(I am in a garralous mood today, plus its Sunday)
Not only do we have people telling us to behavie ourselves, to give to charity, to eat up our sprouts....oh, yes, and to SPEND...
There are those who will lecture on GIVING.
Or, what not to give.
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(I Hate Christmas...)
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I will advise you on two rules.
Decent Quality, and Thought Put In.
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While we are at it, we can talk about stuff that can be made. I have little money, less at Christmas, and so I make presents. Why not have fun while giving?
I make a lot of home preserves, which go down well at Christmas. Some are complex but I will share a couple of easy ones to start.
PICKLED EGGS
A good traditional dish served up in pubs...placed in an open chrisp packet. The bag holds the egg and the crisps soak up the vinegar.
A big jar. (get an old one off of a chippy, or most stores sell big kilner jars these days)
Enough hard boiled eggs to go in above jar. (peel the shells off while still hot, -this way they peel easier)
White vinegar. (Can use brown but that sends the eggs brown...no harm to it. I have used cider or white wine vinegar which works too)
NO PICKLING SPICES (Have seen all sorts of recipes. Eggs have a delicate flavour and the object of the exercise is not to spoil it. Repeat. No Spices. Eggs, Vinegar...thats all.)
You place the eggs in the jar and cover with hot vinegar. Leave two weeks.
WILD BOAR SAUCE
Adapted from a recipe by my friend Ms Beaton. Goes with all meats, cheese, and on its own on toast. Using the cheapo own brand stuff I estimate two jars of this will set me back just over £1. All my family and friends love it and if I never made anything else ever again...I would still be loved.
Another good thing about this recipe is it goes back into the original ingredients jars...No hunting for new jars....You just get the old labels off.
Jar Marmalade. (can be Orange but does no harm to try some other sort. As I said, I use the cheapo stuff).
Jar Redcurrant Jelly or Cranberry Sauce.
Big dollop of whatever mustard is to hand (optional)
Place all ingredients in a pot and heat very gently, enough to melt them together. Then replace in jars. You can eat this straight away but it will keep.
Have you any gift ideas? Shall I post more recipes?
Not only do we have people telling us to behavie ourselves, to give to charity, to eat up our sprouts....oh, yes, and to SPEND...
There are those who will lecture on GIVING.
Or, what not to give.
-----
(I Hate Christmas...)
-----
I will advise you on two rules.
Decent Quality, and Thought Put In.
-----
While we are at it, we can talk about stuff that can be made. I have little money, less at Christmas, and so I make presents. Why not have fun while giving?
I make a lot of home preserves, which go down well at Christmas. Some are complex but I will share a couple of easy ones to start.
PICKLED EGGS
A good traditional dish served up in pubs...placed in an open chrisp packet. The bag holds the egg and the crisps soak up the vinegar.
A big jar. (get an old one off of a chippy, or most stores sell big kilner jars these days)
Enough hard boiled eggs to go in above jar. (peel the shells off while still hot, -this way they peel easier)
White vinegar. (Can use brown but that sends the eggs brown...no harm to it. I have used cider or white wine vinegar which works too)
NO PICKLING SPICES (Have seen all sorts of recipes. Eggs have a delicate flavour and the object of the exercise is not to spoil it. Repeat. No Spices. Eggs, Vinegar...thats all.)
You place the eggs in the jar and cover with hot vinegar. Leave two weeks.
WILD BOAR SAUCE
Adapted from a recipe by my friend Ms Beaton. Goes with all meats, cheese, and on its own on toast. Using the cheapo own brand stuff I estimate two jars of this will set me back just over £1. All my family and friends love it and if I never made anything else ever again...I would still be loved.
Another good thing about this recipe is it goes back into the original ingredients jars...No hunting for new jars....You just get the old labels off.
Jar Marmalade. (can be Orange but does no harm to try some other sort. As I said, I use the cheapo stuff).
Jar Redcurrant Jelly or Cranberry Sauce.
Big dollop of whatever mustard is to hand (optional)
Place all ingredients in a pot and heat very gently, enough to melt them together. Then replace in jars. You can eat this straight away but it will keep.
Have you any gift ideas? Shall I post more recipes?
