Anyone fancy a luxury larder challenge?

[WaitingForMe]

If we started on Monday we could do twelve projects prior to December. I'm thinking flavoured sprits, cakes, puddings, mincemeat etc.

Does anyone fancy joining me?

Disclaimer: I'm a poncetastic lunatic who can't wait until 25th Sept

I'd be happy to post the recipes I'll be doing.

fevertree the redcurrant rum sounds like something I can see myself making next year, do you use white, dark or golden rum?

What craft items are they?

Right, what is the easiest thing for an entry level ponce?

Cold cottage - they are pretty much any craft items you could imagine. I am seriously addicted. Sewing, knitting, crochet, jewellery making, scrap booking, card making, glass etching, felting, soap/bath bomb making, you name it I've got it. But my more craft room is just heaving with it all which means I can barely move it there. And that is after a rather ruthless cull where I took several other projects like cross stitch and rag rugging to the charity shop. Also have bloody loads a few unfinished craft projects like Christmas bunting, mini advent calendar with fabric stocking etc.

OneskinnyChip Well it depends if you want to go down the fruit in alcohol road. I've gone off alcohol apart from the odd glass of very good red wine! I suppose you could start looking for offers on organic champagne (which Sainsbos or Waitrose do sometimes in the run up to Christmas ). Is that poncey enough for you?

Has anyone tried flavouring bourbon? We had a bumper crop of blackberries near us so I was going to do blackberry vodka but have plenty left to do another batch of alcohol and just fancied something different. DH is a big fan of Stag bourbon (cherry flavoured bourbon) so thought this could be a good cheap present for him, especially as Aldi do their own brand bourbon!

What grade of alcohol do people buy when they are going to add fruit to it? For example, with gin which of the following would be best?

Value/economy?
Own brand but not economy?
Gordon's?

My sister uses the aldi gin every year for sloe gin.

Another alcohol question how long does gin last for- does it go off? There's a massive bottle of Gordon's in our cupboard barely touched but I think it's around 6 years old. Could it be used?

That's good to hear, Cold because I've used Aldi gin for my sloe gin. It came in green bottles too, which the value brands didn't, so I've saved the empty bottles to decant the finished product into.

Lady I've had bottles older than that and they have been fine.

Marking my place as my thoughts turn to Christmas.

I want to read back for the Christmas cake recipes. I'm not too late to start am I?

Gin tends not to go off so you should be safe.

I have loads of sloe gin, of varying vintages in the side board.
I have just made some apple and mint jelly which is delicious and will make some chilli jam this weekend.
I also have tons of cooking apples left in my shed and need to come up with some inventive ways of using them. I've already made cinnamon and apple buns and could make them again.

Theonewith You can make a Christmas cake in the same week ! IMO and E The soaking of the fruit is the secret to a really good cake. (either in alcohol or tea or whatever) that takes a bit longer but if you use bought good quality mincemeat it'll be alright. The best recipes are Delia Smith's . I 'm willing to be proved wrong though

I'll make my christmas cake next weekend, I'll put the fruit to soak this weekend in preparation.

Yes MrsPnut If you soak the fruit then it doesn't need 'feeding' every week! Unless you're very keen on booze And are not driving 2 days after having a slice !!

Home Bargains have lovely baskets in atm for hampers, they do mail order now.

www.homebargains.co.uk/products/5836-luxury-hamper-basket.aspx

Can soneone post the recipe for chilli jam and/or tomato & chilli jam please.

Thank you ppeat.

Shameless marking of place and scouring for recipes.

I won't be as productive as most of you but I usually make:

mincemeat (and mince pies with VERY nice pastry) - once you've made it you can't eat shop stuff, it's horrible, and homemade is a total doddle

Christmas pudding - my mum's 40 year old recipe.

Christmas cake, (and the almond icing) but a small one as I eat too much. Anyone care you share a luxurious recipe for a small cake?

Onion marmalade, bloody gorgeous, and not a whole load of bother.

Peppermint creams

And a quick question re the pudding. What kind of a bowl do you use? I hate all the faffing with paper, tinfoil string etc, has anyone an easier way? I see from my post that everything I make is 'a doddle' 'no faff' 'no bother'.

Ooh lurkingaround what does onion marmalade taste like? Like a chutney for sandwiches? that sounds lovely. Do you have the recipe for it?

Yes confusedalways, a bit like a chutney, I love it. It's sweet and oniony and yum. Goes with lots of things. My friend made me the most gorgeous pate last year, and I served it to friends with a bit of salad, (homemade) melba toast and onion marmalade. It made a nice starter into a fairly gosh this is yum starter. It would be a lovely present too.

I use a very easy recipe, there are harder ones and they might be even nicer. This is the one I use. I've made it with white onions too, equally nice.

That looks lovely thanks, I'll give it a go once I get some Kilner jars. Do you reduce the amount of butter some of the reviews mention to?

I probably did. I think about 100g. And I don't put the port in, mainly because I never have it and i dont replace it with anything else. I've a feeling I also reduce the amount of wine, it is a lot of liquid. Sorry for being vague but I kind of 'see as I go' cook it.

Just had a look at my sloe gin and all the sugar has dissolved and it is a gorgeous ruby colour. I hope it will taste as good as it looks.

Does anyone have a tried and tested marshmallow recipe? I want to make some for gifts but the recipe I tried turned out really badly - possibly because I used leaf gelatin rather than powdered gelatin. Otherwise, where can I find powdered gelatin?

My Kilmer jars arrived this morning. Getting a food delivery Monday then I shall be trying out the onion marmalade!