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Original poster

Homemade food gifts as christmas presents

241 replies

FlowersAndShit · 14/10/2015 12:53

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?

OP posts:
DoveCazzoEIlMioCaffe · 15/10/2015 07:35

blinkered hygene freaks with distorted palates - Exactly!

AMonsterInParis · 15/10/2015 07:56

Wow, people get really mad if you don't want a homede hamper!

AMonsterInParis · 15/10/2015 07:57

Ahem, home made

nooka · 15/10/2015 07:57

I was particularly sad to see the comments about never eating anything made by a child. I was brought up to believe that Christmas was about giving presents as much as receiving them (religious family, no Santa traditions) so every year we would make presents for all of our immediate family members. Very often chocolates. I've kept this up as much as I can with my own children and especially when they were younger it was a real highlight to see their pleasure as their lovingly made things were received and appreciated. I'm very glad that my family love to get homemade presents.

DoveCazzoEIlMioCaffe · 15/10/2015 08:18

Wow, people get really mad if you don't want a homede hamper!

No. You are quite mistaken. People get really mad when others insinuate that home made gifts are cheap/nasty/a cop out/full of dog spit/made by halfwitted children etc etc. It's just a bit off to (wilfully) not realise that a lot of thought and expense goes into doing something like this. Mostly we do it because we're good at it and because our friends like it. Mostly we don't do it for a place to hide cat hair, spitballs, fag ends and cheap ingredients! Grin

Shodan · 15/10/2015 08:28

I love anything homemade, although I would struggle to get through too much jam/chutney, since I'm really the only one in the household that eats them. But nobody does homemade stuff for me.

On a side note- if I was given preserved lemons I would have absolutely no clue what to do with them. Can someone enlighten me, please?

DoveCazzoEIlMioCaffe · 15/10/2015 08:48

There are lots of websites that give ideas how to use them Shodan - this is but one

Preserved Lemons

Funnily enough for someone who will preserve anything that stands still long enough I've never done these - perhaps I will now. Smile

Shodan · 15/10/2015 09:02

Blush Thank you Dove. I was being lazy by not Googling Grin

I shall have a look.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 15/10/2015 09:12

Jams and chutneys, we don't use a lot of them and I enjoy making my own so don't need extra, but I would use them. Flavoured vodka/gin - just wouldn't get used I'm afraid. Perishable stuff is tricky as we are away from Boxing Day for a week or so. Things we could take with us, biscuits, brownies etc are fine. I also like handcrafted Christmas decorations, but would be less keen on hats, scarves etc as I already have loads that I hardly wear.

Waltermittythesequel · 15/10/2015 09:25

I agree with the poster who said sometimes it's a bit 'look at how talented I am'.

I probably wouldn't use any of the stuff like preserves and chutneys etc but I'd never let on!

It also wouldn't dawn on me to give back the jars!

It's all just a bit too shabby-chic bandwagon for me but I do think people who can make all that stuff are very talented.

PassiveAgressiveQueen · 15/10/2015 09:30

Are we talking family and close friends?
As then i presume you know the stuff they eat so can tailor the baking.
I personally would go all out on one major bake off style cake, batch of sweets than a full hamper.

Damselindestress · 15/10/2015 09:52

Oh dear... I'd been thinking of making some homemade hampers this year. It's more personal than shop bought stuff IMO but I didn't realize some people had such strong feelings against them Blush Confused. If someone gave me a homemade hamper I would be pleased they put so much effort into it and eat the food if I could, although I do have some dietary restrictions. If I couldn't eat it I would pass it on to someone who could. It's horrible to think about people lovingly preparing gifts that just get thrown in the bin! I don't think the hamper option is 'cheapskate', the money can add up once you've paid for quality ingredients and wrapping as a previous poster pointed out. Besides the time and effort people put into preparing a gift is also valuable. Then again, I don't judge people on the amount of money they spent on my gift.

EllyHigginbottom · 15/10/2015 09:55

I think it's a great idea if you're capable of producing a nice hamper.

Am I the only one who absolutely hates chutney?

Quornmakesmefart · 15/10/2015 10:02

I like hampers 9depending on the contents, obvs) but not sure about having home made stuff in them.

I 'made' a hamper for a friend and she loved it - I bought a naice basket and filled it with a couple of DVDs, some gin & mixers and some chocolates & other nibbles.

Just waiting for somebody to do the same for me now Grin

Conversely, a relative was given a plastic crate (not pretty) with some tinned stuff, marmite, and other random stuff you'd find in your weekly shop. That was weird.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 15/10/2015 10:03

Maybe Elly - my friend once made a divine pear chutney which was fab with jacket potatoes especially

shovetheholly · 15/10/2015 10:57

BIL and his partner always do us one for Christmas. They are amazing cooks and their jams and chutneys are way, way, WAY nicer than anything you can buy (and I include posho 'artisanal' stuff). It is an absolute delight to receive them and something DH and I really look forward to each year. I just get embarrassed because my cooking is shit so I can't return the favour

EllyHigginbottom · 15/10/2015 11:22

Maybe Elly - my friend once made a divine pear chutney which was fab with jacket potatoes especially

Pear on a jacket potato. No!

flatmouse · 15/10/2015 11:53

Done home-made hampers but fill them with shop bought products!!
Hot choc hamper for DD, Fave treats hamper for DM.

Do do home-made jam (made one jar at a time in breadmaker) that my Aunt asks for every year - although i'm running out of ideas of flavour combos as she doesn't like alcohol flavour. Ideas welcome!!
Pear & Ginger, Spiced Apple, Boisenberry have been done.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 15/10/2015 11:54

Derailing a bit, those that do eat chutney, what do you eat it with? Jacket potatoes is not one I've tried. I tend to only eat it with crackers and cheese or occasionally cold meat, but I'm not a fan of cold meat. We also have mango chutney with curry and use red onion chutney in gravies and casseroles etc.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 15/10/2015 11:55

Flatmouse - I did cherry and cinnamon conserve this year, but cherries are out of season now.

LaurieMarlow · 15/10/2015 12:03

I'd adore this. Anyone can buy mass produced rubbish from a shop. I don't think there's anything special or 'treaty' about that nowadays.

and those hyperventilating about food hygiene need to get a grip of themselves

LaurieMarlow · 15/10/2015 12:04

Whoknows, a good chutney will transform a sandwich.

trollkonor · 15/10/2015 12:05

Whoknowswherethetimegoes

Mango chutney
Chili Jam
Onion relish

All fantastic in cheese toasties or under the cheese for cheese on toast.
Naan bread, mango chutney, mature cheese on top, put under grill also great.

I imagine other chutneys will also work.

redstrawberry10 · 15/10/2015 12:08

why not? But of course it depends on the gift. Not a huge jam fan (which is a common gift). I once got homemade chocolate truffles that tasted FANTASTIC.

PassiveAgressiveQueen · 15/10/2015 12:23

i don't make gravey, so i use chutney anywhere people would use gravey.
I do make gravey for roasts, as we actually have meat juices to use.