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

[theancientmarinator]

Phew! For a minute I thought the thread wouldn't accept my message because I just wasn't making enough stuff for Christmas this week. And then I realised it was because we had reached 1000 posts. Thought I'd lost you all!

We were all listing what we need to finish still. I'll be back tomorrow with mine - if I do it now I will dissolve in tears but tomorrow I will have had a night's sleep and a stiff drink. Not necessarily in that order, although....

:o :o
Just read your post out to DH - we laughed lots at biscottum :)

biscottum has a very appealing sound to it, I like it!

I've just made walnut marzipan and if anyone likes walnuts and/or marzipan I can really recommend it - it was so easy and really tastes good, not as sweet as almond so a bit more grown-up. I was planning to dip chunks in dark chocolate but have just read about tempering chocolate and it all sounds very complicated without a thermometer - if I just heat it and hope for the best, do your eckon it'll work?

LRD just dip it in melted choc. I think the tempering business is to make the choc retain its glossiness, as often melted choc goes kind of dull. But for homemade stuff, normal melted choc is fine!

In my hampers I have the following:

*Honey spiced nuts
*Vanilla fudge
*Baileys chocolate fudge
*Chocolate pretzel stars (found a way to use up excess melted choc!)
*Oreo truffles
*Cake pops
*Peppermint Bark
*Strawberry/raspberry/mixed berry jam
*Christmas Marmalade (with little gold stars in!)
*Spiced apple jelly
*Apple and blackberry chutney
*Fiery Bengal Chutney
*Tomato Chutney
*Bramble Schnapps/Gin
*Christmas Pudding Rum
*Lime Curd
*Felt gingerbread man
*Mince pies

Blimey, no wonder I've been so busy!

But I wanted it to be shiny!

Yeah, I'm sure you're right ... it'll taste good whatever, anyway.

You have been busy ... I'm getting hungry just reading that list. The Christmas marmalade and the berry jam are definitely on my list for next year.

(I can't be the only one who's already got a mental list for next year, right? )

LRD I've got all my stuff pinned on Pinterest ready for next year andam going to try to start earlier too. I do all my jam and chutney when the fruit is in season. It's more the sewing/craft stuff that I don't start early enough.

[drooling at walnut marzipan]

Use Scotchblocky-type cake-covering chocolate - doesn't taste nearly as good but absolutely no probs with tempering and a glossy finish guaranteed. And it's only a thin layer so the taste is not such an issue. Or, for total overkill, dip in real chocolate and if the temper goes (like this) then turn a hairdrier on it for a second to re-melt the surface and sprinkle with edible glitter. Or mash a flake and when you dip in choc follow up by dipping in flake.... I'm sorry, I have to go mop up the drool.

I tried Pinterest but just too much of a luddite, I think.

I am going to start earlier too - I honestly had no idea before I got on these threads how simple to make some of this stuff is. DH and I have pigged down all the chutney I made in the autumn and we've made a second batch - I'm going to keep doing that until we get bored as it is so much cheaper.

I've been on a fairly tight budget recently (though not any more because - NOT SO STEALTHY BOAST ALERT ** DH got his raise yesterday they've been promising him! ). Whew, got a little carried away there ... but when I have been budgeting, a lot of the home-made stuff really made a difference, which I didn't expect because all the papers tell you it's more expensive to make at home.

I'm looking forward to getting more organised about summer fruit though - I just came across some lovely recipes for peach and rose-petal jam and really fancy making it.

cross-posted ... marinator you're brilliant, I will do the edible glitter, that will sort it! I have already bought the chocolate so wont buy more (DH gets paid on the 23rd and I have quite literally spent everything else in anticipation of that! ). But I have some glitter ....

Zeeky your hampers sound gorgeous ! Well done you ! ancient I really had to smile at your post .we went to my DDs show last week and 3yr old DS moaned all the way through constantly asking 'is it time to go home yet '? And ' I need a wee '. I am still fed up of DH for not at least trying to ease my work load over Christmas . I would feel so much better if he acknowledged how much I do to try and give the family a good christmas .
I have just finished icing my ninth Christmas cake . Tomorrow I need to make christmas biscuits. What happens if people name change before this thread starts next year ? I won't know who is who .

We'll have to do a big reunion - and link to the old threads!

Nine Christmas cakes ... wow!

Wow silly 9 Christmas cakes . I bake most things, but Christmas cake is not something I ever make as I don't particularly like it. My mum on the otherhand probably beats your record as she makes and ices loads for all the family and friends every year.

Is your DH not very into Christmas or is this one of those situations where he acts as if it's not really that much work (because he's not the one doing it)?

Either way, not nice.

Sorry, I somehow skipped over that bit of your post which is bad when you're feeling down.

So impressed with you all ladies, (assuming you're all women that is!? :o) - and silly I'm sure he does appreciate you, just unable to express it like my emotionally-stunted-neanderthalof a husband :) )

zeeky your hampers sound amazing - is each recipient getting the whole lot you listed?

LRD hurrah for the raise. Doesn't happen in my DH's line of work, and I, as of Friday last, officially no longer have a paid job (SOB - meant in both ways ) but am saving us money by not working . You're right though, in many cases it's been cheaper to make things than buy them (although I have seen some things where I've thought my costs are probably about the same), and I've been quite impressed with myself as it's the first time I've made all of these things. Just hope that the reactions are 'right' (and I'm an awful one for over-playing things in my mind in advance, and then being bitterly disappointed when they don't go to plan).

