Homemade christmas gifts

[Shadylane]

Why does fudge have to be such a pain? The first batch needed three goes but it (eventually) turned out fab. I made a second batch as I needed to top up one of the gift boxes but ended up using some left over from batch one - not really as much as I'd have liked but I ran out of time.

This batch was too thick to beat so I tried kneading it instead. Also the butter separated (this was on the second do-over) so was splashing butter everywhere. It's sitting in a semi-solid lump in the pan now awaiting do-over mark 2. I will not be beaten by a bit of sugar and butter. Still, less stressful than traipsing around the shops

[Scarlet]

Pickled eggs.........now there's an idea for next year!

My brothers favourite with a bag of crisps and a pint!

[Snadger]

My brothers favourite with a bag of crisps and a pint!

It would be a handy way to utilise an egg glut also.

[Nicos]

Gosh - this brings back memories of when I was a student in Coventry!
A pint of Flowers and a choice of a pickled egg- or a toffee flavoured 'chupa chups' type lollie to eat at the same time!!

roitelet does an ultra wonderful pickled egg...we need to ask her for the recipe!!

[greenishfing]

I find peoples attitudes to homemade gifts vary greatly.

Many years ago, when my first niece was a baby and I was very skint I made her a teddy bear. I am sure my rather snobby sister was not too impressed even though I was amazed by it. I think it broke her heart a few months later to have to ask for a duplicate please so that she could part my niece from the original for long enough to wash it.

When the same niece was about 5 I knitted her a 100% wool jacket with hood in double knitting wool in a really complicated aran pattern and then embroidered into the pattern in contrasting colours. Yet again her reception of it was lukewarm until other mothers at school wanted to know where she had got this amazing designer??? jacket.

Many years later I tend to give my teenage nieces money as I really have no idea what they would like but at a family party this year one of them asked, very politely, if she could please have some of my strawberry jam and piccalilli this year.

She's got that as an extra.

Some relatives however really seem to think that if a present doesn't have a brand name it's sub-standard in some way.

[Artychoke]

Last year I made sloe gin, chutney and jam as home made gifts then saw a thing about homemade limoncello so I tried that too and it was excellent. I then decided to experiment and make 'Christmas spiced vodka' using orange zest and spices, this was a great hit so I'll be making more this year.


Sent from my iPhone using Grow Your Own Forum

[Nicos]

Oh great!!! ...the first proper Xmas 2014 post!!

Having said that I was only thinking the other day about collecting wild cherries to make an Xmas jam !
No harm in starting to think about it now eh?

[chris]

I've bought most of my xmas presents already.

[veggiechicken]

Aaaaarrrrrgh!!! That's All...............
As you were.

[mrswadders]

Wine bottle waistcoat, bunting,cushions and aprons so far... Got a brilliant book called 'the shirt off his back' loads of ideas for different projects using old shirts.:-D

[chris]

Thanks Mrs W. Pressy for mrs sorted

[mrswadders]

Your welcome if she's anything like me she'll love it!

[Florence Fennel]

Shhhh, don't let G4 hear you or we'll all suffer

[Jeanied]

I've bought most of my xmas presents already.

Good grief, what tablets are you on???

[mrswadders]

Will post some pics over the weekend...