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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Home-made Christmas gifts

97 replies

BabyDubsEverywhere · 29/08/2010 11:37

What have you made/are planning on making for gifts for Christmas this year, we really need to trim our gift budget a little so any ideas will be every much appreciated.

All i have on my list so far is homemade fudge and framed photos of the kids - it looks a litte poor doesnt it!

OP posts:
HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 10/09/2010 13:10

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HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 10/09/2010 13:11

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HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 10/09/2010 13:30

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loola2shu · 10/09/2010 16:19

Wow some brilliant ideas!

Hopefor , could I possibly have recipe for choc biscotti please!

I always make delias christmas chutney and get christmas fabric to cover lids and tie with gold elastic, they look lurvely!

Also last year I made choc, fruit and nut fudge for everyone at work wrapped in pretty little cellophane packets wrapped in ribbon. Went down very well! Also do the same with choc truffles.

I also give homemade christmas puddings as gifts in a nice pudding basin or home decorated cheap basin!! don't make these till stir up sunday though

cherrymonster · 10/09/2010 19:09

Hopeforthebest- i would love those biscuit recipes please x

LittleB · 10/09/2010 19:35

Would love to know how to make cosmetics; bath bombs, hand creams, bath salts etc. Did chutneys, jams, sloe gin and sweeties in home decorated paper bags last year but adding some cosmetics would be fun!

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 10/09/2010 19:39

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SacharissaCripslock · 11/09/2010 11:48

crayon roll

I made one of these last night with dinosaur material for my dino mad 2 year old.

They would be good for any little kids in the family and are really easy to make.

taffetacat · 12/09/2010 15:04

I always do cranberry and macadamia cookies stacked high in a posh cellophane bag with nice ribbon.

Forced bulbs like hyacinth and iris reticulata in nice conatiners decorated with ribbon.

Chutney - a Gordon Ramsay tomato one this year.

Marmalade - normally pink grapefruit in lovely Kilner jars with nice ribbon.

Last year I also did a rather special Granola in Kilner jars too.

Please can we have the chocolate biscotti recipe HopeforTheBest?

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 12/09/2010 17:46

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Tootiredforgodtyping · 12/09/2010 17:57

I have painted water jugs before

Bumperlicious · 12/09/2010 18:13

Marking place

Lastyearsmodel · 12/09/2010 18:49

Taffetacat Could you pass on your special granola recipe, please? Have tried a couple in the past with limited success.

taffetacat · 12/09/2010 19:13

Granola

I am afraid I am not very good at amounts....

Large knob of butter
2 tbspns golden syrup or 1 each of golden syrup and honey
1 tbspn demerara sugar

Line large roasting tin with baking parchment. Melt above ingreds together in baking tin in oven for 5 mins ( oven 150 c ).

Meanwhile in large bowl mix together:

Half a bag of Sainsbo's TTD porridge oats
Handful sweetened desiccated coconut
Bag chopped roasted hazelnuts
Half a bag toasted almond flakes
Handful of hand chopped whole almonds and pecans and macadamias or nuts of choice
Sprinkling each of pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds
Grated zest 1 orange
Few drops vanilla extract

Once butter and syrup mix melted, swirl it around to mix then tip in oat mix and coat all really well in the sugary goo. Bake for 25 mins, turning it all every 10 mins to check it bakes evenly.

Once cold, break it up and add dried fruit - I like chopped organic dried apricots ( the fudgy dark ones ), dried cranberries for festive cheer, golden raisins/sultanas and for real decadence chopped weeny chunks of dark, dark chocolate.

If you do add choc, make sure you only do it once the granola is completely cold, otherwise it melts.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 13/09/2010 11:18

www.makeyourownskincare.com is a fab site with loads of ideas and really clear instructions, sorry i dont know how to link Blush

OP posts:
Lastyearsmodel · 13/09/2010 12:35

Taffetacat Mmmmmmmmmmmmm! Thank you, that looks amazing. Clearly it is vitally important that I begin making test batches as soon as possible. Smile

BigBadMummy · 13/09/2010 13:16

I found bath bombs were a bit hit and miss on whether they stayed together or not. how about soaps? We made lots last year and they were fantastic.

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 13/09/2010 20:30

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TheThingUpstairs · 13/09/2010 20:46

Taffetacat please could you give your cranberry and macadamia cookie recipe, they sound lovely!

taffetacat · 13/09/2010 21:15

Cranberry macadamia cookies

Makes 20 ( I normally make double or triple )

125g very soft butter
185g golden caster sugar
1 medium egg lightly beaten
185g plain flour plus extra for dusting
1 tspn baking powder
50g whole macadamias
50g dried cranberries

2 large baking sheets, lightly oiled or lined with baking parchment

Preheat oven to Gas 4/180c/fan 170c. Using electric whisk cream butter and sugar for 3-4 mins. Gradually add egg, whisking. Sift in flour, baking powder and half a teaspoon of salt. Roughly chop macadamias and cranberries add to mix and stir all together. Bring mix together with your hands and form a ball. Halve the ball then cut one half into 10 pieces. With lightly floured hands, roll each piece into a small ball. Transfer to one of the baking sheets and press each one gently to flatten slightly. Bake for 18-20 mins on centre shelf. Form the other half into balls. When first batch ready, put second batch in. Leave cookies to cool for about a minute no longer or they will stgcik, then, using a fish slice, carefully transfer to a cooling rack. Repeat with second batch etc.

Keep for a week in airtight container or also freeze well.

TheThingUpstairs · 13/09/2010 21:21

Thanks!

JetLi · 13/09/2010 22:20

This is easy & festive (all red and jewel-like).

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 14/09/2010 10:27

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Alicetheinvisible · 14/09/2010 14:30

please excuse crap typing - feeding ds Smile

there is a brill thread in arts and crafts on making candles - lauriefairycake i believe started it last year.

lakeland do chocolate moulds, so if you want to do homemade chocolates relatively easily then would go for that.

flavoured vodka only needs 3months til it is ready, so we are going to do some rasberry vodka in the next week or so. made some sloe gin last november that will be ready for presents this year - just hope it tasts good!

personalised bunting for children's rooms, matching cushions etc

personalised drawstring bags for plimsolls, dancing/swimming etc

for newborn babies, muslin cloths or towels edged in fabric are very easy and look good.

last year i made bathbombs - not very good, honeycomb - yummy and snowflake cookies - good idea but need a better recipe.

hope any of this helps, not sure how homemade we will go this year due to newborn ds, but we will see Smile

taffetacat · 14/09/2010 14:30

Thanks HopefortheBest - they sound wonderful and shall be tested forthwith! Grin