[matilda duck]

I'm sorry   I know it's way too early to be thinking about Christmas but..........I've decided this year now i'm loving making jams, breads, yogurts??? ect  that i'd like to do some hampers for Christmas.
 I decided this year, I wasn't going to the the silly traipsing round the shops looking for present that people didn't want/didn't like and I wanted the REAL meaning of Christmas to come through!!!

I want to do more jams...chutneys(have 1 batch made already) curds, ?

What sort of things should I put in these hampers and when is the best time to start. 

[Poolfield2]

You could make Christmas puds now and they will mature beautifully by then but I can't bare thinking about it yet

[Debz]

I quite often make up hampers for some of my family that have everything else already.  The only thing I consider is whether these people are more fond of sweet or savoury.  I use pickles, chutneys, fancy crackers, cheese and wine or do one with jams, wine, biscuits and chocolates.  I usually buy these things but you can buy a bit at a time with your grocery shopping and it doesn't hurt as much.  It is not a cheap option for a gift but always really appreciated.  The major consideration is what you are going to present it in because your contents will start to get heavy so make sure you put your gift in something substantial.  The cooking bloke on Radio Two on Thursday night was talking about cherry gin and with cherries in season right now, something like that might be nice to get going.

[Kate and her Ducks]

Mince meat is also a good, Christmassy thing to make and tastes loads better than the shop bought stuff. You can make that now and it will keep till then. Crab apple jelly is yummy but a bit early to be thinking about that yet.

[chrissie B]

thats is a good idea , much nicer to have some home made things to eat .
Christmas cookies are allways nice and i just came across an idea for mini fruit cakes made in a muffin size tin , they are not as fruity as the traditional cake im sure you could throw in a bit extra fruit . these were baked in coloured papers not muffin cups and tied with a bit string ideal i would have thought .
chrissie b

[SAMANTHA MOLLY]

I'm thinking about Christmas (stay at home mum!)
So far i have made 9 large jars of jam!
I'm also sewing aprons and matching tea towels to go with them.

Home made gifts are the best!!!

I was also thinking of doing
pickled onions
Pickled chillis
tom chutney
ketchup - been saving glass tommy K jars

My friend is doing plaited garlic - if you have surplus.

S

[mumofstig]

Individual Christmas cakes always go down well, cook them in tuna cans...just the right size
Or, if you are a breadmaker stollen is really nice to give, wrapped in cellaphane it looks good, it's just a little different to make, but yum!
If you grow or can get redcurrants you could make some jelly to go with the turkey.
My friend always used to do up cheese, biscuits and homemade chutney in prettily wrapped shoe boxes

[JulieP]

I added a selection of Cheese truckles from a supermarket, home made biscuits, small homemade Christmas cake, jam, chutney, pickled onions, pickled beetroot, homemade wine, rhubarb vodka, homemade chocolates, and fudge, and homemade pate in a nice pot (I got a small sugar bowl with lid from Asda for about £1.00).

These went down very well, and I have been asked if they could have them again, you can add different things for different people, also you can start your Christmas Shopping now, I was done and 99% dusted by the beginning fo December.

[matilda duck]

Sewing aprons and tea towels...that sounds lovely...just need to learn how???

Loving these ideas...and sorry again,  I know summer would be nice before Christmas

[Parsnip]

Last year I made poolfields Christmas puds and gave them away, they are delish..recipe in the recipe section.

I made Val pickled onions...gave some of them away, but fegretted it as they were so nice.

I made Christmas cakes, a recipe from an M&S book that I've had for years ( a tried and tested recipe and very easy) some big ones, for mum and Dad, us and the families. And for the single relatives I made up the same mixture and cooked the in big ramekins.

They went down a treat, people just love getting home made stuff...

[matilda duck]

I had some delish strawberry jam....but I gave all that away .
Some rhubarb and ginger chutney on the go as we speak!!!!!

[Poolfield2]

If you made big square Christmas cake (7"-8") you can then cut it into 8 small cakes and marzipan and ice (nearer the time) and wrap in celophane. They look just like some I saw in National Trust shop at a fraction of the price.

[Faz]

Last year we gave our immediate family a hamper containing :

Pickled Onions
Chili relish
Chili jam
Shortbread
Pickled beetroots
Snowman soup (a DIY hot chocolate drink)
And some brownie ingredients in a jar, just add eggs and milk I think.

All done up nice with some silly labels on.

This year we're still skint so they'll be getting something similar, except I think we'll have to think up some new ingredients

[SAMANTHA MOLLY]

Matilda... my mums coming to help :-)

I've ordered a pattern for mine -emmeline apron- its winging it way over the pond!!!!!!
i can't wait for it...i want one my self!
Google it you will to.  http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.80923984.jpg

Hope that link works!?

X
s

[Faz]

Here you go Samantha Molly