12+ Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts

December 8, 2017December 8, 2017 ~ Agata @BarkTime ~ 14 Comments

The festive season is almost upon us so why not make it even more special by making your own edible gifts to share with loved ones? Special chocolates, biscuits or even a hot sauce… everyone can find something they like.

With Christmas comes the yearly dilemma of what to buy for that special someone who is simply an impossible person to shop for. Their odd taste or the fact that they have everything they need makes this job a really hard one, so why not try something new this year? Instead of yet another reindeer tie or a gift box full of fragrant soaps why not try a homemade edible gift.

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”
― Mother Teresa

Edible gifts can be a statement of love. Pick what the person likes and build on it. Sweet or savoury, soft or crunchy… the choices are endless but I am sure there is that little something which will put a smile on anyone’s face. Once you have made your choice as to the gift itself, think about a nice presentation – a festive box or maybe a nice ribbon and of course the name card. Finally pick a reliable courier company to deliver your creation. With all the festive work overload you need to pick a company you can trust to deliver your gift in one piece and most importantly who can deliver it on time. We speak from experience, last year in the middle of December my Mum decided to send us a last minute gift… according to the nice lady at the local courier company, who took the parcel and a lot of money, “It will be delivered within 3 days, maybe five at most as it December…” we finally received it in the middle of January after the non-delivery claim was already filed…

“Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.”
― Ben Carson

But back to gifts now.

I’ve put together a selection of edible Christmas gifts which should cater for any taste. Some have a short use by date, others will last for months; some are sweet, others savoury or spicy; some are pure indulgence whilst others fall into the diet friendly category… I hope this round up will give you the answer you were looking for or at the very least spark an idea for what is perfect.

Butterscotch Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares

Candied Pecans Cashew Chocolate Spread

Cheddar Cheese Coins Chocolate Cranberry Amaretti Cookies Citrus Salts

Coconut and Almond Truffles Cranberry Crunch Dark Chocolate Truffles

Gingerbread Glazed Almonds Hot Chocolate Mix

Hot Sauce Maple Granola Smoked Chocolate Christmas Bark

Swiss Jam Sandwich Cookies

So, what do you think?

Any chance you will be making any of these edible gifts this year?

I know I will.

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for a Foodie

February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 ~ Agata @BarkTime ~ 14 Comments

Let’s forget for a moment all about those standard heart shaped boxes of chocolates which are inevitably gone within minutes and let’s consider buying something a little more exiting, something different, something which will last longer than a day and provide our loved ones with long lasting pleasures and a reminder of the love given with the present.

Let’s forget for a moment all about those standard heart shaped boxes of chocolates which are inevitably gone within minutes and let's consider buying something a little more exiting, something different, something which will last longer than a day and provide our loved ones with long lasting pleasures and a reminder of the love given with the present. Coffee Subscription Box from £3.50/month

I adore the idea of having new coffee delivered to my door each month. I think every coffee lover would enjoy a long lasting gift like this. There seems to be a lot of companies offering a service like this, they offer different ranges, frequency and of course price. As I am not able to recommend one company over any others, I am providing you with a link to the most recommended UK coffee subscriptions so it’s easier for you to pick if you decided to order some.

Cheese Making Kit from £18.99

Most foodies love cheese but instead of buying a funky looking block of cheese why not buy them a cheese making kit? I bet most of us would enjoy making our own cheese. The kits from Burnley Home Brew are designed to be used in any kitchen and with no previous cheese making experience. In my opinion they are a wonderful gift idea for any cheese loving foodie and who knows, it could be the start of an empire.

50 Greatest Chefs from £19.50

Make your chef feel special as you think they are by creating a personalised book just for them.
50 Greatest Chefs sees your loved one featured alongside 49 famous cooks. They are included on the cover of this coffee table book and are the stars of their own biography page. You can choose from three cover styles in nine colours to produce a bespoke book that is printed on demand
Don’t you just love the idea of this book? First of all it will provide your Valentine’s with a heap of new knowledge about many famous chefs out there but most of all they will be featured amongst them! Small money, fab idea and potentially a lot of pleasure and a huge ego stroke for the recipient.

Cookery Courses from £30

Cookery courses are always inspiring and allow you to explore the passion further. Most people think that they are super expensive when in reality a group workshop can start from as little as £30. Single courses, group ones or even ones for couples, BBQ, sushi, candy, chocolates… whatever you fancy, I am sure you will find a course to suit your needs and requirements.

Chilli and Bubble Valentine’s Day Slate Cheeseboard £34.99

Heartfelt and practical in equal measure, this chopping board has plenty of room for chopping and features loving Chilli and Bubble characters having a cuddle in the corner of the board plus you are free to add any personal message you wish (well sort of , as long as you can squeeze it in within 50 characters).
I actually own one of these boards and it is beautiful! And once the hype of Valentine’s Day is gone, your loved one is left with a wonderful board to enjoy daily. I really like gifts which are different, can be made personal yet are still practical.

These are my picks and I hope you enjoyed my list.

Have you come across something unusual which will make a wonderful gift for a foodie?

Just Brew It – Homemade Beer with Brewbarrel

December 3, 2015December 3, 2015 ~ Agata @BarkTime ~ 2 Comments

Beer is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world and for sure one of the most widely consumed. It is in fact the third most popular drink coming just after water and of course that British classic, a cup of tea.

The production of beer is called brewing and it’s usually a complicated process, which requires a lot of equipment, ingredients and space… usually… as now we have Brewbarrel!

