How’s the Christmas prep going?
We left our run quite late this year, but we’ve finally finished putting together our mini-hampers. Here are a few last minute suggestions (which hopefully won’t necessitate a visit to the shops)…
Packaging
Our hampers are packed in paper gift bags decorated with discount store stickers…
We always make our own gift tags, and thought we’d share them with you. Just print them out on thin card and cut them up as needed (we use a guillotine). The links are here…
♥ ♥ ♥
Decorating
Marilyn’s Christmas geese are a perfect school holiday project. They’re a little fiddly to assemble, but oh so very cute…
Have a look at the other Christmas papercraft on Marilyn’s website!
♥ ♥ ♥
Last Minute Treats
Every year, in the final days leading up to Christmas, I decide we need just one more thing for the hampers, and we end up making these spiced nuts. They’re incredibly easy! I made a quadruple batch this time (two kilograms) using egg whites leftover from a recent batch of microwave custard.
This year’s mix included hazelnuts, macadamias, brazil nuts, walnuts and almonds, but you could really use whatever nuts you have on hand…
. . . . .
I have two batches of June’s vanilla kifli dough sitting in the fridge, waiting to be rolled, cut and baked just before Christmas day…
. . . . .
I hope to bake a batch of toffee bars this week – at this hectic time, I instinctively seek the uncomplicated, and this is one of the easiest recipes I’ve come across in a long time. For more simple baking recipes, please have a look at our recent Five to Share post…
♥ ♥ ♥
Here’s a peek inside this year’s hampers – each bag contains a jar of jam, a bag of vanilla sugar, six plum pudding truffles, and a bag of spiced nuts…
I hope you’re all having fun this December! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Where is mine….
Norma dear, as they say, “it’s in the mail!”.. ;-) Have a great Christmas!
HAMPERS! Why didn’t i think of that! Awesome! Yours look so good! Thank you for letting us taste them vicariously.. drool .. c
Thanks Celi! We make a bunch of mini hampers up each Christmas and use them for most of our gift giving. This year friends and family are getting either a hamper or a chocolate tree! :)
Beautiful!
Thanks Abby! Hope you and the kids are enjoying the festive season – it’s extra special with small people around! :)
Oh gosh, those spiced nuts look wonderful! Clever, clever, you. :D
Actually Misk, it’s clever, clever Hugh, as they’re a River Cottage recipe. Just so quick and easy to make! I took a jar to our non-chocolate eating neighbour yesterday! :)
Looking just great!
Thanks! Have a great Chrissie!
They look great – it looks like there’s lots of goodies to be had in your kitchen this Christmas! I keep meaning to make those toffee bars. Every time I see that picture it reminds me!
C, the best part is, it’s almost all done, so everything extra I make now is just for fun, rather than necessary. It’s a nice way to cruise down to the big day! :)
Well, this is almost a “In My Kitchen” post! ;-)
awesome stuff, Celia!
For us, the end of the year celebrations will involve very little cooking, we are traveling tomorrow and won’t be back until January 3rd, no idea what we’ll do for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It’s fun to see what everyone else is doing, though
I hope I can keep up with your countdown…
Sally, have a great holiday! xxx
Those hampers look lovely Celia. Rhubarb and blackberry jam sounds delicious, whack that on a warm scone and ohhhh yum!
I’d be lost without homemade goodies as gifts for Christmas. (Although I’m kind of looking forward to a pause in the baking….just for a moment or two ;-)
Brydie, hope you and the Monkeys are having fun this Christmas! The goodies coming out of your kitchen have been amazing!
Hi Celia,
I love the look of the toffee bars. Would they be okay on Christmas day if I made them today.
Hi Terri! They should be fine, just make sure to store them in an airtight container. I think they’ll be a lovely Christmas Day treat! :)
You are so clever and organised, it all looks wonderful. It is a pretty low key Christmas here. We have no children in our family! My son is 38 and won’t be back from New York until 28th Dec.
Thanks Debra! I hope you have a relaxing, laid back Christmas!
Thanks to your inspiration Celia, I have also opted for Hampers this year too! In mine are my chilli infused olive oil and homemade vanilla essence. I hope everyone loves them!
