Kokova Magazine

Christmas gift ideas get harder each year. I know for our children the surprises are less and the ideas are more difficult.

So. this Christmas I have been looking at what is the new, particularly for fellow foodies. And DIY food kits seem to be o the increase as great gift ideas.

Bread kits, cake baking, gingerbread biscuit kits and more have been around for a few years now and available to buy most of the year but I think this year there are more "Make Your Own" kits than ever before, and really you can buy a kit for making nearly everything it seems.

In November's edition of Delicious Magazine there is a whole section on DIY Delicious-ness. With kits for making marshmallows, "30 Minute Fudge" and "Grow your own Prosecco" - as well as "Grow your own Pesto". This innovative kit comes complete with everything your loved one needs to grow the ingredients for pesto, including an evergreen pine tree (to grow the pine nuts, obviously), basil seeds and a recipe for the ultimate pesto. For the less patient, there is a jar of the green stuff too!

This week I have been looking at a selection of gifts from Ross and Ross. They offer kits for smoking your own salmon and curing your own bacon. They have a direct focus on food gifts aimed at the men in your life. All you need to add is the meat or fish. These are great gift ideas but unlike many others will need you to make an additional purchase before you can complete your foodie adventure. It would be even better if Ross and Ross could team up with a meat box delivery company and ship you everything you may need all at once.

The Cheese Makers' Choice cheese making kits are another idea that leads me to believe that this year may be the year of the 'Kit Christmas'. What a lovely idea! Make your own Italian trio of Mozzarella, Mascarpone and Ricotta. I am keen for a challenge so have been trying this one out this week. In the box is a dairy thermometer, citric acid, rennet, flaky sea salt, cheese cloth and a ricotta draining basket. All I needed to purchase was full fat milk, as I made the mozzarella and cream for the ricotta.

There are enough ingredients and recipes to help you make 12 batches of cheese in this kit. I have also found the booklet interesting to read with tips and ideas. I found the experience generally good although time consuming, so you need to set a morning aside. I also think I would get quicker as I do more, mostly the case! The results were surprising and we have been enjoying mozzarella salads and sandwiches since I have a few balls in the fridge. I plan to experiment a little more and then take some homemade cheeses with me to enjoy with the family at Christmas.