Chucky Mama Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 I don't visit this forum very often so please forgive me if this has been asked 1,000 times. I quite fancey giving homemade foodie Christmas gifts this year. Any ideas? I suppose my one thing would be that they need to have a reasonable shelf life. I have a brother in law that likes piccallili so I am wondering how easy that is to make, having said that he is the only one I know that does so I don't want to have to make a truck load of the stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 there is a christmas hampers thread and a recipe thread somewhere , this might be useful for you to look at ***recipes*** but there arent many on here yet, I think many of them are on separate threads cathy x Cathy - I've merged this into the Hampers thread - you're not going mad! - Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 first buy these which work out at 50p each http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40064702 then choose some recipes from here http://www.recipe-recipes.net/seasoning/seasoning-mixes.htm a lot of the ingredients you'll have anyway, e.g. I'm doing this one, amongst others... http://www.recipe-recipes.net/seasoning/chefs-salt.htm make a fancy label to tie round the neck of the jar with maybe some suggestions how to use; e.g "use in place of salt to add extra zing to soups and casseroles" etc etc there's links at the bottom of the page to other yummy gift ideas too. okay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 p.s. if you want to make any of the sauces like 'sazon preperado' then this is a good place to get bottles. http://www.waresofknutsford.co.uk/products_level4.htm?cat1=preserving&cat2=Bottles&id=8070 I was thinking I'd google for a recipe calling for each of the spice mixes and include that in the hamper too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 13, 2009 Author Share Posted September 13, 2009 Poet I love the idea of spice mixes, my daughter is great at making labels too. Does it have on that site ideas of how to use the spices? I also like the bottles that you have linked to, maybe for flavoured olive oils if anyone has any good recipes for them. just thought, we have an Asia Cash & Carry in Swindon that does huge bags of spices for much less than the supermarkets diddy little pots so it would be really cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 look at the links at the bottom of the page, they have links to all sorts of things, including flavoured oils and vinegars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 13, 2009 Author Share Posted September 13, 2009 OK, so far I am thinking of onion marmalade, vanilla sugar, chef's salt, picallili, pickled onions, mincemeat, small jar of honey from a beekeeper friend, flavoured oil, small jar of homemade jam and am going to look at boiled sweets. Muffin mix like this for children: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2920/christmas-muffin-mix That's the plan so far but still looking for things to add. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 I made onion marmalade from the RC preserves book, it's lovely so think I'm keeping that for myself or I might make some more for hampers actually. I've bought quite a few of those Ikea spice jars so will be doing a few of those spice mixes/rubs and the flavoured sugars; almond, lemon and vanilla. I'm doing bottles of schnapps/liqueurs. I've already made some jam; 'wild apple and elderberry' and 'boozy plum, apple and bramble' (made with the plums from the schnapps). I've made some mango chutney using a marguerite patten recipe and it's lovely. nearer the time I'll probably do some little biscuits or sweets, the puddini bon bons were a hit last year so will probably make more of those. I'll be doing some flavoured oils and some spiced nuts from that site with the spice mixes too. oh and some chilli jam, that was a huge hit last year! not sure what else at the moment as I get ideas all the time so we'll see oh yes, I got a huge basket of pears from a friend so will be making lots of pear and vanilla jam, I call it 'pear honey' as I think it tastes like honey I'm sure I'll make some pear chutney too as there's an awful lot of pears! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 13, 2009 Author Share Posted September 13, 2009 Do you have any good recipes for flavoured oils that have a decent shelf life? Also would like ot make some ginger beer, have not been very successful so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 no, I was just going to google for some when I'm ready. Our ginger beer was a bit rubbish so I'm not bothering with that again. you could get a beer kit and then bottle it? 'Milestone Olde Homewrecker' is lovely!!! It's about £14.99 for the kit and it makes 40 pints, you could then just buy some beer bottles and caps and a thingy majig that puts the caps on, your local home brew shop should be able to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 I thought the onion marmalade recipe sounded really good and plan to make that very soon. Think I might double up the recipe as I think it might go down well. Got my copy of RC preserves yesterday and have made a start this weekend with Strawberry Jam and Seasonal Chutney. Got lots more planned. Having a go at the blackberry and apple gin and think I will do the spiced cranberry vodka which I think is Cinnamons recipe. Chilli sauce is also a definate addition. Here is this weekends efforts. I have made my own labels this year on the pooter too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 I thought the onion marmalade recipe sounded really good and plan to make that very soon. Think I might double up the recipe as I think it might go down well. Got my copy of RC preserves yesterday and have made a start this weekend with Strawberry Jam and Seasonal Chutney. Got lots more planned. Having a go at the blackberry and apple gin and think I will do the spiced cranberry vodka which I think is Cinnamons recipe. Chilli sauce is also a definate addition. Here is this weekends efforts. I have made my own labels this year on the pooter too. Wow, looking extremley professional there Where did you get your jars from please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 looking good mrs T!!! wondering if one of those strawberry jams might end up in my stocking? my jams