I know it may sound a bit of a faff & an added expense (let's be honest, at a really expensive time of year) but here's the pay off. I haven't had to buy any new lights for a good couple of years now and it takes me a quarter of the time to put up and put away my decs (with time is of the essence this time of the year!)
Another one of my must do's is to wrap as I buy. Every year I wish I took this advice. As the mound grows I become more and more stressed. It makes it so much simpler to wrap a few everyday than have that mammoth chore waiting for you.
This is a traditional Italian treat, wrap in parchment, then place either in a pretty airtight tin or a clear bag wrapped with a ribbon. (will keep up to two weeks)
If you make hampers for people here are a few things that you can get ahead with.
Panforte: This is a traditional Italian treat, wrap in parchment, then place either in a pretty airtight tin or a clear bag wrapped with a ribbon. (will keep up to two weeks)
Candy cane meringue kisses:
I adore these cheerful little treats so simple to make and they will enhance any hamper they adorn. (will keep up to 10 days)
Cranberry Sauce:
This is the thing I get asked for in my Christmas hampers, above all others, jewels of ruby red gorgeousness. (will keep up to two weeks in the fridge)
Homemade Butter:
Bake for success, here are a few of my most popular festive posts, these can all be made ahead
I made this at the Good Food Christmas shows this year and it was very well received, it looks really impressive but is in-fact really simple to achieve. Make this up to two days in advance, but add the brittle just before serving.
This bake gets record hits year after year, with lots of tweets FB and insta messages of how good it is, bake, cool and freeze before icing.
This is another hugely popular post, if you don't have the Nordicware pan you can just as easily make it in a brownie pan.
Perfect little canapés, can be frozen before the baking stage, then defrost fully before baking.
