making home made gifts as I am skint?

[eggontoast]

On maternity leave, due in 2 weeks. As having a year off, without a full wage, I plan to make chilli jam and ?? who knows (ideas welcome) as Christmas presents for my family who refuse not to buy me anything hence making me feel too guilty to boycott altogether.

Basically, I am going for its the thought that counts?

I make these as Xmas gifts:

De-stone a date
Roll a small piece of marzipan into a sausage and insert into the date.
Dip the end of the date into melted chocolate (do some white, some milk and some dark)

They were very popular last year, all mixed up with truffles and crisp florentine biscuits.

I would also say avoid biscuits as sometimes you dont get to visit the person straight away. Last year I ended up re-making some people's gifts on boxing day !

LOVE this thread btw.

Home made gifts r lovely good on u and best of luck for two wks time

yanbu

my sister once made me some lovely homemade truffles when she was a student, they were lovely and meant more to me as it was obvious that she had taken more time and effort to make them, than buying me a "proper" present.

might suggest she does the same this year

Thank you Knotty - they sound great.
How do you sterilise your jars?

YANBU, at least I hope you're not because I'm doing the same! I was brought up to think that if someone has spent time and effort on a present then it is far more valuable than if they've just spent money on it

This year I am making-

Blackberry jam (picked them myself!)
Gingerbread christmas tree decorations
Christmas themed chocs

In the past I have made stollen, lebkuchen, mincemeat, those little marzipan fruit thingies, rosemary olive oil in fancy bottles and various other foody things.

Can I have your recipe for Gingerbread sweetnitanitro.

Delia said to steralise jars, wash in soppy water and place in warm oven (180) for 5 mins, I only know becasue I made her mincemeat

what do you all think of these to go in my christmas baskets?

yum

Brilliant - thanks, Football Mad.

oooo, I'm having a go at the biscotti. My fave. Sod Cristmas, I'm having them now.

I stick my jars in the dishwasher, then oven for 10 mins or so. Haven't caught anything yet...at least not from what I've made.

Did anyone post the Chilli Jam recipe? I can't find it.

Sparkle where are you going to get your baskets from?

footballmad - i got these baskets

i will have gold doilies lineing them then wrapped in cellophane tied with ribbon.

YABNU and ignore those who say you are: I love getting homemade presents, especially as there are no calories in hand-wrought chocolates or cakes. Fact.

This year, I'm making cookies-in-a-jar (as well as crabapple jelly and christmas cakes) for family and friends. Get a £1 Kilner jar from Tesco, fill with the dry ingredients for cookies in layers, like sand (see allrecipes.com for ideas), attach the recipe on a brown luggage label, tie on a cute cutter, add fabric hat. Fab gift, and maybe something 'to do' over the holidays?

do you live near an Ikea? They do good jars / receptacles for homemade jams etc. / cheap glassware you can paint.

YANBU, I am not skint but am making homemade gifts. I have a cupboard gradually filling with jars of homemade jams, chutneys, oils, vodkas. I will also be doing homemade mincemeat, Christmas cakes and mince puddings. I get a litle warm glow whenever open my gift cupboard.

Wildfig - Cookies in a jar is a brilliant idea. Will add that to list. Means I can't eat them all too.

Morosky, am on my way round to yours.

YANBU, I think it is a lovely idea.

I would much rather have a gift that someone had not spent a lot of money on but put effort into making or choosing something that they know I would enjoy, than something which costed a lot of money but the giver didn't think about whether it was appropriate or something I would want.

It is the thought that counts, but when giving presents I prefer to ensure that I don't get something for the sake of it, or because I like it, but that it will be something I know the receiver will really cherish and use.

I love homemade gifts, my friend made me somne rocky road cakles which were fab