Anyone who is doing food/comsumables

[Christmas101]

I'm thinking that I will do consumables for the relatives I normally do £20-30 gifts for. I am going to get nice chocolates, biscuits, wine for those who drink, maybe nice cheese biscuits (although I have abandoned the idea of actual cheese because of storage and wanting to get the bloody shopping done now ), possibly hot choc stirrer things. What else could/should I put in there?

I'm not sure how to package it either. I was thinking of just largish gift bags but is there anything I should be aware of or does anyone have any other ideas?

And I have one relative who is definitely not one for sweet things so cheese biscuits, maybe some good beers, what else?

TIA for any inspiration!

Check local farm shops, I have seen some lovely chutney and biscuits for cheese presented in a nice box, I think you can get ones with cheese in too. You could probably make a small hamper? Or gift bags will work fine. I would do chocolates/sweets, chutney, biscuits for cheese, hot chocolate and maybe some nice mince pies or a mini Christmas cake?

Nice mince pies/christmas cake is a good call. And farm shops. I was going to steer clear of chutney because in this house they get used once enthusiastically and then never again!

This has made me wonder about that sort of creamy spreading cheese you get in a glass jar though, with rosemary and stuff...

There is a lot of christmassy flavoured crisps about at the moment so might be an idea (I have some in my consumables hamper but I can't help much as mine is mostly sweet treats and a Just Eat voucher)

Mine are in crates and will be cello wrapped

Christmassy crisps?! I knew this was a thread I would be glad I'd started!

And looking at that you have some bigger items but a few little things too which make it look altogether more hamper-ish.

www.fortnumandmason.com/chocolate-macadamia-biscuits-200g

These always go down a treat with my lot, they're the most delicious biscuits I've ever tasted. Comes in a lovely metal tube.

I'm doing a cheese hamper, but I've already ordered the cheese to be delivered straight to them (the parents). I'm adding chutneys and pickles, biscuits for cheese and some plum bread (which goes lovely with cheese but I think is only a lincolnshire thing). I might put some nice bubbly in. I haven't quite decided yet.

Those biscuits are beautiful. I want them for me though And interesting idea about cheese direct. I worry about the delivery going wrong somehow though.

Maybe add some items with longish expiry dates - it's nice to be able to enjoy items well into the new year.

I use Lidl cardboard boxes in wrapping paper for my hampers, as they are free and can easily be recycled (as much as I love the baskets etc, I think they are often clutter.

I'm using bags for life as main outer bag, I've got cellophane hamper bags from Internet, which will be lined with tissue paper, filled with food and then tied at top and placed in bag for life.
Tesco have some Xmas pudding ones, which look festive and fun and are reusable.
Lidl panettone and spiced biscuits are good, M&S and all other supermarkets have various bits that are Christmassy which are good for hampers

My first batch of glacé orange slices made today. They are currently drying out on the dining table. I have great hopes.

About a third of them are perfect enough to be gifted. The rest I suspect may just get eaten. Then ate my favourite Christmas treat but cost a fortune. Two hours conveyed eight oranges into glacé orange slices.

Now to find small cellophane bags to wrap them

@FinallyHere

My first batch of glacé orange slices made today. They are currently drying out on the dining table. I have great hopes.

About a third of them are perfect enough to be gifted. The rest I suspect may just get eaten. Then ate my favourite Christmas treat but cost a fortune. Two hours conveyed eight oranges into glacé orange slices.

Now to find small cellophane bags to wrap them

I love those so much. Especially the chocolate dipped ones. Recipe?

Lidl are really good for this kind of thing. Think I will mix and match with really good stuff like the F and M biscuits or similar.

Dried apple rings dipped in chocolate is another delicious but easy thing to make yourself. I make them every year to justify the dehydrator I bought after a very drunken work lunch but you can do them in the oven too.

Pate? Lidl have glass jars of smoked salmon pate in atm which is very nice and looks fancy. Chorizo/salamis. Jarred beetroot or gherkins rather than chutney. A good farm shop should have a section. Tea bags, yogi teas do some lovely ones or favoured coffee.

My mil is hosting this year so for her hamper I've got dessert wine, sticky toffee pudding popcorn, jars of chicken liver pate and duck pate, gentleman's relish, balsamic vinegar and mango chutney. I will be adding the above plus beetroot smoked salmon, some cheese and bread from our local bakery.

I bought a seagrass basket from tk maxx to put it in.

@FinallyHere

My first batch of glacé orange slices made today. They are currently drying out on the dining table. I have great hopes.

About a third of them are perfect enough to be gifted. The rest I suspect may just get eaten. Then ate my favourite Christmas treat but cost a fortune. Two hours conveyed eight oranges into glacé orange slices.

Now to find small cellophane bags to wrap them

The Works have cello bags - ones for cards but useful for all sorts.

I’m only doing consumables for adults, plus the odd pair of nice bamboo socks. I did a lot of the shopping for nice ‘bits’ at the Kew Gardens shop. They’ll mostly be going in gift bags with tape at the top so contents not obvious.

Also found some nice consumable bits on the milkman’s online shop - dark choc coated orange peel, ditto stem ginger, for those who like such things. Also hot choc bombes with marshmallows inside, for 2 early teens - I just wanted a mini thing to wrap the cash around.

Look at what Fortnum and Masons does generally - you won't be able to pay their prices for your budget, but will give you inspiration. Fudge, toffee, nice tea coffeee....

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

I’m only doing consumables for adults, plus the odd pair of nice bamboo socks. I did a lot of the shopping for nice ‘bits’ at the Kew Gardens shop. They’ll mostly be going in gift bags with tape at the top so contents not obvious.

Also found some nice consumable bits on the milkman’s online shop - dark choc coated orange peel, ditto stem ginger, for those who like such things. Also hot choc bombes with marshmallows inside, for 2 early teens - I just wanted a mini thing to wrap the cash around.

I love that shop. It's my spiritual home...

Posh versions of marmalade, cranberry sauce, teabags, pickles, popcorn
Bath fizzers, shower steamers

Agree that things like marmalade, jam, coffee etc last a long time and are good.
Ditch the cellophane which is bad for the environment - recyclable pretty bags and tissue paper would work?