Christmas Hamper Ideas

[Sim]

Does anyone in Canberra need jars? The person who I got all my jars from just found two more boxes and asked if I would like them. I don't need any. Let me know and I will give you her email address and you can arrange to pick them up from the front of her house.

[Nay-nay]

Nay-Nay -is it possible to get your raspberry codial recipe please?

Thanks 

Yep! That's where it's from.  I buy the fruit, frozen in those boxes, when on special for about $5 a box. You can get 3 lots out of 1 box - much cheaper than the $10 natural cordial I was buying.

[A Canadian Foodie]

I am so sorry - I missed this request. This is the recipe:
250grs sugar
250grs blanched almonds
1 large size egg white
Place sugar in tm and pulverize for 15 seconds on speed 9
Add almonds and programme 1 minute speed 7
Add egg white and programme 35 seconds on speed 6
Remove the dough from TM wrap it with a damp tea and put in refrigerator overnight.

Thank you so much for the recipe! I tried this, and the marzipan was delicious, but as hard as - well, not a rock, but as a piece of barely chewable taffy. I could cut thin wedges from it to eat, but couldn't shape it, or anything... and it seemed that the almond sugar mixture was sugary... what do you think I did wrong?

[Thermomixer]

How fresh were the almonds?  In Spain/Portugal they have extremely fresh almonds -it may be that they had dried out and so you may need some more moisture.

[A Canadian Foodie]

name for this kind of cake and it will give you an idea
wishing you success
Barbara from Southern Portugal

Thank you, Barbara!!!!

[brazen20au]

Does anyone in Canberra need jars? The person who I got all my jars from just found two more boxes and asked if I would like them. I don't need any. Let me know and I will give you her email address and you can arrange to pick them up from the front of her house.

bugger, i wish i'd seen this 3 months ago!!! lol

[faffa_70]

Thought I would give this a kick start again as that time is fast approaching us 

Judy's review of the Red Pepper Jam is what got me thinking 

[I Love Bimby!]

Good thinking faffa  Before we know it Christmas will be upon us 

[faffa_70]

92 days ILB just in case you wanted to know 

my kids have a countdown on my computer so it is forever in my face 

[KLC79]

Ohhh yes, great ideas, keen for more seeming a Thermomix is new to me this year. I am constantly raving to my family and friends about it so they would probably enjoy some homemade gifts. Looking forward to seeing more bright gifting ideas soon.

[achookwoman]

In the past, pre TMX days, I gave friends,  Xmas Puds and Pate.   This year , I have been collecting recipes from the Forum and have so far......Spiced Mixed nuts, (thanks Brazen), Panforte,(thanks Tenina),Turron, (thanks Thermomixer),Lime and Maca. Fudge,
( thanks ?), Tablet, (Thanks?), Pear Pastilles,(British Larder).   Last year I also made Fruit Mince Pies,  with a recipe from Andi and a fat free filling from Cookie or Gert.?  The ratio of filling to pastry worked really well.   The Xmas Pud  and Pate I have posted.
I would like to know what others put in their hampers,  if this is not too early to decide .

[andiesenji]

To reply to a problem mentioned upthread, re: almonds that may be too dry for producing soft marzipan.
Don't despair, they can be resurrected by steaming. 

Blanch the almonds as usual, remove the skins and steam them for 8 to 10 minutes.  Use them immediately or dry them well and freeze them until ready to use - after steaming they will mold rapidly. 

Almonds are grown locally and I usually buy a 5-gallon bucked of the shelled almonds late in the season when the prices have dropped and store them in the pantry for three months or so then in the freezer (if I have any left).  After being frozen for a few months, they do tend to dry out and I blanch and steam them prior to using in any recipe, not just marzipan. 
If I'm preparing flavored almonds for snacks, the oven roasting and drying is sufficient to drive out the excess moisture and they will not become moldy. 

I hope this helps.

[andiesenji]

Every year I make a lot of candied citrus peel and candied ginger.

I can't have chocolate myself but it seems that all my friends and family love chocolate, especially the dark, bittersweet type.  After preparing the candied orange peel or the ginger, I melt bittersweet chocolate and dip part of each piece of peel or ginger in it.
It drys hard enough that it will keep at normal room temp fairly well. 
I cut bakers parchment into sheets to fit a cookie tin and store the choc dipped pieces in single layers on the parchment. 

I used to buy candy boxes from a local supplier but a few years ago a local gift store went out of business and I bought their entire stock of cookie boxes and cookie tins and still have a supply that should last me a few more years.

[achookwoman]

Andi,  that is a great ides.   I make candied peel for dinner parties,  so had better get busy.

[Thermomixer]

Thanks for bumping.  A couple of ideas that I thought should go here are Chookies KFC mix

http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=4364.0

and meganjane's cake mix. http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=4418.0