Home-made Xmas presents

[wiskey]

i just tried to take a picture of it and i dropped it and a twiglet broke

so once i've fixed it (again) i'll show you all it

they would be good xmas tree twiglets wouldnt they, pity christmas is cancelled in our house and anyway i normally hang goldfish from the tree (plastic ones) instead of baubles.

 

[wiskey]

taa daa

excuse the rubbish photo

 

[Tank Girl]

yay! well done

this must be about the fifth year running you've cancelled christmas!

 

[Wookey]

Nice one wiskey.

 

[RubyToogood]

I've just made some of those for my sister, but without the beads as they would rattle on the piano keys. They were dead easy and are so lovely I need to make some for myself.

Incidentally, Winter Knitty's up

I'm having a stab at these and I would not call them dead easy . The combination of kidsilk haze and DPNs is infuriatingly fiddly, specially when the KSH is darkest dark red and you can hardly see the stitches at all

Still, I'm on the arm bit now so all is peaceful ribbing.

 

[Ms T]

Right, I'm all set now to make spiced peaches and chocolate-pistachio fudge. Does anyone know where you can get little cellophane bags for putting fudge in?

 

[mrsfran]

Confetti - they sell bags to put party favours in. http://www.confetti.co.uk/product/find/0.do

 

[Wookey]

Right, I'm all set now to make spiced peaches and chocolate-pistachio fudge. Does anyone know where you can get little cellophane bags for putting fudge in?

We got some fudge wrapped up in a single sheet of fancy cellophane and tied with ribbons into a bundle, it looks brilliant. The kind of cellophane they wrap flowers in, you know.

 

[Wookey]

This is Wookey's kitchen in the middle of the chocolate nightmare. Do not try this at home unless you enjoy tidying up, and eating chocolate spares.

 

[Wookey]

These are the boozy ones!!

Kahlua Chocolate Truffles

1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon butter
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon Kahlua
4 ounces milk chocolate
Unsweetened cocoa for dusting

Makes 12 truffles

Combine the cream and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Pour the cream-and-butter mixture over the chocolate in a large mixing bowl. Add the Kahlua and stir until smooth. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours or until set.

Using 2 teaspoons, shape the chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, rolling with the palms of your hands, and set aside on waxed paper. Chill for 1 hour. Melt the milk chocolate. Dip the chilled balls in the milk chocolate and immediately roll each in cocoa. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours or until the chocolate hardens. Drizzle with Kahlua infused white chocolate. Store in an airtight container between layers of waxed paper.

 

[Wookey]

These are the crunchy ones!! We used Bailey's instead of Kahlua in these. Because it's Christmas.

2 1/2 cups finely crushed chocolate wafers (about 45 wafers)
1 cup finely chopped walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, almonds, or hazelnuts
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/3 cup Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
1-2 tablespoons water
5 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
6 ounces white chocolate, chopped

RECIPE METHOD

In a large mixing bowl stir together the chocolate wafer crumbs, chopped nuts, powdered sugar, and Kahlúa or other liqueur. Add enough of the water so crumbs hold together. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.

In a small, heavy saucepan heat semisweet chocolate and shortening over low heat till melted. In another small, heavy saucepan heat white baking bar till melted. With a fork, dip half of the cookies into the semisweet chocolate mixture to coat; place on cookie sheet. Dip remaining cookies in melted white baking bar to coat; place on cookie sheet.

With the tip of a spoon, thinly drizzle white baking bar mixture in a zigzag pattern over cookies coated with semisweet chocolate. Repeat with semisweet chocolate, drizzling over cookies coated with white baking bar mixture. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes, or till chocolate is firm. Store in refrigerator.

In case you're wondering, semi-sweet chocolate is just 70% and above chocolate.

 

[Wookey]

Port and Cranberry Orange Relish

Ingredients

1 lb (450 g) fresh cranberries
rind and juice 1 large orange
1 heaped teaspoon freshly grated root ginger or ½ level teaspoon ground ginger
3 oz (75 g) caster sugar
1½ inch (4 cm) piece cinnamon stick
4 cloves
2-3 tablespoons port

Couldn't get any easier - pan, ingredients, heat till gooey, slop into warmed jars. Who knew relish was such a breeze? The jars are decorated with scraps of Xmas material, and recycled paper labels upon which I have drawn cranberries!!

Next year, we shall be mostly scoffing relishes.

 

[Wookey]

My favourites, the pickles!!

Introducing on the left, Wookey's Spicy Beetroots!!

4lb of fresh beetroots (in season, choose the very smallest you can find)
pickling vinegar
jars
pickling spices (can be bought as a packet, or I concocted the same from mixed pepercorns and a bag of Garam Masala I had in the fridge, which contains whole cloves, cinammon sticks, etc, that you would find in pickling spice.

Bring the vinegar and spices to a simmer, whilst you tender-boil the beets. Stack the cooked beets (I cooked mine in a sugar water for sweetness) into the jars and then pour over the (incredibly spicy and lovely) vinegar. I decorated the jars with a minimalist stripe of matching handmade paper.

On the right, we have Wookey's Patented Cauliflower and Radish Blush.

1/2 cup salt
5 cups water
1 large cauliflower
5 cups cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon whole allspice
1 teaspoon peppercorns
2 cinnamon sticks
3 dried red chilies
6 radishes

Combine salt and water in a large pan and stir over low heat until salt is dissolved. Chop cauliflower coarsely. Place cauliflower in a large bowl and cover with salted water. Cover with a dry cloth and stand overnight. Drain.

