Homemade food gifts as christmas presents

[FlowersAndShit]

What do you all think about homemade hampers with things like hm shortbread? Would you appreciate them or would they go straight in the bin?

I'd say just to be careful and not put too much of the same thing in. My SIL has given us three, first one had lots of mince pies and I already had enough, second one had loads of cheese (usually great for me, but DH hates it and I'd already got plenty). Last year it was spot on, one sort a few different things. If you haven't got time make everything, you could cheat and add alcohol, cheese, jar or something, nice pasta.

Secretly hoping SIL has got it right for us and she'll do it again sometime (we both made a point thanking her again after Xmas).

hamper of my favourite treats from my foodie brother and SIL - fab, best present ever! Homemade jam or biscuits from my child's teacher, to thank me for helping in class - wonderful, love it!

Random chutneys and piccalillies from my mum - no thanks, I still don't eat them.

Someone's shoved some pear drops in vodka and given a bottle to everyone they buy for, accompanied by some flour and sugar (sorry, cookie mix) in a kilner jar - ugh.

Always get my brother an M&S hamper for Xmas, he loves it! Good value too, jam, biscuits, tea, cakes etc and they deliver it.

In fact, I'm off to check online if they have any pre-Christmas specials..

Not for me. I have made a hamper up for inlaws but everything was shop bought and what their liked. Id be worried re making someone ill or becone ill if homemade. (Not that i ever had)

They not their unhelpful ipad!!

Sibling does this every year. Nice posh bag with home made sweets, biscuits and booze. Saves buying stuff people don't want! More cash for kids presents too.

Genuine question, why is it such an issue if their kids helped?

dd1 is 10, she is a good cook, she will be baking shortbread for her teacher. She does homemade stuff for Grandparents every year.

dd2 is 7 she is also a good cook, and made sweets for family last year.

Both girls know perfectly well how to wash their hands etc, and have done since tiny.

Besides which, anything properly cooked is well, cooked, so even if there was bacteria in the first place, it is now dead!

My biggest issue is shelf life. Too much food at Christmas.
I also don't do any soaps/bath smellies due to sensitive skin, so whether bought or made it is no good.

I think it works best for specific people when you know their taste.

No, it wouldn't be my thing - I'm not fussy about food but I just wouldn't use it - I don't drink, my husband doesn't drink flavoured stuff, there's only so many pickles, jus,syrup, sauce that one household can use. Now I do like knitted stuff - hats, scarves, throws etc. I'd use them.
But not so much with the food, sweets, cakes.

Sometimes it seems to be something the giver likes to do as opposed to what the recepient might appreciate.

I'm interested about the duslike of children making things - I'd appreciate a gift of homemade biscuits etc from a child far more than from an adult (similarly a gift of a drawing etc).

The thing is, you can make two batches of shortbread in the time it takes to choose the wool for a throw - I spend three months making a blanket and I've got to like someone A LOT to go to that much trouble for them. I can do a hat in an evening, so if I like you quite a bit, you might get one.

I love getting cakes, chutneys, booze etc from people if they are nice. Runny jam, not so much. But I am far too polite so say anything negative.

I'm surprised at how many people say they wouldn't want this stuff. Why not? It's food! Yum!

I am a very fussy eater and it would be a thumbs down from me, especially stuff like pickles and flavoured alcohol.

I wasn't going to do stuff this year, but have already had three people ask me if they can please have fig chutney again, and two requests for salted caramels.

What's not to like about free delicious homemade food

Can I put my name down for one please?

(clearly too much time on my hands today as doing too many emojis)

Just want to thank you for this thread! It's a light bulb moment.

DD3 has been saying she's old enough to want to buy gifts for her step grandparents and step aunts and uncles at xmas this year as they are so generous to her. She really can't afford much though and has so many people to buy for.

I'm going to suggest making something delish and wrapping it up beautifully in sellophane and ribbon parcels. She's a fantastic little baker and everyone always loves her cakes, profiteroles and flapjacks ect. and look forward to eating her efforts Great!

I prefer the jars filled with ingredients for a baked good and labelled with instructions. I'd probably save it for a dark gloomy day in January.

Otherwise what about a blend of spices? I bet Pinterest will have recipes for curry powder or meat rub.

I do a hamper every year for my ILs.

I don't put in anything home made, just nice chutneys, cheese, pate, crackers, wine, biscuits, chocolates etc. I give it to them a couple of days before Christmas, firstly because I wouldn't like to pack up a hamper with fresh food in then have it hanging around, so I pack it and take it straight to them, but also so they've got some nicies to enjoy in the days leading up to Christmas.

I use a shallow box, wrap it up in Christmas paper, then buy Christmas cellophane and a bow to finish it off. I did look into buying a nice wicker basket but they cost just as much as the contents of the hamper!

I'm absolutely flummoxed at the poster who needs to be sure the DC haven't licked the spoon and - shock horror - I can barely type the words! - 'put it back in the mix'. That's the kind of hysteria you'd rarely find anywhere except MN - and I presume you do far worse things than licking a spoon when you have gasp - SEX - with your husband/partner/FWB/cocklodger (delete where applicable).
I always do a lovely hamper of biscuits, jams, very special chutney and some home made cheese for my best friend - she bloody loves it. This year she's also getting some salted fudge. I love doing it and she loves receiving it!

yum yum.

I'd love some homemade goodies! preferably to include fudge and lemon curd!
MUCH more thoughful than a box of chocolates or a box of smellies from the body shop/M&S.

What percentage of people are ill after eating a cake, where someone has licked the spoon and put it back in the mixture, compared to the percentage of people who are ill after eating raw egg in a cake mixture?

I'm not keen personally. Friend keeps giving me home made loganberry jam in lieu of "real" gifts. It's revolting

I'm a fussy eater and don't like jam, chutney etc so it would just be a waste.

As a one off for somebody you know wants those items it's nice but when it's a generic batch it may as well be a smellie set from Boots.

I think the message here OP is know your audience! No point getting yourself in a flap with the baking tins like I do every year when you should be getting pissed relaxing by a roaring fire if there's the remotest possible chance they'll throw it straight in the bin as soon as your back is turned not appreciate your efforts. It's one of those situations where people won't give you negative feedback out of politeness.

Hmmmm. I've not personally worked in a factory making food but I've seen/heard enough comments from people who have to be very sceptical that food hygiene is guaranteed if you buy everything ready-made.

I would love a hamper with decent chutney, jam, cake, biscuits etc etc. It would not go to waste in our house!