I'm considering making Christmas presents for my family and friends this year.
Having just moved house I'm a tightwad, preferring to spend my hard-earned pittance on gas and electricity and curtains than expensive gifts for others. Over the years I've collected a couple of old oriental and Indian cookery books and I may get kiddo to help me make huge batches of proper sweet and sour sauce and curry pastes.

Would you appreciate such handmade gifts, or would you sneer and donate them to charity? If you were to make gifts, what would you make?
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:11, 28 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

I'm doing similar
making chimichurri and some chutneys.

my mrs is knitting stuff for the women.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:12, Reply)

One-nil to the skinflints.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:13, Reply)

I have to give her credit
considering she has only just learnt to knit, my mrs has done a fucking good job.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:14, Reply)

Have you eaten your chocolate S yet?

( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:26, Reply)

I ate about half
took the rest to band practice
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:29, Reply)

I got the job I was going for down south
So I can now actually afford presents without having to worry about the ensuing debt.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:13, Reply)

Congrats old boy!
Where are you headed?
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:14, Reply)

Hell. Handcart.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:14, Reply)

hahaha

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:15, Reply)

A much more fun, if less accurate answer

(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:16, Reply)

Cheers
South Wales, Cardiff-esque.

Also, it turns out Kaol is in Newport area as I thought.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:15, Reply)

Indeed, incident hails from that way too I believe.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:17, Reply)

Congrats PoD
Where is the job?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:14, Reply)

Top tip:
old Indian cookbooks are likely to be horrifically ghee/oil heavy: reduce the content considerably to keep pace with modern, fresh Indian flavaz.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:14, Reply)

I noticed this.
I'm going to try them as-is in small quantities and tweak them before increasing quantities.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:19, Reply)

My millionaire brother in law
always gives jars of preserves, and nommy delights he has made. But then he was on Masterchef so these are very well-received.

Let's face it, most people like food: as long as you aren't giving them disgusting shite, it's a good idea.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:17, Reply)

I was given a cjar of apricot chutney last year
It was very delicious and I liked it.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:18, Reply)

You were given a Russian Emperor of chutney?
Novel.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:20, Reply)

Yep.
His name was Valentin and his wife was called Veronika
(Bazongaloid, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:27, Reply)

I'd love them personally.
Make sure they last though.
(PsychoChomp, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:23, Reply)

If they come out respectably I'll be dead chuffed.
I'll be doing the whole oven-sterilising thing so they should keep.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:27, Reply)

Personally I'd love a handmade nommy gift
It takes more effort than buying a 3-for-2 DVD from HMV (incidentally, this is what my friends here can expect from me).
Edit: By 'here' I mean Stratford, not b3ta, I'm not buying you guys anything.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:30, Reply)

Seriously?
I hope they let me return that jumper I bought you then.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:37, Reply)

I'm not sure they'll allow you to return it seeing as you cut nipple holes out of it.

( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:41, Reply)

I just wanted you to look good
:(
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:53, Reply)

My nan gives me greengage jam every year.
So yeah, it's nice to make things for other people.

I once made art for some of my friends as I was utterly brassic. Unfortunately, I have no talent when it comes to painting, so ended up having to go and buy presents as well as the art materials, because no-one would want the sub-primary school level 'art' that I turned out.
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:32, Reply)

Chain the wife to some paint and canvas, she'll produce some masterpieces in no time
Or ply her with tasty food and alcohol and whisper sweet nothings to her for a nicer result!
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:46, Reply)

I certainly wouldn't sneer
and given that it's something useful as well, I actually think it'd see more usage.

I can't make anything with my hands at all, I am rubbish. When I was a child I used to make birthday cards though
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 12:37, Reply)