'Make your own' Christmas

[Doodlekitty]

Ok, ok, I KNOW its only June. But I'm due to give birth late October and as it's my first and I have no idea what to expect I want to be all sorted for christmas by the time baby gets here. I'm also going to have no money when I'm on Mat leave so want stuff bought while I'm working but also want to spend as little as possible.

Last year I made Christmas pudding rum for my FIL who has never shut up about it since ( I used this recipe, www.wikihow.com/Make-Christmas-Pudding-Flavoured-Vodka but rum instead of vodka, if anyone is interested)

I think I made it in about November last time, but I'm thinking, if I made it in July then it will just be more yummy wont it, as it just has longer to infuse. also, last year when i told MIL I binned the fruit I used she was horrified, so I'm thinking i might put this in a jar for her (obviously with another present) as she said it would be lovely with ice cream. What do you guys think?

Just sneaking in to mark my place. Tiptoeing back out to go back and read thread from beginning....with a notebook

Mummys you have reached the limit of my jam-making knowledge - it might or it might not. I made gooseberry jam last year with frozen berries and it wouldn't set (normally v easy to set) so I just added a little pectin from a packet. Supermarkets have it usually near sugar and it is easy to use. I added it to the hot mix and stirred like mad but you are supposed to add it at the beginning. I guess that something with a high pectin level like plums might be ok even with its pectin reduced? You could also try replacing some of the sugar with the jam-making sugar that comes with pectin added to be on the safe side.

I am guessing though! Might be worth going into the Housekeeping threads and asking for someone who actually knows what they are talking about to advise.

this might help with frozen fruit jam?

I always use jam sugar for making jam with low pectin berries as it has added pectin & is guaranteed a lovely set. More expensive than normal sugar but worth it I think.

I used Certo liquid pectinfor frozen blackberry jam this year, the recommended amount wasn't setting it so I kept adding more till the set was right, I do the dropping it on a frozen plate test.

oooh Kveta that blog is heavenly! Off to buy liquid pectin right now - what a great invention!

I love the spoon moulds. Very clever.

I've come up with the idea of assembling a coffee-themed hamper for the in-laws this year as all they seem to do is sit around drinking gallons of coffee! as they "forgot" to open the beautiful hamper of homemade goodies I gave them last year until half of it had gone off! So I'm thinking:

Mug each (possibly with photo of DC on or a drawing by them)
Cafetier for 2
Bag of posh ground coffee
Box of fancy sugar cubes (Christmas tree shaped if I can find any)
Amaretti biscuits

Any ideas what else I could put in?

Chocolate covered coffee beans? - not my cup of tea but perhaps theirs.

Flavoured coffee syrups

An aerolatte - if they like lattes

squee for Zeeky!!

Thanks for the link kveta but not sure I want to spend $22 dollars on sugar cubes!!

Years ago I bought a box of Christmas tree shaped sugar cubes which I got in the supermarket or whittards I think. Googled, but can't find anything.

I love those cubes in the link but I think you would be able to fashion something like that yourself.

You can buy small iced figures like those to decorate cupcakes. I think if you bought a pack you could attach them to a sugar cube either with a dab of icing or maybe a dab of water?

Or you could make them in any shape you want - here

Hi gals! Just wondering if anyone remembers a thread last year by a woman who was making a load of presents for her dd and some fool at toddlers had taken the mickey for not buying her proper presents? Well anyway there were lots of nice ideas on the thread iirc, and was thinking I might make some of my dd's pressies this year... Anyone remember the thread or have any suggestions? Mainly fabric things I can make out of old clothes as i've got heaps of those ready to upcycle!

I made some dinosaur tails for ds from an old pair of my jeans. Can't do links on phone but you can google it, though the tutorial suggests fabric, I adaped it. Loft full of old clothes awaiting more ideas. How old is your dd?

She will be 2 just after Christmas. I was thinking maybe some pretend fruit and veg and a couple of stuffed animals/finger/hand puppets?

Also she's obsessed with playing with money and regularly tries to breaks into my purse to do so! Really want to discourage her from doing this for obvious reasons (I do keep it out of her reach!) do was thinking of making some toy coins/notes so she can play shop, though I think somehow it won't hold so much appeal as the real stuff!

Oo just been inspired! Making fabric blocks with appliqué numbers/letters on the side!

theancientmarinator the hot choc mugs and bits I am doing for my Dsis and BiL and DH's DBro and SIL. Splashed out a bit and ordered some personalised mugs from ebay, and mini whisks and graters, and will stick in some choc, marshmallows, hot choc sachets and do the whole cellaphane/ribbon thing.

Made my apple and mango chutney last weekend, looked good, hopefully will taste good too. Goes in FIL's cheese hamper and my parents' curry themed hamper they're getting this year.

Zeeky what about something like this- chocolate dippers for coffee - for your coffee inspired hamper?

Ooooh thanks onelastsoul - I like the look of the star shaped ones!

madam what else are you putting in the cheese hamper? Sounds like something my ILs would like.. do you have a recipe for the chutney?? I've never made chutney or jam but would love to.

Make your own sugar cubes here

Zeeky how about these biscotti for you coffee hampers?