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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Ideas for home made items to go in a hamper

36 replies

TheHollyandtheOliviaMumsnet · 19/12/2007 15:18

Making a hamper for PILs. DH went to Self's Food Hall to try and get some goodies but was rather underwhelmed.
I'm thinking about making some home made lemon curd to put in it.
Anything else that's not too tricky that would work well?
TIA

OP posts:
oranges · 19/12/2007 15:20

white chocolate and cranberry biscuits? never tried it, but they sound christmassy!

choosyfloosy · 19/12/2007 15:27

Shortbread

Include at least 1 half bottle of really good dessert wine

rebelmum1 · 19/12/2007 15:29

mince pies are quite easy or christmas biscuits (star shaped) i have made sloe gin this year. Nice chutney would go in lakeland do some hampers or you can gift wrap a couple of their items they do some nice stuff.

TenLordsaLapin · 19/12/2007 15:32

florentines

My friend made us a hamper when we got married - she got a bunch of those nice gift boxes that Paperchase sell and filled them with a variety of biscuits (savoury and sweet). Plus a bottle of chilli oil, a flavoured vinegar, some truffles and a bottle of Champagne.

It helps that she's a chef, of course

rebelmum1 · 19/12/2007 15:33

florentines are gorgeous

rebelmum1 · 19/12/2007 15:33

florentines are gorgeous

HolidaysQueen · 19/12/2007 15:33

Chocolate truffles? I think they are just double cream and dark chocolate, maybe a bit of rum, and then dusted in cocoa powder.

Amaretti biscuits - egg whites, icing sugar and ground almonds. This recipe also has amaretto liqueur in, but I've definitely made them without. I also make them bite-size rather than as normal biscuit sizes - probably need a bit less cooking that way.

I've made both of these before (but can't remember the truffle recipe - sorry!) and they are pretty easy, tasty and look special!

On the savoury side, what about some herb vinegar or oil? No idea how to do it, but I don't think it can be too difficult and you could then put it in a decorative glass bottle.

Great idea - hope you have fun doing it!

FWIW, when I've done a hamper, we've actually found really lovely stuff in Waitrose, and at a much more reasonable price than Selfridges, so you might want to try there. They do a great range of teas, coffees, mustard, oil, fancy pasta etc.

FairyOnTopOfTheChristmasTree · 19/12/2007 15:33

Home made truffles here or Nigella's chocolate brownies. Spiced nuts have also been suggested on other threads spiced nuts and sound delicious

choosyfloosy · 19/12/2007 15:35

Oh God, Florentines a much better idea than shortbread.

All right, I'll see your florentines and raise you macaroons

i'm sure you don't actually have to pipe them, do you?

TenLordsaLapin · 19/12/2007 15:38

I see your macaroons and raise you some macaroons that aren't really shortbread

CremolaFirCone · 19/12/2007 15:41

smoked salmon
2 nice juicy steaksor a roast
mustard
mint sauce-homemade
homemade jam
posh vinegar
mulled wine mix(homemade)
chco truffles(homemade)
organic lemons and limes
fancy pasta

TenLordsaLapin · 19/12/2007 15:42

Ooh, hot smoked salmon (lasts longer)

Preserved lemons

GrimmaTheNome · 19/12/2007 15:45

marinated olives - in olive oil, bit of balsamic vinegar and whatever herbs, lemon peel, garlic, chillis takes your fancy (not all of those in the same jar though).

rebelmum1 · 19/12/2007 16:01

someone gave me a thai cookery book once and put the ingredients in for the recipes coconut milk, fish sauce, lime leaves, noodles etc that was nice, really thoughtful gift

rebelmum1 · 19/12/2007 16:02

where do u get preserved lemons from are they in smarkets?

oranges · 19/12/2007 16:06

rebelmum, that's a lovely idea.

rebelmum1 · 19/12/2007 16:08

yeah i was really touched, they'd remembered a conversation I had about wanting some thai recipes.

CountessDraculaboredofxmasname · 19/12/2007 16:12

cranberry sauce
(just made some!)

iheartdusty · 19/12/2007 16:37

Rebelmum, preserved lemons are in big s'markets. I bought some Belazu brand ones from supermarket.
are they a Middle Eastern thing?

VVVExcitedAboutChristmasQV · 19/12/2007 16:45

Gingerbread/shortbread biscuits v easy to make.

Also very simple - melting good quality dark/milk chocolate and white chocolate and pouring into a foil lined baking tray/tin and swirling together to make marbled chocolate. You could add in hazelnuts/almonds/raisins/cranberries too if you wished.

Cut into squares/chunks when set.

VVVExcitedAboutChristmasQV · 19/12/2007 16:46

Make some cheese straws/biscuits.

Mini christmas puds are easy to make too.

Myrrhcy · 19/12/2007 16:56

Bit late now as it should be made a few weeks in advance, but Delia has a recipe for Christmas chutney.

Maybe next year?!

Are Seville's out around now? (for marmalade)

ItNeverDidMeAnyHarm · 19/12/2007 17:07

It's close to that time of year, but its more January I think......

TheHollyandtheOliviaMumsnet · 19/12/2007 17:15

Wow! Thanks for all of these ideas!
Are florentines hard to make? Found a delia recipe and never get on very well with her

Cheese straws would go down VERY well with FIL I think, though how would I pack 'em so they don't all break before we even get there?

OP posts:
TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 19/12/2007 17:18

Sloe gin
Confit of duck
Sweet & sour plum sauce
Jam - you could add Christmas spices
Mulled wine spice bags or just a tied bundle of cinnamon sticks
Potted shrimps
Pot pourri