Dimity, that’s great! I’m sure everyone will love them!! :)
So special indeed! What lovely gift bags of love! perfect nibbles to fill the gaps left from Christmas lunch :)
Hello love, I was going to ring you today, but life got crazy. I had quite a bit of success baking my stamped cookies cold, thank you! :)
How sweet of you to make up all those gift bags for people. I’ll have to keep those in mind for next year. No time left this year and no energy since we just moved to a new house. I love crafts, so will definitely check out the paper goose. Too cute!! Those toffee bars are already on my to do list. They look super delicious.
Mel, it’s actually easier in a way – we make a dozen or so hampers, and each family gets the same thing. Saves me shopping, which I can’t cope with at this time of year! :)
Celia, everything is just so festive and lovely. I am envious of your energy (or time). Today is the start my holidays, so I can get down to some more serious preparation. Love reading your pages. Season’s Eatings my friend.
I’m a little relieved it’s all done, Lizzy, it’s been hectic! Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
Love the nuts Celia, and I have a big bag of almonds looking for a purpose in life. Think I found it …
Merry Xmas to you and your family. xxx
Amanda, spiced almonds would be delicious – half of my mix this year was raw almonds! Have a great Chrissie!
Oh wow Celia they look wonderful. I’m the same, I make hampers for a lot of family members and am always adding extra things at the last minute!
Claire, it’s hard to stop, isn’t it? :) I’m always baking right up until the big day!
what wonderful treats and a lovely idea..special gift hampers—edible treasures made by you…a perfect gift Celia. x
Thanks Yvette! Hope you’re having a wonderful festive season!
Celia, my friend, thanks for the shout out. :-)
I went out and bought Christmas cookies this afternoon, albeit from a very nice bakery. (Hangs head in shame) In years past we have done cookie exchanges and returned triumphant with boxes of delish. You have inspired me to get my oven mitts on and get to work.
Big hugs, Maz
Maz, your geese are the best – maybe you could print a whole book of just geese, already perforated? LOL…that would save me cutting out a whole flock…
Wish I’d found your vanilla sugar labels earlier, but I’m onto them for next year! :)
Merry Christmas, dearheart!
Thanks, awesome you! And zip me an email if you have any ideas for labels for next year, Operators are standing by….
Happy Christmas to you too, <3
Maz
PS for your flock of geese you need a flock of neighborhood kids that will work for peanuts, or rather peanut butter cookies, :-)
Dear Celia,
Looks like you are well and truly in the spirit of yuletide. Your packaging looks fab and I can definitely do with some of those spice nuts with my scotch on the rocks! Have a great Christmas with your family.
Chopinand, thank you, and Merry Christmas to you and Mysaucepan as well!
Celia, you always have the best gift ideas and everything always looks so perfect.
Have a wonderful Christmas.
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, that’s very kind of you, thank you! Have a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous 2012 – hope the braai gets a good workout this festive season! :) xx
My prep as usual is random and sporadic but we’ll get there somehow, I nearly made Hugh nuts the other day, might still do them as they are so delicious – i discovered some swedish marzipan for baking in the cupboard too so might make a stollen for Brian with his fave dried fruitx. They are quick and relatively easy to do. Xx
Jo, did I get the Hugh recipe from you? If so, thanks again, it’s become a staple here. I’ve always wanted to make stollen, but Pete can’t stand marzipan! :) xxx
It all looks so wonderfully festive and delicious. Lovely hampers Celia. The Christmas pudding truffles sound particularly good. I used cardboard boxes lined with tissue paper for the hampers I’ve already given and am hoping I can find a few more suitable size boxes for the ones I have yet to put together. I made a batch of your nuts earlier on this year for us and they are delicious. This year I’ve made a load of candied nuts in little kilner jars for my hampers – they are so cute I almost want one for myself. Bottles of my chilli sauce amongst other things have also found there way into the boxes or are queuing up waiting to go.
Anyway, feeling frazzled with too much to do still, I wanted to wish you, Pete and the boys a wonderful Christmas.
Choc, I hope it’s all sorted today, and that you have a wonderful, joyous, chocolate-filled Christmas! xxx
Thanks for the spiced nuts recipe – have made them this morning and they have turned out well! :)