I've decided …

to carry on where I left off, sort of!

6^th January is the first birthday on my list, the Wednesday as the lockdown is introduced. My

friend Phyl lives locally and I hadn't got much time – hokey pokey I thought! I'd given her Rocky Road for Christmas which was very well received so it made sense to stick to the theme – I had to work fast – fortunately it's not complicated and I reminded myself when I went on a rummage that I had these small, neat trays which would be perfect.

Here's the tray :

Here's the tray full of hokey pokey :

Here's it is, bagged, with a bow too :

I delivered the gift on Tuesday, phew, that was close.

I received a lovely email from Phyl - “Thank you so much for the hokey pokey it is delicious. I had a fab day x”

It might not seem like anything huge in the birthday gift department – it was meant to make my friend smile and to let her know I'd thought about her birthday. Job done I think!

Where possible within the constraints I'll continue to make stuff for gifts if they can be delivered safely.

I've decided too that there will now be a “treat for the week” included in my menu ideas … up next

After Christmas …

I delivered the first package on the 8^th December. It worked out better than I'd expected – everyone is so busy rushing around with last minute lists that they don't have time to cook or organise food so the delivery of the package gave bits and pieces to create a supper or a lunch with sweet treats to follow. Who'd have thought that cheese scones would be so popular, they aren't exactly what I'd call festive fare but may be that's the secret of the scone and a cheese version in particular! The relish had a part to play and I suppose produced what I'd call a posh ploughmans.

Neither was I prepared for the reactions and am very happy to report that the idea was a success. The next two packages were delivered on Monday 21^st December and soon after I received the following :

“Thank you so much – your cranberry and onion relish

is delicious and perfect with cheese, ham and pork pie.

As for the cheese scones my Grandson loves them and

has already ordered two for lunch tomorrow”

On the sweet side, Rocky Road always seems to be popular but the standout has been the tiffin – what I'd consider to be an old fashioned treat, then I noticed that a well known supermarket had pinched my idea – how rude! The only difference being they added Christmas Trees made out of chocolate to the top – too much chocolate!

I'm waiting for feedback on the last package delivery, which looks more like a traditional hamper – have a look :

 

Here's a Rocky Road delivery – you can make the smallest of gifts look pretty :

When I had the Brown paper packages … Christmas Box idea I didn't realise it would require the planning and organisation that it did, probably because what began as a gift for Margaret but then grew into four more! In addition to which there were the smaller one off gifts.

Further news to follow …

I have a list!

Before I move on to the dessert I promised, I've a hotchpotch of bits and pieces I've been meaning to tell you before the Christmas Box took over!

None of what follows is connected – hopefully it will entertain.

Do you remember back in September and in particular “pasty gate”? I wasn't happy with M&S and their attempt at a cheese & onion pasty and went on to give you my version of a Greggs masterpiece.

Here are extracts from an article written by Marina O'Loughlin – (for those who don't know her Ms. O'Loughlin is the Food Critic for The Sunday Times). Apart from her weekly restaurant review she occasionally adds a short piece entitled “Plate of the nation” :

“Back in poverty-stricken days I had a real fondness for these squidgy calorific parcels …

A couple of years back I revisited the cheese and onion pasty of my youth and found it dry, dusty, not in any way pleasurable, chalking my distaste down to some kind of maturity.

Perhaps it's time to give my former fetish another go? It's still calorific and, God help me, blandly splendid. The pastry is crisp at the edges, gooey in the centre – I'm a bit of a fan of the pastry soggy bottom.

Greggs is a raging success story for a reason: cheap, filling, unchallenging food that sometimes hits the spot you had forgotten you even had...”

Thank you Ms. O'Loughlin!

Next on my list a bit of fun with potatoes, specifically roasties. It was my Grandaughter Alyce's birthday at the end of November and she lives in the North West so no visiting, no nowt as we say up North. Alyce has a passion for roast potatoes and, I'm flattered to say, mine in particular. I decided to throw caution to the wind and send a brown paper package, suitably packed and ice packed I might add, of roast potatoes for her birthday. Expensive roast potatoes I hear you say – you'd be right, however sometimes you've just got to make someone smile and send a gift they aren't expecting. Did it work? It surely did – the reason I'm telling you this story – it'll make you smile too.

The final tick off my list is another idea for a festive box – not necessarily for Christmas, for any occasion. I found a striped box which had a lid that closed on a small circle of velcro – aha I thought lets give it a zhuzh with a fancy bow and see what happens – have a look :

I used the box for one of my “brown paper packages … Christmas box” hampers and delivered it – at a distance and safely of course – last week. It was very well received I'm delighted to say and the moral of this story – you never know what you've got stashed away that might have another life!

Note to self – if you do venture forth even just supermarket shopping after the holidays you'll probably find boxes at bargain prices along with the ribbon too.

Back to the dessert I promised!

A post script … I didn't forget the syrup!

