大象传媒

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The look like they took ages to make but they don鈥檛 at all, and the finished result makes for a very elegant looking home-made edible gift.听

Ingredients

路听听听听听听听听 200g ground almonds

路听听听听听听听听 200g caster sugar

路听听听听听听听听 2 large egg whites

路听听听听听听听听 4 tablespoons almond extract

路听听听听听听听听 Approximately 16 whole almonds听

Method听

Mix together the ground almonds, caster sugar and egg whites until it comes together like sticky marzipan.听

Wet your hands with the extract and roll your "marzipan" mixture into about 16 small round balls (weight around 30g per ball) you can use a weighing scale for this of you wish, but HONESTLY, who has time for that malarkey during December!?!?!

Place these spaced apart on two lined baking tins.听

Press an almond into each one making them fat round biscuits.听听

Place in a pre-heated oven (180掳c) and bake for approximately 15 minutes. Switch the tins around half way through.听听

They should be pale and tinted with brown when done.听

Leave to cool entirely before decanting into airtight containers. They will last about 2 weeks. Although, 听let鈥檚 be frank, they will NOT last that long!

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This granola would be perfect as a Christmas Day breakfast or even sprinkled over ice cream whenever you fancy it. And it makes a brilliant Christmas gift. Just pop in a jar and add a handwritten label.听

Ingredients

路听听听听听听听听 220g dark brown soft sugar

路听听听听听听听听 220g maple syrup

路听听听听听听听听 220g extra virgin olive oil

路听听听听听听听听 Zest of 3 Clementines

路听听听听听听听听 450g jumbo oats

路听听听听听听听听 100g barley flakes

路听听听听听听听听 100g pumpkin seeds

路听听听听听听听听 1 teaspoon cinnamon

路听听听听听听听听 40g pecan nuts

路听听听听听听听听 40g pistachios

路听听听听听听听听 100g cranberries

路听听听听听听听听 100g chopped dates

路听听听听听听听听 Big pinch of salt听

Method听

In a large pan, melt together the sugar, syrup and oil until warmed through and smooth.听

To this, add the zest and all the other ingredients EXCEPT the dried fruit. Mix together and place into a deep lined baking tin.

Bake at 160掳c for approximately 40 minutes but turn every 10 mins and stir through to ensure a nice even bake.听听

Once the granola is dark in colour and cooked, leave to cool completely.听听

Once totally cold, break up the granola in a big bowl (leave some chunks big for extra deliciousness) then add the dried fruits.听听

Decant into an airtight container or jar and store for up to a month.听听

Tip:听听

You can swap barley flakes for porridge oats. Swap pumpkin seeds for more nuts of you're a nut fiend! And swap cranberries and dates for apricots and golden sultanas for a different vibe.

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These homemade bath melts make lovely homemade gifts. You can customise with different essential oils depending on who you鈥檙e gifting them to. Most ingredients are available in the supermarket or wholefood shops but you may have to go online for some of them. They don鈥檛 really spoil though, so buy in bulk and you鈥檙e sorted for gifts for ages!听

Ingredients (makes around 12 small melts)听

路听听听听听听听听 300g sodium bicarbonate

路听听听听听听听听 100g citric acid

路听听听听听听听听 100g corn flour

路听听听听听听听听 95g melted cocoa butter

路听听听听听听听听 3mls essential oil

路听听听听听听听听 2g petals of choice听

Method

Mix the sodium bicarbonate, citric acid and corn flour in a bowl and add the melted cocoa butter. Mix together with your hands in the same way you would if you were making shortbread.

Press into 12 small silicon bun cases or roll into truffle sized balls. Top with a single flower bud or separate the petals and roll each ball in them until covered.

Present them in a small box or pretty paper bag.