[Thrift]

There are lots of lightweight fabric shopping bags around now, due to the plastic bag levy, so one of these plus a packet of seeds ( I usually send cosmos ) is a very frugal present. The cosmos especially, is very popular.

[Kleftiwallah]

This year I'm going to make some Oxo Cube dispensers.  Got some off cuts of marine ply and I'm going round the toy shops to find some packaging - thin strong clear plastic, don't care about the contents as long as the're cheeeep.   Need to make about 6 - 7.     

  Been down the 'sheds' but when they want £30 + for an 8 X 6 foot sheet.  .  .  .  .Cheers,    Tony.

[Madame Cholet]

make jam look different by putting in a pretty sterilised wine glass  glass jug ramakin or china cup and saucer seal with cling film while hot and cover with  a flowery picture out of a garden mag.

the jugs and glasses an be bought singly for 10p -50p  at charity shop.

[evie2]

That's a great idea Rachel

[mumofstig]

a very pretty idea, as long as they know that the jam won't store forever, like it does in jars

[Madame Cholet]

should'nt e too bad the cling film forms a seal whilst hot you can see where there is a vacuum ie the film is sucked in. as long as there don' think it will keep for years. or stick a finger through it.

[jacquie1]

I pickled a load of eggs - hen's and quails.  They've kept really well, took no time at all to do and are going into homemade hampers 'n' baskets

[mumofstig]

the Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten) was delivering these cookies to friends on the programme yesterday, they looked nice as presents, in cellophane pkts tied with ribbon.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/jam-thumbprints-recipe/index.html

I'm going to make some with the grandkids later - should be fun 

[evie2]

I think I'll make those with wee Evie, she loves cooking and the recipe reminds me of the rock buns we made at school mine really were rocks

[arugula]

They do sound nice, don't they? I watch her quite often, but haven't done so recently.

[sunshineband]

I have just made some pickled pears.

The jars were recycled, the fabric covering for the lid came from an old piece I had, cut out with pinking shears and tied on with raffia, and the pears themselves were just small ones that I was given.

Only paid for the vinegar and the sugar really (Had the spices already)

[New shoot]

I'm raiding the preserve cupboard later for pressies - pickled shallots, chutney and raspberry vodka high on the list of targets.  I'm also going to make candied orange peel again.

I gave all homemade foodie presents last year and people were over the moon 

[Madame Cholet]

I bought some gigham shcool dresses off the £1 rail in the age shop for jam tops a while ago

[sunshineband]

I bought some gigham shcool dresses off the £1 rail in the age shop for jam tops a while ago

Great idea 

[compostqueen]

I dried some bay leaves over the weekend, jarred them up with fancy tops, and giving them to my nieces as stocking fillers