http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3453821&l=5fd183e6d9&id=568396756 http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3453822&l=516b503eba&id=568396756 and mango chutney http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3458269&l=9263f049f2&id=568396756 Oh, and various beverages steeping away http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3303321&l=4e865a771c&id=568396756 and onion marmalade with recipe http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3090469&l=afbc6bdecc&id=568396756 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 there is a christmas hampers thread and a recipe thread somewhere , this might be useful for you to look at ***recipes*** but there arent many on here yet, I think many of them are on separate threads cathy x Cathy - I've merged this into the Hampers thread - you're not going mad! - Lesley phew, I did wonder cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 oh I forgot Ive made some Apple and Ginger Jam today its Zingy (with a capital ZZZ ) 2 cups/300g of fresh ginger roots 8 apples 2 1/4 cups / 500ml water 5 cups/1kg sugar 1 tsp ginger powder peel/cleanup/core fresh ginger roots and apples and whizz up in a food processor put apples and ginger into large sauce pan, put in water and boil until ginger is soft. put sugar in pan and cook for an extra half an hour, stir (but be carful, cos its a bit like vesuvious ) next, stir in ginger powder and remove from the heat. put into clean jam jars and seal I warn you, its very gingery ive put it into VERY small jars, cos I think i might get it back if I give people too much cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 I'm also making little pots of home-made hand cream using a James Wong recipe from 'grow your own drugs'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 Why Thankyou for the compliment Mrs T. I see what I can do regards Santa and Strawberry Jam Ygerna, I get my jars from a bee supplier, eithr Thornes or Masemore Apiarys whichever has the best offers on at the time. We get them for honey but I get to pinch them to put my jam and chutney in. They are not very expensive but the postage makes them dear so watch out for the postage costs if you go down this route. Cathy, I made some apple and ginger chutney once in a similar vein and food processed all the stuff to make it smooth. I bought a smooth chutney from some food fair I think and decided to try and re create it because it was yummy. It kind of came out like a very thick sauce and it was really lovley on cheese sandwiches. I never wrote down what I did though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 14, 2009 Author Share Posted September 14, 2009 Wow I am so impressed with all of the photos and am so excited about getting stuck in and making something. Much more fun making Christmas presents! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted September 15, 2009 Share Posted September 15, 2009 ooh oh, I just remembered something else I am making for my hampers, Pot pouri (sp?). I've been collecting fir cones on the walk to and from school as we pass some large fir trees. I've then been giving them a good soak in salt water, air drying them for a couple of days then popping them into sealable bags with drops of my chosen essential oils. I've also been drying orange slices in the oven to use too The children have been very enthusiastic cone collectors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 27, 2009 Author Share Posted September 27, 2009 Well, so far this is what I have made, all with the help of the River COttage No 2 Preserves book (my new best friend). Picallili Onion Marmalade Sweet Chilli Jelly Pickled Onions Strawberry Jam Beetroot All taste really scrummy I am going to have to make extra Sweet Chilli Jelly and Onion Marmalade as it is so nice we will be eating it all year ourselves. I am not left with Vanilla Sugar (need to source some cheap pods). Barley Sugar and perhaps some spice bags. After Poet's post I will not be doing flavoured oils! I have had so much fun I got some collapsable boxes from Lidl that were £3 each and am going to decorate them with ribbon. I thought that they would be really useful for people afterwards around the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 Wow - well done Chucky mama - what does it take to get on your Christmas list then? That book is a Godsend,isn't it? I have been a bit slack the last few weeks, having been knocked sideways by a fluey viral thing,but am hoping to get the Mincemeat on the go this week at least Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 27, 2009 Author Share Posted September 27, 2009 oh crikey, I'd forgotten the mincemeat, I haven't made it before but I am making some for us, don't think I will put it in my hampers though. My mum always used to make pickled onions and beetroots so this is all new to me but I am really enjoying it. I love shopping for Christmas presents but I am enjoying this more I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Just drained my spiced cranberry vodka and couldnt resist popping in my mouth one of the Gin soaked prunes. Perhaps a bit much for 9am in the morning as they are very potent I have taken them out and put them in a container in the freezer as they are just asking to get covered in chocolate as a hamper addition. I did some chocolates out of last years rhubarb that had been soaked in Vodka. They were really yummy. The Cranberry vodka tastes really good too Better put the lid on or I will be on the floor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 There are some fantastic ideas on here! Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshinesupernova Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I've made Snowflake Rocky Road tonight as a trial run and some very pretty handmade gift boxes. I'm ready to have a go at making home made marshmallows. The gelatine is already soaking - but I didn't count on the fact that I'd need the electric mixer (whisk) on for at least 15 mins..... As everyone is fast asleep in bed - it'll have to wait until morning. I'll likely need anotherlot of gelatine by then ! I usually make fudge in an array of flavours too. With the chocolate coated fruit soaked in alchohol that's frozen... DO you dip in the chocolate when frozen or thawed ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