Just Brew It – Homemade Beer with Brewbarrel Brewbarrel has thought of a complete home brewing process without the need for all that expensive equipment, bottles, grains, hops etc etc… but most of all without the need of transforming one of your rooms into a brewery! If you have ever attempted the art that is known as the “making of a home brewed beer” before then you know exactly what I mean… I know as I’ve lived threw it… Some time ago my Mark decided to make his own beer and wine. Fine, I had no problem with the concept that is until he arrived home with the entire estate car filled with giant plastic containers, 100s of bottles, weird looking tabs, caps and bags of ingredients… well, despite owning a fairly large house and a garage we simply didn’t have the space for it all.

Brewbarrel home brewing kit is different!

With Brewbarrel you can successfully brew your own beer after just a few quick short steps. Every single Brewbarrel home brewing kit contains a five litre keg, a bottle of malt extract, a sachet of beer yeast, and a bottle of hop aroma (up to three different natural aromas depending on your order), three beer coasters and an instruction manual. The step-by-step instructions will explain all you need to know and the pre-measured ingredients will ensure that the preparation of your beer for fermentation is fast and easy.

All you have to do after that is wait a week, personally I think this is the hardest part of the process!

After the time is up, simply pop the keg open and enjoy!

Easy peasy!

A Brewbarrel home brewing kit makes the ideal beer gift. Every man dreams of brewing their own beer one day, so why not make their dreams come true?

The price starts from £27 and it goes up depending on the style and flavour of the beer you select. Considering what you get for your money and how much fun and satisfaction the entire process can be, I think this is great value for money. You get everything you need so as soon as it arrives on your doorstep you are ready to just brew… or wrap it up and wait patiently until the elected gift recipient decided to get brewed up.

Have you ever consider brewing your own beer at home?

Do you know a beer lover who would love to try it out?

How much do we spend on our pets?

September 15, 2015September 15, 2015 ~ Agata @BarkTime ~ 15 Comments

Research results show that in Britain almost 90% of pet-owners spend up to £50 on extravagant gifts for their beloved little friends! Whether it is to shower your pet with affection, or to celebrate Valentine’s Day in style, these animal-lovers are certainly splashing their cash more than ever before. If you haven’t already made an appointment at the pet spa then you had better get a move on, as 27% of people admit to having already treated their pets to an expensive specialist treatment.

In this infographic, Capital One has revealed some of the most elaborate gifts that have been purchased for pets in the UK. These findings show that some would generously spend up to £1,400 on a treadmill to ensure that their dog remains happy and healthy! Perhaps this isn’t for you, and you’d prefer to stick to a classic walk in the park. Don’t worry, there are many alternative routes you can go down to treat your pet. With pet fashion on the rise, people only want the best for their pooches. Some are even spending up to £600 on fur coats…for their furry pets!

With more than 13,000 households in the UK now owning a pet it is more than likely that you or someone you know will be able to relate to those results.

So take a look!

Do you think pet pampering is going a step too far?

Is buying your dog a bone simply not enough anymore?

*This is a collaborative post. This infographic, was brought to you by Capital One Credit Card

SWIG – Amazing Hip Flasks – Review & Giveaway

September 4, 2015September 4, 2015 ~ Agata @BarkTime ~ 247 Comments

Did you know that the “hip flask” first appeared in the Middle Ages? Back then it wasn’t a hip flask as we know it today but it served the same purpose – it was designed to hold liquids. The 18th century brought about the hip flask which resemble the flasks of today. Usually made from pewter, silver or glass, these small curved containers were designed with drinks on the go in mind. Today most flasks are made from stainless steel or plastic (to avoid detection by any metal detectors allegedly).

As an object, the hip flask makes for a wonderful personalised gift. Additionally due to the materials they are made from they are also perfect for engraving.

SWIG is a worldwide luxury hip flask brand. They offer a lifetime guarantee as their flasks are designed to last for generations.

To be honest I wasn’t all that excited about my new flask when I was waiting for it… but it all changed when it arrived. Oh boy, SWIG flasks are pure luxury!

The flask comes in a beautify box complete with a ribbon 🙂 I have to admit for a moment or two I really didn’t want to open it, it was that pretty. But once you do open the box, you are met with even more surprises – your flask is neatly resting on a soft pillow-like fabric… so cute and adorable! And to make things even better there is a card included with your personal SWIG Society number.

The flask itself has a perfect finish, despite “studying” it for a long time I wasn’t able to fault it in any way. It is simply perfect.

I opted for a leather finish with a Union Jack design but there is a lot of choice to pick from including Harris Tweed flasks which are just so British 😉 You can buy a “naked” flask or you can purchase one which already has a pouch. In addition to the full range of hip flasks you can also order an engraving service, which will make your SWIG truly unique.

What do you think?

Would you like to have your own SWIG?

If your answer is yes, it might be your lucky day! SWIG is offering one SWIG flask as a giveaway prize to one of my Bark Time readers. You will be able to pick any flask you fancy (well, almost any as the Heritage flasks are not included.) So, what are you waiting for? Just follow the easy steps on the Gleam app below to submit your entry.

#win an amazing hip flask from SWIG

Good Luck!

T&C:
1. Open to UK readers only.
2. This giveaway is sponsored by SWIG.
3. There will be 1 winner chosen at random from all valid entries. Winner will be chosen by Gleam.
4. The winner will receive one SWIG flask of their choice (subject to availability; the Heritage range is not included). The prize will only be fulfilled by SWIG.
5. The winner will have 7 working days to claim the prize, after this time, a new winner will be selected.
6. Closing date for the giveaway is Sunday 27/09/2015 at 23:59pm.

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