SWEET TREATS: Who doesn't love getting home-made sweets, cakes and biscuits at Christmas time?
I'll be making these very rich chocolate shortbread truffles again this year as they are always popular. This recipe will make around 24, depending on how big you make them.
Melt 250g of dark chocolate (about 60 per cent cocoa is fine) and 100g o
f unsalted butter over a low heat.
Stir in 100g shortbread crumbs (put the biccies in a bag wrapped in a teatowel and smash with a rolling pin) and 1 tbsp of whisky or spirit of choice (liqueurs are good).
Pour the mixture into a bowl and leave to cool, then chill in the fridge for a couple of hours until it's firm. It sets pretty hard, but don't panic!
Chip out a teaspoonful then roll in the palms of your hands until you have a ball of truffle – it will soften, I promise.
Roll in cocoa powder and drop into a tiny paper case.
PICTURE THIS Even if you're not the next Annie Liebovitz, there's bound to be the odd photo you have taken that has come out well or that someone else has admired, so make the most of it and delve into the world of photo gifts.
From poster-sized prints you can frame yourself, to calendars (my choice for several people this year) to stocking-filler fridge magnets, there is a gift available to suit every pocket. Choose from high-street names including Boots and Jessops, independent photographic shops or online services such as www.bonusprint.co.uk to make up your gift. You can also make your own Christmas cards and gift tags.
ALL SEWN UP I'm pretty ham-fisted when it comes to anything more taxing than sewing on a button, but this only makes me appreciate home-knitted/tailored gifts all the more.
It could be something as basic as a scarf in the recipient's favourite colour or as elaborate as a christening gown for their newborn baby – truly a gift that can be tailored (groan) to suit your talents and your recipient's tastes.
If you're a novice, try a kit that has all the needles, yarns and instructions together. John Lewis (Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen; 08456 049 049, www.johnlewis.com) has a good haberdashery department with plenty of choice. Mandors (Edinburgh 0131-558 3888; Glasgow 0141-332 7716, www.mandors.co.uk) is a good spot whether you're in search of fabric, funky buttons or pinking shears.
SOUNDS GOOD Back in the day, it would've been a mix tape, but nowadays it could be a mix CD or maybe even a playlist you sneak on their MP3 player after they've gone to bed on Christmas Eve.
It doesn't matter if you include some stuff they know and love, it'll show that you know that they love it, but do try and drop in some songs they've never heard of, whether old or brand new.
To make it more personal, give your playlist a theme. It could be school disco revisited, summer holiday memories, or a potted history of the blues. Don't forget some kind of cover and inlay card, even if it's just got the track listing, but a note to say why you chose a song – it's a reminder of the cocktails you were drinking when you first heard it , perhaps – all make it more thoughtful and personal.
IOU I've given some options here, but only you know what your skills are, so have a think about how they can be applied to gifts.
You know 15 different ab crunches and a dozen scenic running routes near your home? How about a few sessions with a personal trainer for a friend you know wants to get fit?
Your sister has a list of odd jobs around the house she's never going to get round to, plus you have a love of DIY and the toolkit to prove it. That equals a match made in heaven.
A little lateral thinking about what people really want – from a night's babysitting to an afternoon painting the lounge or clearing out an overstuffed wardrobe – and you're half-way there. The other half is spending a bit of time making up a "gift certificate" for them, whether on computer, hand-drawn or made from words cut out of the newspapers.
The full article contains 728 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