I think you'll find this little gem really useful, here's the recipe - it's easy peasy :

Lemon syrup

200g icing sugar, sifted

8 tblsp lemon juice

To make the syrup place the lemon juice and icing sugar into a small saucepan and heat gently so that the sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool.

This will give you 300ml(approx) of syrup.

Sifting the sugar ensures it dissolves evenly, no lumps required!

The syrup deserved to look fancy schmancy – here's what I found :

This was perfect for my Christmas Box idea, the exact size to nestle into the box – 50ml. I paid £19.99 for 12 x 50ml bottles, complete with cork lids, labels and twine, by Maison & White – you won't be surprised to learn that I bought them from Amazon.co.uk. There are all sorts of different shapes and sizes to choose from.

Ta dah!

Your serving choices :

Soft drink, a drop of syrup in a tall glass, top with chilled soda water and just swizzle.

Still soft – drizzle over ice cream, add a square or six of Rocky Road and fresh fruit for an instant dessert.

Spiked – add a generous drop of Limoncello liqueur.

Sparkling and special – for the festive season add a drop in a Champagne flute or a Martini glass, top with Prosecco, swizzle and enjoy.

Sounds like a great plan – any of the above – something for everyone!

The brown paper package and the Christmas box – the photos

 

here are my offerings, in the box

my understated brown paper package, tied

up with string

my overstated brown paper package, tied

up with festive ribbon – the bow stays put

because the ribbon is wired at the edges and

it's 6cms/2¼” wide

I hope this series has given you some inspiration – small gifts - made and given with love. I have another couple of final bits for you.

In the meantime, Merry Christmas but most of all stay safe and well.

Cranberry and red onion relish – the photos!

 

I was able to get preserving sugar, which was

a surprise

dice the red onion as finely as you can manage

it makes for a more refined texture – if that makes

any sort of sense!

I used good quality cranberries – the American variety

if you can get them – plumptious

Here are the jars I'd stashed in my garage

Here's the finished relish – delish

A choice of jars – those mentioned above

and a small kilner jar

Now for the Rocky Road!

BPP – bags for chocolate!

there's a large cellophane bag underneath

the pennant shaped bag and then the red ties – it's

to give an idea of choice and what size chocolate delight

will fill them

the measurements of both are set down below

large clear cellophane bag

28x12cms/11x5” - with side gussets

pennant shaped bag

29cms/11” long (to the tip) x 13cms/5” wide

I've scrunched the large cellophane bag so that

you can get a better idea of size when the sides are

opened and scrunched!

 

These bags are really festive and smaller

than the other example so you'll fill more of these

with a batch, say, of Rocky Road

Note to self : if you're going to make Rocky Road, make

sure you cut it into small pieces

Next up – deciding on the contents of your package

Brown paper packages … the photos

 

I sourced my boxes locally from SCS Packaging

in Finedon, NN9 5JG – check out their website

www.scspackaging.co.uk

I bought 25 - only because they were flat packed in

25s so any I didn't use wouldn't take up space

storing for another day – a bargain at £4.30

the measurements of the boxes is as shown

At this time of year even the larger supermarkets

sell what they call a “crate gifting pack”

the twine and tag will be excellent to complete

the vision of a brown paper package, tied

up with string

If you'd like to go smaller, here's another

idea – this box comes flat packed and if I can

assemble it believe me anyone can

the measurements are 16x16x7cms/6x6x3” 

I've had these a while and so can't remember what

I paid – all I do know is that they weren't expensive

and don't take up space – flat packed x 4 boxes

There's more … bags for chocolate to follow

Brown paper packages tied up with string

I realise it's nothing new to make your own gifts to give at Christmas – lots of us having been doing it for years. In 2019 I made pies and the year before I made more Rocky Road than I thought was possible to ship to friends and family.

This year is so different for everyone that I've decided to broaden the idea of making my own gifts, based on the title above – it's time to step it up!

If you like the idea, even in principle, choose items you know you can make with both arms tied behind your back – tried and tested – don't make life difficult for yourself. Think about how you're going to “present your present” it doesn't have to be big – small is beautiful – for example if you're great at making chutney or relish go for it.

A few hints and tips :

Have a root around your store cupboard and where you keep your food related stash too. You know exactly what I mean – that pack of six small jars with lids that was such a bargain at the time, hmm where did I put them?!

Decide what you'd like to make – are you good at jam, chutney, biscuits, festive cupcakes, the list is endless and the world is your lobster.

Your gift doesn't have to be a huge selection of stuff – one pot or jar or bag that looks pretty ticks just as many boxes. If however you are creating a package then odd numbers work well when snuggled into a bed of shredded paper or scrunched tissue paper.

Choosing the packaging for your festive treats is important and fun too. You may have your own ideas already but in case you need food for thought – sorry – have a glance at the photos that follow – they may give you a shove in the right direction – either way, fab!

Packaging photo guide up next …