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

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

OLD THREAD

We were all on about pinterest, jars, and where we are up to in our christmas planning :)

Lets go...

[LiamW]

Zeeky - We're using Tesco Vodka for the flavours we're doing. I know a lot of people on here were talking about Sainsbury's Basic Vodka being really good as well. Does the job just fine I think :)

[Helenagrace]

I just made cleanandclothed's mincemeat flapjack (well I had to sample it before serving it to others ).

It's lovely!

Now I need to try the White chocolate and baileys fudge. I make White chocolate and cranberry fudge (I have been known to soak the cranberries in vodka first) every year so I'm keen to try a new recipe.

[Thzumbiewitch]

for mixing the Christmas pudding vodka, I'd think dry ginger ale would work really well - it's less sweet than lemonade plus it has the extra bit of ginger in for spiciness. I always have Pimms mixed with ginger ale instead of lemonade for exactly those reasons. :)

Liam - how did your labels work out?

[FlubbaBubba]

zeeky how big are those jars?

[Zeeky]

Flubba they are biscuit barrels so fairly large. Couldn't beleive they were only a pound (they're only £1.25 when full price!!)

[Listzilla]

Has anyone tried making tablet, rather than fudge? I far prefer the texture and I'm sure you could tweak the flavours just as much?

[DawnOfTheDeementedDead]

I haven't, Listzilla, but i wouldn't mind giving it a go.

For anyone looking for nice baskets to make a hamper up in, i was in Wilkinsons earlier, and looking for rattan type ones, but then i spied a gorgeous red basket, made of a cottony type material. It's quite strong and sturdy and was only a fiver, so quite reasonable, i thought as it could definately be used again afterwards. It's a good size too, and the red looks really festive looking. I've just looked on the website, but couldn't find it, but they were in the storage section.

[Thzumbiewitch]

Oh Listzilla - that's reminded me of my Nan's "fudge", which was far more like tablet than fudge. I can't remember the recipe though :(. I infinitely prefer tablet to fudge - I find soft fudge horribly disappointing.
When we were little, there used to be a lovely delicatessen in our local department store that sold tablet-style fudge - it was Mum's treat for the month (and mine to nick a bit!) My nan always used to use vanilla in hers, sometimes rum and raisin but mostly vanilla. MMmmmmm.

[LiamW]

Thzumbiewitch - Labels aren't going so well ha. Can't manage to find a template that fits the labels that I have and aside from whipping out a tape measure and inputting it all manually I'm not sure what to do. They're small circles, 6 across and 8 down on an A4 sheet.

I've just made a few jars of Christmas Bath Salts using a batch of the sweet jars that were linked from ebay on the old thread. They actually look quite good, red, green and white striped with a christmas spice scent from Gracefruit.

Once we manage to shift all the Lemon Curd that's loitering in the kitchen I can start making my Chutneys.. !

[shesparkles]

That's the sloes swimming in the gin in the cupboard next to the picalilli!

[DawnOfTheDeementedDead]

I know you already have labels, Liam, but would it be any easier to buy some plain A4 sticker paper, and that way you can print the sizes you want?

[FlubbaBubba]

The fudge on my pinterest board has more of a tablet feel to it rather than the soft fudge type of fudge. Kind of crumbly and yummsh :) :)

[HippyHippopotamus]

LiamW what make of label do you have? Word will have a template for pretty much all of the big makes eg Avery. Can you see a code on them anywhere? like L172 or something?

[Pigleychez]

Anyone help and suggest me what I can make for DD's Nursery teachers.

Thinking fudge or biscuits of some kind but wondering if you lovely ladies could give me some more inspiration.

Ive made little gingerbread men with their initials on so thinking a jar of something tied with a nice ribbon and their decoration hanging on it.
Ive added a pic on my profile of the decorations- Please be honest and say if they look 'too' Homemade!

[LiamW]

HippyHippopotamus I got the labels with the lip balms tubs off of "ebay www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130520100153?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1691wt_1163" but they don't appear to have any codes visible. I guess I need to look and see if there are any 30mm circular label templates in there on any of the brands. If not it might just be easier to pick some up in town during the week.

[addictediam]

I made the bath fizzes today but they didnt work :( the mixture was too wet so puffed up and look silly. Still have some citric acid left so will have another go later

[girlywhirly]

Pigley, the gingerbread men are gorgeous, I want one now! Very professionaly finished.

[CupOfBrownJoy]

oh can I please join?

The sloes are in the freezer awaiting gin-ing this weekend, I've got two orders for Christmas cakes as well as my own, and the suet is making its way from the UK on Monday (I'm in Germany and can't get it here)

Here is my mustard recipe given to me by a professional, local mustard-maker:
100g yellow mustard seeds
50g soft brown sugar
5g salt
200ml cider or white wine vinegar
10-15g spices or herbs of your choice, to your taste

This will give you about 300g of mustard. Whizz it all in a blender, leave a few minutes and put into a clean dry container for a few days to let the flavours meld.

My favourite addition is smoked paprika, or pink peppercorn.

Does anyone have any good haw wine/liquor recipies? I've got a glut at the moment and I'm not sure what to do with them. Would gin work?

Thanks

[TimeForCake]

Pigley they are gorgeous! I'd be delighted if I was given one of those!

As someone else mentioned up thread, I am busily ordering buttons, fabrics and all things pretty, but have yet to actually make a thing!

[RoyalWelsh]

All these things sound amazing - everyone is so much more organised than I am! BUT I have just been given permission to go and raid somebody's garden for their pears, so then I will have pears, blackberries and I have found a stash of crabapples!

[FlubbaBubba]

Lovely little gingerbread men piggly :)

[Kveta]

hiya, i'd lost this thread - hadn't realised we were on to thread 2!!

no more gifts made chez Kveta, I had a hellish busy week last week, and am so utterly knackered from being pregnant too!!

the homemade mustards sound incredible - I will probably try that at some point, I'm struggling to think of a gift for my ghastly sister, who can't have sugar. She thinks she's a gourmet chef too, so I was going to do some seasoning or flavoured salts, but mustard sounds good.

[Zeeky]

Piggly - I LOVE your gingerbread men! I was planning to make some just like that but with 2011 on instead of initials! I don't think mine will look half as good though. Did you follow a pattern or just make it up?

Liam - are the jars nice? It was me who linked to them on ebay, but I haven't bought any yet as wasn't sure if they were nice enough.

[Doilooklikeatourist]

Hallo , I've been loitering and pinching all your good ideas,
I need help !
I've made sloe gin for rhe first time , it's been festering away nicely . Just given at a little stir , and obviously licked rhe spoon for quality purposes.
It doesn't taste very nice . Last week it was rich and sweet tasting . This week it's just a bit thin and sharp .
Any ideas ? I was just going to add a bit more sugar and hope for the best .
Thank you .
By the way the limoncello and bramble brandy are both lovely.

[Pigleychez]

Thanks for the nice comments guys :) Hope the teachers like them.

Zeeky- made from scratch with a simple drawn out paper template. Stuffed with cotton wool!

My first year of doing 'teacher' presents - What do you think would be best? Fudge, Biscuits or attempt these?