The Preserver's Year

Jolaaled

I've used:

the legs of old tights (usually doubled up to make 2 layers by putting one leg inside the other!).
Squares of muslin cloth bought from fabric shop
Stockinette (my favourite)..I got this from a homebrew shop, but I'm sure it'll be on ebay. (it's the sort of stuff that they put on broken limbs before applying the plaster..maybe a chemist would stock it??)

HTH

Justamum

Yesterday I made some damson chutney. It's the first time I've made chutney but I'm going to have to wait a couple of months to find out if it's tasty or not! I bought some peaches yesterday, so I'm going to have a go at peach chutney this weekend.

floyd

dogstarheaven wrote: »

What have ppl used to strain their fruit?

I usually use either a new baby muslin square or if its a big batch of something like bramble jelly, I use one of these that has been scalded with boiling water (or ironed) http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10100909

They absorb a bit more juice than the muslin but produce a supremely clear jelly.

Whichever method I use, I knot the 4 corners together after loading up with fruit and hang over the knob of a wall cupboard in the kitchen and put a tupperware box beneath on the worktop

Owl

Today we (my friend and I - cos I didn't want to chop everything by myself!!) made:-

Onion Marmalade
Red onion Marmalade
Tom and Mango Chutney
Tongue Tickle Chilli Pickle

Next in line os Piccalli and Mustards... My house smells!!! :-(

suziewuzie

Hi,
Has anyone noticed any good deals on sugar or vinegar at the moment? Just about to start the annual jam and chutney making and am trying to make it as cost effective as possible.
Am about to search on supermarket comparison sites, but wonder if any you have any good info.

suzie

jennyo

suziewuzie wrote: »

Hi,
Has anyone noticed any good deals on sugar or vinegar at the moment? Just about to start the annual jam and chutney making and am trying to make it as cost effective as possible.
Am about to search on supermarket comparison sites, but wonder if any you have any good info.

suzie

Tesco had 2kg granulated sugar for £1.20, I bought 6 but am now on my last one, but everytime i look for more there is never any there, but you may be lucky at your tesco.

jennyo

Owl wrote: »

Today we (my friend and I - cos I didn't want to chop everything by myself!!) made:-

Onion Marmalade
Red onion Marmalade
Tom and Mango Chutney
Tongue Tickle Chilli Pickle

Next in line os Piccalli and Mustards... My house smells!!! :-(

Wow that sounds lovely, there is a lot of prep work to those preserves, mostly i make jam, but I also like to make christmas chutney and ped pepper chutney.

suziewuzie

jennyo wrote: »

Tesco had 2kg granulated sugar for £1.20, I bought 6 but am now on my last one, but everytime i look for more there is never any there, but you may be lucky at your tesco.

Sounds like a good deal - will look for it next time I'm in Tesco - thanks:beer:

suziewuzie

Got 200x2lb wax discs for 99p at Dunelm today - seemed like quite a good price.

dogstarheaven

floyd wrote: »

I usually use either a new baby muslin square or if its a big batch of something like bramble jelly, I use one of these that has been scalded with boiling water (or ironed) http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10100909

They absorb a bit more juice than the muslin but produce a supremely clear jelly.

Whichever method I use, I knot the 4 corners together after loading up with fruit and hang over the knob of a wall cupboard in the kitchen and put a tupperware box beneath on the worktop

thanks for the alternative method which is what i did yesterday. the summer fruits cordial turned out really good and especially looking lovely in my nice kilner type bottles. out of 3kg of damsons (bit of apple, plum and blackberry) i got 2.75 litres..

also from the glut of courgettes i have, i made a pickle out of them and used the remaining vinegar for some pickled eggs...mmh, quite wait for the latter to cure...