HOMEMADE Gifting

HOMEMADE AND FROM THE HEART is the gifting trend we should all be getting behind this Christmas – but it doesn’t have to be all about jams. Preserving pros Alex Elliott-Howery and Jaimee Edwards, the team behind Sydney cafe Cornersmith, have plenty of recipes for gifting inspiration.

A Christmas pudding spiked with native Australian flavours such as lemon myrtle and wattleseed, jars of spiced fruit mince and gin-infused pickled cucumbers are all tried-and-tested crowd pleasers. The smoky chilli salt is the ultimate addition to summertime barbecues, and a homemade batch of Cornersmith’s own sticky chai will keep any tea fan happy.

Or, for something a little less traditional, try a shrub. “Shrubs are a rather old-fashioned beverage that are making a strong come back in mixology circles,” said Elliott-Howery. “Originally, a shrub was used to preserve fruit syrups through the addition of vinegar. They