Xmas present ideas - foodie?

[Polly Fouracre]

Herb pillows make lovely gifts.An inner case of muslin,padded with polyester wadding and with a good handful of herbs.I use hops,lavender and lime flowers. A pretty outer case and there you are.
Wonderful for a good night's sleep,I made one for a small grandson who suffered from nightmares and he now sleeps very well.

Unusual preserves are always appreciated.Try hawthorn-berry jelly,
3lbs.hawthorn berries
One and a half pts.water
Strained juice of 2 lemons
1lb.sugar to each pt. of juice
snip as many stalks off haws as you can(it won't matter if a few are left)Wash them and put in a large pan with water.Bring to the boil and simmer gently for an hour,occasinally mashing the berris with the back of a wooden spoon.
Drip through muslin overnight and measure juice into a large pan,add lemon juice and sugar and boil rapidly until set.(from All Good Things Around Us,Pamela Michael)
Look at a few hawthorn trees and choose the one with the biggest haws.
Rose-hips also make a nice jelly,treated in the same way'

[JazzDuke]

Why would you want to put green food colouring in apple and mint jelly? But anyways, don't stop with mint, try sage (for cold pork), rosemary (lamb) and chilli.

Does anyone the correct trick to keep the herbs spread out in the jelly?

[shirlthegirl43]

Why would you want to put green food colouring in apple and mint jelly? But anyways, don't stop with mint, try sage (for cold pork), rosemary (lamb) and chilli.

Does anyone the correct trick to keep the herbs spread out in the jelly?

I assume the green colouring is to remind you it is mint. To keep the herbs spread through the jelly, stir with a clean kebab stick or similar as the jelly cools but before it has totally set.

[muckdiva]

Why would you want to put green food colouring in apple and mint jelly? But anyways, don't stop with mint, try sage (for cold pork), rosemary (lamb) and chilli.

Does anyone the correct trick to keep the herbs spread out in the jelly?

Maybe it's the same as keeping strawberries from sinking in jam - I think you allow the jam/jelly to cool slightly and then give it a good stir before potting up. I'm sure there must be a jelly expert out there who will know for sure. Mmmm, love apple and mint jelly. (Actually I'm too lazy to do the jelly thing and just make 'apple and mint' jam instead.) Still tastes fab with lamb.

[chrissie the chippy]

not much help for this year, but next year I'm hoping that I'll bee able to grow all our friends a christmas dinner basket

A nice wicker basket with every veg and home made sauce they will need for their christmas dinner. Will have to learn how to store the carrots properly, but I'm sure it can be done

Sticking to ginger bread houses this year, hoping it might be something me and my daughter can do every year together for family, if we're any good at it that is

[sandy]

I`m new here so Hi Everybody!. Rowan Jelly is lovely and very easy to make and there are heaps of sloes this year. Last year I gave most of the family sloe gin or sloe vodka. It didn`t last very long.

[Sue]

Sandy
Hi and welcome to the Vine, I haven't got access to sloes so made Damson Gin and Vodka instead, only I don't know that I could bear to part with it!
I got into the habit of having a tot when home, freezing cold, from the allotment but it ran out in February - this year plan to have enough till late Spring.
best wishes
Sue
PS
I'm going to make some Pear Honey (recipe posted before), everyone I've given this too loves it. Just like honey but with a pear fragrance. It's not available anywhere on sale so it makes a great gift. Just need to get enough pears stored up to have a big preserving session.

[TPeers]

The bottled pears sound yum, if you have the recipe T Peers....

Can't find the formal recipe, sorry for the delay, but from memory.

Carefully peal several pears, leaving the stalks in place. Put the pears into a heavy based pan and cover with cooking liquor (more below). Poach gently until just cooked. Place pears into clean, well warmed kilner jars or similar, packing them in in an upright position, top with the cooking liquor and seal with the lids.

Cooking liquor - this can be made in various ways depending on the recipient. Start with a heavy sugar syrup - that is equal amounts of sugar and water (say 1lb sugar and 1 pint water) bring slowly to the boil, then simmer for about 10 mins.

Variations - use some red wine or port in place of some of the water

Add cinnamon or cloves and some orange peal to 'spice' the liquor

Basically give it a try - if you think that peppr and pears go together - give it a go - you may be right! (but do try it before giving it to a friend! )