jars i got an email this morning from alpack saying they are giving 10% off for all online orders in 2014.

fussyonion · 01-10-2014 10:16am

Faith wrote: »

I'm making nothing this year as I've no-one to give it to . It's our first emigrant Christmas!

Er hello? I'm here. Make stuff. Give to me. End.

janmaree · 01-10-2014 12:12pm

Faith wrote: »

I'm making nothing this year as I've no-one to give it to . It's our first emigrant Christmas!

It might be an idea to make a shortlist of your own personal hits, make some of those for your own pantry and distribute the balance to your closest neighbours? That way it might well be your first emigrant Christmas but you will have taken very kind and thoughtful steps towards making friends with the Natives! The first Christmas away from home is tough but it's also part of the new beginning and can still be spent with people who appreciate your cooking!

Just a thought..........

Faith · 01-10-2014 6:53pm

fussyonion wrote: »

Er hello? I'm here. Make stuff. Give to me. End.

You're in vancouver?

janmaree wrote: »

It might be an idea to make a shortlist of your own personal hits, make some of those for your own pantry and distribute the balance to your closest neighbours? That way it might well be your first emigrant Christmas but you will have taken very kind and thoughtful steps towards making friends with the Natives! The first Christmas away from home is tough but it's also part of the new beginning and can still be spent with people who appreciate your cooking! Just a thought..........

That's a lot of effort :pac:. Im actually quite happy to have a very low-key Christmas with the absolute minimum of fuss and effort

.

Dizzyblonde · 01-10-2014 7:14pm

Faith wrote: »

Im actually quite happy to have a very low-key Christmas with the absolute minimum of fuss and effort .

I'd love a Christmas like that, just once, for a change

Make your own Christmas Prezzies!

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