Mrs Frugal Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 I may be daft enough to double post, but not quite daft enough to peel & core crab apples!!!! I have a friend who tried once . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted October 7, 2008 Author Share Posted October 7, 2008 I may be daft enough to double post, but not quite daft enough to peel & core crab apples!!!! Peel and core CRAB apples?! I thought you had to take the shells off and take the legs off. Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Eating apples don't cook down in the same way as cookers - they stay as they are sliced whereas cookers go fluffy. If you only have eaters then it may be worth trying though. I was the lucky recipient of one of Christian's hampers yesterday Lucky, lucky Christian's family is all I can say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Lucky you! I best there's a queue to be on Christian's gift list! I'm new to this hamper malarky & am still undecided how to present the goodies! I do like the idea of newspaper bags posted on another thread - we always seem to have newspapers around (they are cheap & easy to make!!), but I also like the idea of baskets & jute bages (BHWT - thanks Poet!) too. So much for keeping the costs down!! Sha xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I also like the idea of baskets & jute bages (BHWT - thanks Poet!) too. So much for keeping the costs down!! Sha xx Have you tried a garden centre? They sell smallish baskets for a couple of pounds each. I managed to get mine in 'oil and Vinegar' in Salisbury - £1.75 each dead chuffed with that. I was the lucky recipient of one of Christian's hampers yesterday Lucky, lucky Christian's family is all I can say! Thanks Lesley! (was a mini hamper ) Have several tons of crab apples to cook now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted October 10, 2008 Author Share Posted October 10, 2008 I got some baskets in a pound shop last year. This year I've gone for silvery metal mixing bowls - 90p-£1 from Morrison's or Wilkinsons. They can be reused for kitchen purposes or as fruit bowls. Ikea often have affordable baskets too. Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracefruit Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I make hand-blended chai tea. Recipe and instructions here: http://gracefruit.blogspot.com/2008/10/dreaded-c-word.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 It's easy peasy lemon squeezy . Halve or quarter (but don't peel or core) your crab apples and put them in a large jar - I use either a very large kilner jar or an empty glass cider flagon. Add about 8oz caster sugar and top up the jar with brandy - you can use less sugar if you don't like a sweet drink. Put a lid on and shake well every day for a fortnight then leave to steep in a cool dark place for as long as you can. I start mine off in August as my crab apple tree is ready then and leave them steeping till just before Christmas. Strain off the crab apples and decant the flavoured brandy into new bottles. It is absolutely divine! Hi Kate, me again, I've got a 2kg kilner jar, half filled with crab apples, before I pour in all the brandy, is this enough CAs or shall I keep chopping more in? Don't want to end up with syrup without much flavour!! Sorry to be a bit daft - again, but I don't want to muck up your recipe!! DH's already dubious about the different grog jars I've got on the top! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Hi Sha, Half a jar would be fine. I didn't have many crab apples left last year so only half filled my jar but this year, it's chocka!! If you add the sugar and top up the jar with brandy. Shake well daily for a fortnight then leave till Christmas. Then enjoy............ ...........and tell OH to trust me, I'm a housewife . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Me too, I just don't drink much to know if something's good or not!!! Must make my New Year's Resolution to try more things, like CA Brandy, Apple Schnapps, Sloe Gin (although I have tried SG & was not impressed!!! )...... Thanks again, Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Thanks Lesley! (was a mini hamper ) That was a mini hamper? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Come on Lesley, tell us more - Mr Christian sounds a very generous man! Am wondering what I have to aspire to....! Sha xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 ooooh! Hedgerow Jelly, Mincemeat, Christmas Pudding........ this is a bit like the Generation Game ..... .......a cuddly toy....... a beautiful tin of Smoked Paprika and...............some of the Nigella's Fudge ...and a piece of Christmas cake for Carl to taste test as i don't like dried fruit (well, not fruit that looks like squashed flies anyway ) All beautifully wrapped and labelled Those crab apples that Christian came to pick must have worked out as the most expensive apples ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 I forgot the chilli oil as well! Never mind, maybe next time? Spiced nuts, raspberry vodka, rhubarb vodka, sloe gin and cinnamon's spiced vodka to go in the hampers too, plus mini mince pies and fudge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 I forgot the chilli oil as well! Never mind, maybe next time? Spiced nuts, raspberry vodka, rhubarb vodka, sloe gin and cinnamon's spiced vodka to go in the hampers too, plus mini mince pies and fudge Can I come to your house for Christmas please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 does anyone have any photos of previous hampers they've done? I'd love to see them, partly for inspiration and partly cos I'm nosey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Just been flicking through iphoto, but don't have any finished hamper pics, sorry Will take a couple this year though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Thanks Poet, you saved me asking first!! Any piccies would be avidly looked at here too.....for exactly the same reasons Sha xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 We've just been to Anglesey for the weekend....and collected our fix of sea salt. Last year I asked about smaller tubes of salt as it isn't the cheapest salt around......this year they have all their flavoured salts in the small tubes. I bought loose ones in their shop but they do a gift pack as well - and they do mail order. http://www.seasalt.co.uk/wisscms-en-360.aspx I'm adding the little tubes of salt to the hampers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Will have to look into those smaller tubes Lesley! I made a few Nigella Christmas spiced salt jars for the hampers http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o272/christianl_bucket/IMG_0088.jpg Easy, once I found red peppercorns Edit - unable to resize as Photobucket is playing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Wouldn't we all just love to be one of Christian's best friends! Well I've made picallili, pickled onions, plum jam (in baby jars), 2 of the easy peasy Xmas cakes. I need to make some chocolate truffles nearer to Xmas. I also have loads of limoncello, that I'm not too keen on. It's perfectly fine, just wish I'd made something different. It's very potent! It needs dispensing into smaller bottles, so I can give as gifts...anyone? I am also knitting several things at the moment .Any easy hamper ideas please send them this way - I love making stuff & I'm going to give my mum & dad a bumper hamper this year to cheer them up. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Thank you Emma have you tried the honeyed fig vinegar in the Nigella's Christmas book? Dead easy and looks lovely! It keeps for a year too Not at home at the mo, but will post the recipe tomorrow when I get a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenGirl Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Can I ask how you make your own fruit leather? i love that, and see Mrs Bertie included it in her hamper. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Not made it myself yet, but bought the River Cottage Preserves book by Pam Corbin on the strength of it!! Was saving it til nearer Christmas, but really should have a dry run first! The basic idea is make a smooth puree of chosen fruits, spread very thinly on a lined baking sheet & dry in a very cool oven (60deg!) for 12-18 hours. Of course if you live in seriously sunny climes, you could dry it in the sun....some chance here!! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I won't be making it again - I left it for over 24 hours and parts of it were still too soft . I ended up with lots of odd shaped dried bits which tasted yummy but not suitable to give as a present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