Marinator I think we're officially adopting the word "biscottum" in our house over the festive period for any kind of biscuit

Thunder how did your first hampers go down?

Ekka welcome - your list sounds good too! Not sure about the crayons, I think you just melt them down into ice-cube type trays. Have scouted around on pinterest and found this for you.

All is wrapped. All is calm. until the ILs come and make me go mmmmmfffmmfffmmmmm that is

Flubba PIL and SIL didn't get the booze in their hampers as not big drinkers so didn't think they would appreciate my homemade stuff sufficiently. They both got mincepies instead. Other than that, they all get the whole list. I think I may have gone a little overboard with the hampers, and have made a rod for my own back for future years . I blame you lot and Pinterest for coming up with so many yummy ideas that I just HAD to try! Had originally planned to do some wheat hand warmers, door stops, crayon rolls etc etc!!! Maybe will do more sewing-type gifts next year and less foodie ones.

Missed off the list the Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub and Lavender Bath Salts, which only the PIL and SIL got.

Anyone watch Nigella's Christmas Kitchen earlier? I sky+'ed it so watching it now. It's all about homemade gifts! She's just done the chilli jelly that I'm sure was mentioned a lot on our earlier threads.

I admit it. I am She.

Thunder we are all running on right now ;-/

Or maybe that's just me...

flubba we are not worthy!

thunder your stuff sounds lovely ... hope you have a great (relaxing?!) Christmas!

If anyone's a good jelly maker, can you give me some advice? I'm trying to make cranberry and juniper jelly. I stirred the berries as they were cooking and am now letting it drip through muslin. Now I know if I press the berries at this stage the juice will go cloudy so I mustn't touch it. But the juice coming through already looks opaque, so did I already mess up the clear bit by stirring the berries?

On the plus side, I dipped the walnut marzipan in chocolate this morning and though it did not go perfectly shiny it is very very moreish!

Hello, sorry I've not been here - very busy finishing off final bits. How are we all doing?

Only thing left to do is make chocolate pretzel stars and peppermint bark. I thought the DC could help me with those on Christmas eve.

So, final round up, not nearly as much as some of you have done.

Hampers
Christmas pudding brandy
Red onion Chutney
Mulled wine kit
Guinness Mustard
Chilli infused salt
Rosemary crackling rub
Peppermint bark
Mint Aero vodka
Bacon Jam
Chocolate Pretzel stars

Niece - crayon roll and dolls bedding set
Nephew - Felted roads and Dinosaur bunting

Friend - Toffee vodka, Milky bar vodka and chocolate and baileys fudge

A Gypsy tart to add to my parents' hamper and I may do a couple of hot water bottle covers if I have time.

Does that sound enough for the hampers?

No idea re: the jelly LRD, sorry.

LRD I made some spiced apple jelly and didn't touch it all I swear when it was doing it's dripping and it still went a but cloudy. The second batch I used a muslin as well as the jelly bag ad I thought maybe my jelly bag was substandard, but it still went cloudy! So not much help for you I'm afraid!

No, actually, that is very helpful! I think I shall not bother to even try getting it clear, I'll just go with it. Cloudy will look pretty too I'm sure, given the colour is a lovely red.

Btw, I am absolutely loving this thread and after a few weeks feeling busy and tired with non-Christmassy things I am feeling thoroughly festive today! I've wrapped about half my presents and have been putting various sweets into pretty jars for my mum and bottling up the cherry brandy and bramble vodka into nice bottles. The nicest surprise is the cherry brandy - I assumed it would stay brownish but it's a gorgeous dark, clear red colour and really strongly smells of cherries. Definitely one I will make again.

Isn't it satisfying getting everything all packed up?

Thank you so much everyone for keeping me motivated and giving me all this advice and inspiration.

Right, here's my list of what I've done;

Millions of felt and woollen Tree decorations
Advent calendar wall hanging thingamy
Angel for the Christmas Tree
Tea cozy for Sis1
Christmas Placemats & coasters for Sis2 (and a set for me!)
Cath Kidston-stylee bag for Sis1
Small handbag for Sis2
Lavender Wheat Warmer for my mum and my MIL
Table Runner for parents
Named bunting for niece (birthday)
painted plate for niece (birthday)
Hairclips for 2 DDs and 4 nieces
Car roll for DS and two friends' DSs
Crayon roll for DDs, three nieces & two friend's DCs
Named aprons for DDs, Goddaughter and three nieces
Shoulder bag for nephew
Named shoulder bag for niece (birthday)
Matching make-up bag for niece (Christmas)
Pirate Flag for friend's DS
Kindle cover for FIL
Lavender handscrub for MIL
5x Choc & Vanilla fudge jars for family and friends
4x Caramelised Red Onion chutney for family
4x spicy guinness mustard for family
5x spiced oatmeal cookie jars for nieces and nephew
HappyLand roll for friend's DD (my latest creation)

Think that's it. Phew! No wonder I'm knackered!! But blissfully happy with my lot and very lucky.

Now bloody Lorraine Pascal is at it with her "homemade hampers". Didn't think much if her chocolate bark though - she swirled the dark & White chic together and I thought it looked a bit of mess compared with my lovely layered peppermint bark !

All my family are now going to be going "oh you decided to follow Nigella & Lorraine whatsit and Jamie (he was making some bark-like stuff too!) and give us homemade stuff" when I've been meticulously planning it with you lot for months!! Grrrrrrrr!

We'll stick up for you zeeky - just point any ungrateful family member in our direction and we'll show them your blood, sweat and tears stains on this 'ere thread (and all its predecessors!) :o