Christmas Gifts for Grown ups

Is it me or is it MUCH harder to find gifts for the grown-ups in your life?  Men especially are difficult.

Books use to be my standby, but now the men in my life have e-readers an download books as they need them.  If they have a hobby, interest or collection it’s easier.   There are many online vintage and antique shops, if you don’t have one in your town, and something vintage  is often much more interesting than its modern counterpart. 

If vintage or antique is to pricy, think thrift, handmade or recycled.  Sometimes having a $5 or $10 cap can make for more creative presents – My man likes playing cards, and I found a vintage set of canasta cards at the thrift shop for $2 – in the box with instructions!  He also wears ties at the office, so I am keeping my eyes open for a vintage Hermes on ebay, and failing I found a Christian Dior Tie at the thrift shop for $1.   Dad was telling me about the dinner tables of his youth, where everything was served in dishes and tureens at the table, so I found a ceramic tureen at the thrift shop ($10).  My brother wears traditional cuffed shirts everyday, and he loves to play darts, so I found some great dart shaped cufflinks on etsy.   Cuff links are also easy to find at most thrift shops.

If you have time hand made biscuits, mince pies or preserves are always welcome.  I have a girlfriend who makes Christmas cakes for her friends and neighbours each year, and bakes them in a terracotta flower pot.  Easy and they look great.  

Flower pot Christmas Cake Recipe

• Chop 1 1/2 kg mixed fruit and combine with 1/2 cup sherry/brandy/rum/whisky, allow to soak overnight
• Mix together 2 tbsp marmalade or apricot jam, 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 5 eggs and 250g melted butter
• Mix in 1 1/2 cups plain flour and 1/2 cup SR flour, sifted
• Line 4 terracotta pots measuring 12cm across tops with heavy foil or baking paper. Spoon in 3/4 cup of the mixture into each pot and level
• Decorate with almonds and cherries before baking. Bake in a very slow oven for 2hrs
• Allow to cool in pots on wire rack, then wrap with cellophane and tie with a pretty ribbon.  You can also add a packet of seeds to ribbon so recipient can plant seeds after they have eaten the cake.

An alternate recipe, if you don’t have overnight to wait is the Queensland Christmas cake.  It is very moist and may not work in pots.

Queensland Christmas Cake Recipe

• 1 medium tin crushed pineapple with fruit juice (or chopped fresh)
• 500gms of dried fruit of choice (apricots, sultanas, apple etc) – diced
• ½ cup Sherry
• 1 cup juice of choice
• 125gms butter
• 1 cup raw sugar
  
• Place all together in large saucepan and boil for 5 mins. Let cool for ½ hour or so
• Add 1 ½ – 2 cups of SR Flour, 2 Large beaten eggs and 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  Mix all together. Place in a lined and greased large spring tin.  level the surface.
• Bake in a slow oven (around 160  C) for  about 1 to 1 ½ hours.  Allow to cool in tin.
• Ice and decorate as desired (quick icing below) or decorate the top with blanched whole almonds and halved glacé cherries before baking  (drizzle a glaze of 100 icing sugar and a bit of water over the top for extra appeal).  

    

Quick Christmas Cake Icing Recipe

• 2 large egg whites
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 1/2 cups (440g) icing sugar, sieved

1. With an electric mixer beat the egg whites with the lemon juice.

2.  Add the sieved icing sugar and beat on low speed until smooth.

3. Use to ice your Christmas cake immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge.

 

Another great homemade gift is Homemade Baileys Irish Cream.  Popular both for Christmas and New Years, and really easy to make if you have a blender.

 Homemade Baileys Irish Cream Recipe

• 1 cup cream  (light or heavy depending on how rich you want it)
• 400g tin sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup Irish whiskey
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee  or strong espresso
• 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup (or nutella)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

 

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and set on high speed for 30 seconds.
2. Bottle in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate. Shake before using.
3. Will keep for up to 2 months.
4. Some recipes use 3 eggs instead of the cream, which is yummy, but will only last a few days in the fridge.  Try it if that’s not an issue at your place!

If you have a bit too much of the mixture for your bottles, try this Irish cream fudge .  It makes 16 squares, which you can package in clear cellophane an tie with a bow.  Looks great on a vintage plate.

Irish Cream fudge Recipe

• 400g dark chocolate, chopped
• 400g can sweetened condensed milk
• 75g butter, chopped
• 1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur

1. Line a 5cm-deep, 8cm x 26cm bar pan with baking paper.

2. Combine chocolate, condensed milk and butter in a saucepan.  Stir over low heat until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in liqueur.

3. Spread mixture into prepared pan. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until set. Cut into squares. Serve.

4. Store uncut fudge, covered, in refrigerator for up to 1 week.

My best bought last minute gift is magazine subscriptions.  These are great, especially for family and friends interstate.  Often the subscription will start with the next issue, so either grab a current issue and ad a card, or print a photo of the mag an put it in the card.

Car magazines such as Wheels or Top Gear are great for most teenage boys and men, or variations such as Classic Cars or Hotrods if you know their specific car interest.  The ABC has a range of magazines including cooking, collecting, gardening and music.  My personal favourite Australian Magazines are the vintage/recycled/eco magazines Peppermint ($44 for 4 issues) and Frankie  ($57 for 6 issues, or digital $14.95 for three issues).   I also subscribe to the digital version of Vintage life magazine from the UK (£14.99, about $30 or £60 for 10 paper issues).

     

For those who truly do have everything, why not get them a donation in their name?  Oxfam Unwrapped have great cards to send with your gift, from $12 guitar lessons for children in Vanuatu, to a $495 buffalo.  World Vision and WSPA also run similar programs this time of year, and you can adopt an animal at  WWF for around $15 a month, and get a cuddly toy and info pack included.

Now to sample that Baileys….

Have a great Christmas.

Deb xx

 

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