All the homemade Christmas people over here please, lets share our ideas :)

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Do we have a 'Homemade Christmas Thread' going yet? Ive linked to last years below, I am determined to MAKE MAKE MAKE this year and bugger the responses

I need a fail safe mulled wine kit to give people please if anyone can help, Thankyou :)

Last years thread!

BabyDubsEverywhere they are 550ml. Look really cute filled with fruit layers....not to big.

Im also planning on doing rainbow candles - outlay is about £8 for the dyes, but they last forever. Then candles. plus some clear celphane and a pretty ribbon. Best of all, kids can make them for grannies, aunties etc. Have to dash off shortly but if anyone wants instructions, I'll post later. They look like this

I made a first run of a red onion chutney today, it's cooling in the jar, says I should let it sit for 4 - 6 weeks to develop flavour but plan to serve it on Wednesday evening with some cheese.

If it goes down well I'll make a bigger batch.

ooh sounds yum juney - have you got a good recipe you can share?

Well I googled and came up with this one:

www.self-sufficient.co.uk/Make-Caramelised-Onion-Chutney.htm

But the cups threw me so I just made it up as I went along.

I got a bag of the red onions from asda so they're fairly small and I sliced about 4/5 of them and then added 1 cup of balsamic vinegar and 1 cup of brown sugar with a sprinkle of pepper.

Of course I'll let you know how it tastes in a few days!

Salivating reading that recipe. Is that wrong? :S :o

Haha surely not

cj do you think caster sugar would make the scrub softer, rather than granulated sugar?

Might try with it in the week and report back!

Mmh - melted goats cheese on warm ciabatta with an extra dollop of balsamic to boot :) :)

Ahem.

Where does one procure Lemon Oil? Is it edible?

I think it's like aromatherapy / essential oils isn't it ? [clueless] not sure if it's edible

Thanks juney.

that chutney sounds lush and so easy.

I've just started making calendars. Watercolour painting and ordered calendar tabs from ebay. Had a practice at a Bethlehem scene looking good

Lemon oil can be found in boots/holland and barratt type shops. Tis not edible although I did search high and low in oil section in tesco just in case

Because I've got the willpower of a bear at a picnic, I just made a goats cheese and chutney sandwich, and oh my goodness, it's delicious!

dp would be at it too if I make any

juney

Says that lemon oil is edible?

£17.80??? it had better make me my morning cup of tea in bed for that price!

I got lemon oil from Boots - I think it was about £4-£5. It's in the vitamins section, near the Bach remedies etc, and they have loads of essential oils and they're three for two. So I got some lavender as well

Not sure about caster sugar - would it be as effective? I have to say my hands feel rather lovely tonight!

I have been lurking on this thread since it began and love all the great ideas. Haven't had any of my own to add until now though...
I was looking for a recipe to use some of the thousands of pears we have on our tree and stumbled across this. I made it yesterday (yes it does take 6 hours to cook, but its well worth every minutes!) It tastes delicious and looks beautiful in jars.
I haven't linked anything on here before so I hope this works...
www.cottagesmallholder.com/bottled-fruit-belgian-pears-recipe-101

Oh that didn't work!! Can someone tell create a link properly? (Bangs head with frustration...)

Here you go :)

Wow! I have loved reading this thread!
I have also lost a couple of hours on Pinterest over the last few days. Still no invite though and I sent it about a week ago :(
How do I find you, those who are on Pinterest?
I'm going to be making:
The sugar scrub- I think I'll use 3/4 granulated and 1/4 caster to soften the er..abrasion slightly!
Possibly some bunting
And these very cute Santa hat brownie cupcake type things I saw on Pinterest.