How to Make the Ultimate Christmas Hamper with Rosie Jameson

Master preserver Rosie Jameson of Rosie’s Preserving School and founder of the Guild of Jam and Preserve Makers shares her top tips for making delicious gift hampers for the festive season

There is nothing more special than receiving a festive hamper of goodies tailored for your particular tastes. The rather depressing polar opposite of this, of course, is the ‘that’ll do’ commercially produced generic gift hamper full of things that you don’t quite feel like eating, which results in a ‘tick’ beside your name on the Christmas shopping list.

This time of year is perfect for making some seasonal treats for friends and family. Do bear your recipients in mind though, and try, as far as possible to tailor the contents to the individual.

I am going to point you in the right direction by giving you some top tips that I have learned over the years.

THE IDEAL GIFT BASKET

I try and steer away from actual baskets or food hampers as they become inconvenient for the recipient once emptied - too nice to throw away but what can you do with them? Charity shops become inundated with them and I don’t think that they are top sellers.

I often plump for terracotta flower pots. There are plenty of sizes to choose from and they are relatively inexpensive. You can often pick them up in an end of summer sale as well. Sometimes it will be the tin planters that are popular now, maybe a large cooking pot. One year I even used a cantilever toolbox for a DIY-mad son in law! Try to match with the recipient’s hobbies or interests for the ultimate personalised gift hampers.

IDEAL HAMPER GIFTS

The most important thing is the hamper’s contents! I have lots of gift ideas to help you out.

For a start, use smaller jars than perhaps you wouldn’t normally choose so that you can include a wider variety of preserves.

Don’t just think jam and chutney - there are lots of popular food items which will delight the most jaded hamper recipient. Wholegrain mustards of all kinds, are quick, no-cook, flavour packed preserves. You could just make a hamper entirely of different mustards with tasting notes and recipe suggestions, special mustard spoons and pots.

Try making my fragrant clove mustard - it’s delicious with ham!

If you do include some chutneys a couple of packets of posh crackers go down well. Mango Chutney is appreciated and easier and quicker to make than most.

Flavoured salts are great gifts and very easy to make. My orange, thyme and rosemary salt reaches heights of deliciousness yet involves no cooking. The fragrant citrussy salt that results is absolutely incredible sprinkled on home-made potato wedges – be sure to write this advice on your label for your lucky recipient!

Preserved Stem Ginger is an ideal edible gift. Normally it is quite an expensive item to buy but making your own from fresh root ginger is very cost effective and looks impressive.

How about some drinks? Try making some marmalade gin - the perfect festive gift. Leave it to infuse and then decant it into a pretty bottle. It’s a perfect hamper item or standalone gift. Serve it with candied orange peel dipped in dark chocolate; the ideal sweet treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.

TO FINISH

I pack my hampers with wood straw or shredded paper - I steer away from anything plastic or glittery. I make decorations by threading dried slices of apple and orange with cinnamon sticks onto red gingham ribbon which can be hung on the Christmas tree later. Or gild or frost some fir cones. Dotted around in the hamper they look wonderfully natural and fill any little gaps between the jars.

Instead of cellophane to cover, if the hamper needs to travel I wrap in natural calico and tie with raffia like a big Christmas pudding.

I hope this gives you lots of hamper ideas and that you will soon come up with lots of your own to personalise your hampers for friends.

About Rosie

Rosie is running a series of online preserving workshops in December, ideal for creating delicious homemade preserves for gifts. On the 1^st December she has a last minute Christmas gift workshop. All workshops are £19.99 each or £49.90 for a season of six.

Visit www.rosiemakesjam.com for more information on classes and recipes. Rosie’s NEW Book of Hamper Recipes is also available to buy from www.lovejars.co.uk.