Where have all the homemade Christmas people gone?

[theancientmarinator]

I am disappearing under waves of not quite finished projects and need to ride along on the wake of other people's successful Christmas makes. Last year's homemade thread was brilliant - am I really the only one this year?

[Thefoxsbrush]

I've just made 35 squares of Christmas rocky road to put in freezer. I have loved the lakeland chocolate mould and used it to make layered chocolates which look very effective. I've also made homemade mincemeat and mince pies. Next week I shall be making ginger chocolates for my grandad.

[DoubleMum]

To make star shaped (or any other shaped) bark, use the silicon ice cube trays in the shape you want.
There's lots and lots of ideas for chocolate bark on Pinterest, but basically it's chocolate, perhaps a mix of colours swirled together, with various toppings - could be crushed candy cane, fruit and nuts, dried cranberries, sweets, oreo cookies or pretzels, anything really. Let is set then break it up.
Chocolate spoons - I'm using plastic spoons as I already have them for catering. I will put chocolate onto the dipped part of the spoon, then add a variety of toppings like chopped nuts, mini marshmallows, crushed candy cane, smarties etc. I'm also doing dipped marshmallows in much the same way.
I've never made lebkuchen so can't help there. I buy it in Aldi!

[fanjodisfunction]

scariestfairybyfar I use ice cube molds, pour the choclate mix in and then push in the cranberries, almonds etc and pop out when set. Saw it on pinterest.

[PixieHot]

Thanks Double . Can I ask what kind of chocolate you use for your chocolate bark?

[DorsetKnobwithJingleBellsOn]

I have done

lazy chillis
christmas pudding vodka
the fruit from the vodka
tmoato ketchup

still to do
brown sauce
flavoured oil
flavoured vinegar.

[BringUsSomePigleyPudding]

Pixie-
Chocolate spoons Planning to add them as hot chocolate stirrers.
:)

[PixieHot]

Bring, they're fab! I already have a Lakeland order on the way though...

[BoffinMum]

Hope, it tells you how to do map coasters on the link I posted.

[Funnyface89]

Can i join?

I have so far made:

Chilli jam
Spicied apple chutney
Peppermint stick cocoa
Chilli sauce
Brownie mix in a jar
Clementine squash
Tomoto ketchup (may seem odd but there is a running joke with my Dbro about ketchup in glass bottles)

Looking at the list I am quite pleased with myself . I have just to bottle up my lemoncello in seperate bottles and label everything up and then divide it between mine and DH's family.

I also put my friends xmas box together tonight as seeing her tomorrow and it will be the last time before xmas. I got a copy of the Snowman/Father Christmas dvd off Ebay and some christmas mugs, put in some of the peppermint stick cocoa for her and he bf, candy canes, marshmellows and brownie mix in a jar. So hoping she likes it as I am a bit nervous as this is the first year i've done this sort of present for her.

[TitHead]

Thank you Sue and Scariest. I'm going to try that now will report back later.

[PrattingAroundTheChristmasTree]

So far I've made some mars bar vodka, fruit jam, chilli jam, truffles (dark choc with different coatings: chocolate strands, sugar, cocoa, chilli powder, crushed nuts or crushed flakes), white chocolate and mars bar vodka truffles coated in crushed flake, loads of personalised hanging hearts, snowman soup, mince pies, 2 Christmas cakes & chocolate covered breadsticks.

Yesterday I started making the food for our party on Saturday including three sweet trees (fudge, midget gems and fruit pastilles. Stick a cocktail stick in a sweet and stick it in an oasis shaped cone that's like a tree and cover the whole 'tree'). The next few days will be manic as I'm making everything bar the crisps/nuts myself in a tiny kitchen! And I'm doing loads of stuff though I know it'll be too much

Then I'll have a couple of days to make more Christmas presents before we have a mini break before Christmas. Going to do more vodka, 2 types of biscuits, peppermint bark, more mince pies and whatever else I can manage.

[PrattingAroundTheChristmasTree]

Oh I forgot about the chocolate and popping candy heart shaped lollies. I've probably forgotten loads tbh!

[TheWombat]

Can I join in?
I have Christmas pudding vodka in the airing cupboard, and dough for stained glass window ginger biscuits and devilled Parmesan biscuits in the freezer. I'll make them up closer to Christmas so it will all be fresh :)

[PrattingAroundTheChristmasTree]

I also made mincemeat this year for the first time.

[DoubleMum]

The Wombat, devilled parmesan biscuits sound nice, and I could do with another savoury item in my hampers, could you point me in the direction of a recipe?
Pixie I just use Aldi chocolate for my bark.

[ethelb]

We are all hidding under an avalanche of fabric and yarn.

I only have umm.. TWO pairs of pajama bottoms and a cowl to finish.

What was I thinking!

[KvetnutsRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

I made loads of apple chutney, red pepper relish, plum chutney, and sloe and apple jelly in the summer. Have been slowly distributing it.

I need to bottle up my rhubarb vodka and my christmas pudding vodka, but have realised that I can't get the labels off the empty vodka bottles I saved from making it! Does anyone have any tips?

also been making chocolate christmas trees using a silicon mould I found in the 99p shop (same idea as the star shaped bark - also saw this on pinterest!). I'm putting a wee dot of orange essence in the chocolate too, makes them very yummy.

Made my annual christmas cookie selection at the weekend too, they have been demolished at the various groups I go to.

DS and I made cards and decorations this year too - my cards were linoprints, as I have decided I want to do more printing. Decorations were salt dough stars, and not particularly impressive.

So that's it for 2012!

[DoubleMum]

Have you tried nail polish remover on the labels?

[ScariestFairyByFar]

This thread is bad! I'm now making chocolates when the moulds arrive

[TheWombat]

DoubleMum the recipe was in last months Red Magazine- had Cat Deeley on the cover. I can copy out the recipe tomorrow if you like - is easy and v scrummy, and the biscuits look pretty too

[BringUsSomePigleyPudding]

Well the marshmallows I made have come out great. Tastes yummy!

Quite easy to make although did leave the kitchen a little sticky!

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/31/campfire-cooking-bonfire-night-halloween-recipes

[BringUsSomePigleyPudding]

Quick question- Planning on doing hot choc gifts for the teachers/nursery staff.

Have hot choc sachets, Star shaped marshmallows and choc stirring spoons.
How should I package them all. Had originally though of putting them in a mug but from reading the teacher gift threads it appears Teachers get tons of mugs.

Ive bought little bags but hey just dont look right.
any thoughts? Little jars? Christmas paper cups then in the bags?

[OhTheConfusion]

Bring us some, how about wrapped in cellophane, tied up with ribbon or twine and a small decoration for the tree?