The Preserver's Year

clare64

Thanks moo and valentina, I will give those recipes a try.
The only thing is I tend to use vanilla extract ( not the synthetic essence), how much extract would you use in place of a vanilla pod?
Many thanks
Clarex

moo2moo

Mary Berry suggests 1/2 tsp extract = 1 pod

Anthony Worrel Thompson recommends 1 tsp = 1 pod

Other sources suggest 1 tsp = 1/2 pod

But this all seems to depend how strong your extract is to start with and what your taste buds prefer.

missychrissy

I'm champing at the bit to start some elderfower wine but they are not in full bloom in Yorkshire yet. Elderflower and elderberry wine are 2 of my most favourite home made wines, and at approximately 20p per bottle, could be everybody's favourite wine.

Owl

Tomato and MAngo Chutney

4lb 8oz toms (they say plum, but i used ordinary)
1 tsp mustard seeds
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 and half pound mangoes (about 3 large ones)
3 cloves garlic
1 inch fresh ginger
1 onion - chopped
300g golden caster sugar
1 and half pints white wine vinegar

1 - cut tomtoes into quarters and take out middles
2 - heat small frying pan, add seeds stir until they begin to pop. remove from heat and grind in pestle and mortar, add tumeric and set aside
3 - put toms, mangoes, onion, ground spices ginger sugar and vinegar into preserving pan. Bring to boil, stirring well until all suagr has dissolved
4- Cook for about an hour, stirring occasionally and removing tomato skins as they float
5- Cook until you can do the "channel" test
6- Jar up in sterilised jars, let cool, label.
7- KEep for 2 months then eat!!!

moo2moo

Todays Jam of the day is .... dried apricot with almonds. Its most delicious, in fact its eat it out of the jar on a spoon delicious.

1 x 250g pack of ready to eat dried apricots (£1.19 at Mr Ts)
700ml water

soak for 4 hours till fat and juicy

Chop the apricots and put them and the water used to soak into a pan. Boil until soft.

Add 800g sugar, 30ml lemon juice and a tiny pinch of cinnamon powder.

Boil until set (20-30 mins)

Turn off the heat. Add 1/2tspn almond extract or 25ml Amaretto. Stir and put into jars.

Drink Amaretto whilst waiting to cool. **this step is optional!**

fedupandskint

Recipe sounds nice

I had rave reviews from my mum about picallili, forced rhubarb and strawberry jams made last year - so much so will repeat them this year. She told me the picallili looked awful in the jar but was really nice. I thought that too!

Just putting together a list of what to preserve this month and try for the first time!

Gracie_1827

Thanks for the recipe, Owl, sounds lovely. I've made a mango chutney using 1 large mango that Mr M was selling for £1. I used Delia's recipe but it takes nearly 3 hours:eek: So next time will try yours

blondy24

Hello, I have just made the Rhubarb & Vanilla Jam, can't wait to see what it's like. Going to try the Tomato & Mango Chutney next, will go to market at the weekend. Thanks for the recipes, looking forward to seeing others to try

ampersand

Hello - a Strawberry and Apple Jam query here.

First real crop of strawberries I've had and 2lbs were easily picked yesterday.

I have some disappointing Gala apples - can use up in Strawberry and Apple Jam. All the recipes I see require a green[presume= pectin]apple, which these tacky soft Sainsbury things are not.

Shall I simply add lemon juice?[I don't buy pectin sugar - needless expense] If so, proportions please.

Any good S&A recipe would be welcome.

Thankyou.

p.s. - don't blame the name 'Gala' - these and Braeburn originated in my country and are sometimes a travesty of what I know, grown/poorly stored, elsewhere.

ampersand

Need to bump this,please - strawberries need using and more are ready.