Place vinegar, sugar, cloves, allspice, peppercorns, cinnamon and chilies into a pan. Bring slowly to boil and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Strain and reserve liquid and spices.

Chop radishes and combine with drained cauliflower. Pack into warm, sterilized jars and add reserved whole cloves, allspice, peppercorns, cinnamon and chilies. Return pickling mixture to heat and bring to boil. Pour boiling liquid over vegetables and seal. These take two weeks to mature. I decorated the jars with handmade glittery labels, and more of that material which says 'Merry Christmas' on. To tie the caps on I used some Christmas string which I guess is used to wrap presents, but which frays into a really nice glittery effect, and matched the green and red and white of the colour scheme.

I called it Cauliflower Blush because the radishes stained the pickling vinegar a lovely shade of pink, and I am a poet after all.

 

[Wookey]

I'm hoping to make a gingerbread house for the children to decorate on Christmas Day - we're having great fun with the architectural plans at the moment. Then I just need some nice nutty, chocolatey biscuits, and I can start bagging them up for the old man to deliver.

 

[sojourner]

ooo the truffles look great! I bought all the stuff to make peppermint creams and non-boozy choccy truffles today - even managed to find some little truffley holders in shiny coloured foil

Gonna make mine xmas eve I think

 

[Tank Girl]

that all looks amazing wookey, the recipients are very lucky

 

[lillia]

Alright, shut up, I apologise for the early Xmas thread - but many homemade pressies need much time and love to be made, so I have to post early.

BUMP!!!!

Sorry - it is horribly early to be thinking of Christmas now, but because of this thread I decided last year that I'd do the hamper idea this Christmas - with some knitted gifts or jewellery tucked in as well.
I've been itching to bump this thread for weeks, but thought I'd get shouted down Thought October was just about justified!
The cost-spreading over the next few months should help me as well - am really strapped for cash this year.

I've started on a knitted scarf, and a knitted throw thingy for my Mum, so that's underway... also bought the silver and bead-y bits for the jewellery.

Food-wise I'd decided to start on pickled summat this weekend - figure if I do one thing every couple of weeks it won't be as labour intensive nearer the time! I liked the Christmas relish recipe Wookey posted last year, so might start with that...

So, huge apologies for the Christmas reminder - but thought other people who'd seen this last year too late might like a reminder and helpful ideas if they wanted to do summat like this this year.

 

[Tank Girl]

good bump lilia I was thinking about doing the same myself, as I defintely want to make stuff for people this year.

 

[mrsfran]

Yay!

I am considering making mint sauce/jelly for people this year, as I have a mint plant I never use.

 

[sojourner]

nah, I'm usually a bit of a scrooge on the xmas front, but good bump!

I'm gonna make those choccies again for my mum and dad. Might even get round to doing the ginger beer as well, if Wookey's mister ever did get his arse into gear over the recipe

 

[sojourner]

Yay!

I am considering making mint sauce/jelly for people this year, as I have a mint plant I never use.

Now THAT'S a good idea! I've got shitloads of mint!

 

[mrsfran]

Also, now is the time to email your workmates and ask them to save jam jars etc for you.

 

[Hellsbells]

Everyone's getting a homemade prezzie from me this year. Whether they like it or not!!

I'm knitting a patchwork cushion for my mum. Loads of squares - all different shades of blue, using different tyes of stitches for each square. Thought it would be a good way to practice my knitting! The image i have of it in my head is really cool, but whether or not it'll turn out that good in reality....hmmmm

Also,
Got loads of beads and stuff to make jewellery.
Gonna make a hamper of food for my dad
Someone's gonna have to get a knitted scarf/socks/gloves/hat

Oh, and as i'm doing a pottery class, several people are going to get pots and bowls.

 

[lillia]

Everyone's getting a homemade prezzie from me this year. Whether they like it or not!!

I'm knitting a patchwork cushion for my mum. Loads of squares - all different shades of blue, using different tyes of stitches for each square. Thought it would be a good way to practice my knitting! The image i have of it in my head is really cool, but whether or not it'll turn out that good in reality....hmmmm

That sounds lovely!

Also - Miss Fran if the mint jelly goes well can you post up a recipe???

 

[sojourner]

Also, now is the time to email your workmates and ask them to save jam jars etc for you.

all of my 'workmates' live with their parents and are under the age of 25

they don't even eat jam i expect

 

[geminisnake]

all of my 'workmates' live with their parents and are under the age of 25

they don't even eat jam i expect

Their parents and grandparents might I'd bring you jars but I suspect I wouldn't get through security

 

[felixthecat]

I bought some hinged plywood boxes in the pound shop and I'm going to paint thrm to suit the individual they're for and fill them with the daughters homemade truffles.

 

[blues]

May not "quite" fit the criteria of home-made, but last year I bought some of those little glass nightlight jars and painted the recipients' pets on them with glass paints. You don't have to be a fab artist, (I'm definitely not) - just the basic animal shape painted in the right colour combo went down really well.

 

[mrsfran]

That sounds lovely!

Also - Miss Fran if the mint jelly goes well can you post up a recipe???

I certainly will.

I might also make my own Christmas cards this year. Because we were so lax at sending thank you cards after our wedding (for which I am full of shame), we want to send everyone a copy of the big group photo, so I thought might be nice to buy some card and a few stamps and make the cards ourselves too.

 

[mrsfran]

I done a new thread. http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=265568