gifting : biscuits and mugs

The kids finished up school yesterday, so we are spending the day a little lazily, still in pyjamas as it drizzles outside. But such is the beauty of the school holidays, not really having to be anywhere or do anything. Though of course there are plenty of things I should be doing.

Quite unlike the past two days, which have been a kind of frenzy of buying ingredients and bulk biscuit making, mug decorating and with the finale being the annual school presentation night. Whew! Though I thoroughly enjoy the process of gift baking and making, it is a good feeling to know it is done.

I made three types of biscuits this year :

Melting Moments : I have made these before, but it was the first time I'd tried this recipe. It was good, but personally I preferred my old recipe which had a vanilla, rather than lemon icing.

Rum Balls : The beauty of these is the simplicity of making them. No baking. I added more rum, rolled alternate batches in coconut and cocoa. But next time, I would probably add even more rum for a more adult taste.

Minty Cocoa Fudge Sandwich Cookies : This is the third christmas I have gifted these, and they never seem to disappoint. Though I did notice the difference using an inferior cocoa this year, as opposed to the Dutch one I used last year. These contain a positively sinful amount of butter, sugar, chocolate and condensed milk, particularly when you double up the recipe as I did. But I think that's okay once a year.

The mugs were plain cheap white ones I'd bought and I googled botanical line drawings and based my porcelain pen sketchings on some of these. It was quite good fun. Something I'd been wanting to try for ages. I finished them off with a little related drawing on the back and the recipients name up the top left hand side.

I popped clear celophane inside, filled them with biscuits and tied with some twine.

Most went to teachers and a few were saved to be part of food hampers for family members. Some excess biscuits went in the freezer, for later christmas gifting, and I also managed to fill up our large cookie jar. I'm trying to keep my hands out of that. There was a little too much taste testing or "quality control" along the way.

But I'm happy to say that is one more thing ticked off the list.



Sending happy christmas crafting, gifting wishes your way.