Christmas on a very tight budget.

I had egg yolks left from yesterday cake icing, so I made a bread and butter pudding, I had brown sugar left from when I made the mincemeat earlier in the year. I don't waste anything!

 I have one week to get ready for Christmas. I have a lot to make and do. I made some 'savouries' for the freezer. The puff pastry was being given away for 25p in the Co op this morning, so I bagged some. I chopped and fried: a pack of streaky bacon, an onion, a yellow pepper and finely diced two large potatoes. I added them all to the pastry and added grated strong Cheddar cheese and formed them into pasties. I serve them cut into three with drinks for people to nibble on, Christmas evening if anyone wants any more. I will freeze them in readiness. I'm also experimenting with desserts. I have a pudding, but not everyone (well actually I am the only person who like it!) and I found a recipe for posh bread and butter pudding. You only use egg yolks in the custard, use soft brown sugar, you can buy dried cranberries, which I shall try and find.

 I wrapped the cakes I am going to give as gifts. Wrapped a blue velvet ribbon around them, covered in cellophane and added a tinselly flourish. The largest cakes have worked out, including wrapping at £5 each. There is of course, no cost for my time, that was given freely and gladly for the people I care about.

 I may have problems getting to people this year, but when I do, it's going to be a joy to give everyone homemade gifts. I hate 'commercialism' and love to make things for people instead.

Homemade gifts, ready to distribute.