The Preserver's Year

goodgodthatonesevenbigger

heys guys, havin read this fantastic thread yesterday and yes i read it all, i've decided to have a go, so ipopped down to TJ Hughes in town and got me some Ravencroft 1l jars for 1.99 and some beetroot from the market and a large bottle (5l) of vinager, hopefully my first attempt will work out well.

Does anyone know where i can get pickling onions from at this time of year the stalls on the market only stock them at xmas.

Also does anyone have any ideas on how i can preserve plums (dont want to make jam), but they have to be not done in alcohol as my kids will be eating them aswell.

Penelope_Penguin

picnic wrote: »

hello, complete preserve novice and really need some advice.... please. tried to make strawberry jam yesterday, thought id followed the instructions but the jam wont set. can I re-boil the jam today to see if it will set??

You can try reboiling. Strawberry jam is notoriously reluctant to set, so I add the juice of a lemon.

Where dod you get strawberries at this time of year?

Penny. x

Penelope_Penguin

goodgodthatonesevenbigger wrote: »

Does anyone know where i can get pickling onions from at this time of year the stalls on the market only stock them at xmas.

Also does anyone have any ideas on how i can preserve plums (dont want to make jam), but they have to be not done in alcohol as my kids will be eating them aswell.

Onions are in season in the autumn

Plum chutney, or freeze them

BabyKat

you can still get them in asda

wssla00

Hey all. Quick question. Could I make jam out of tins of peaches? I seem to have a glut in my cupboard.

longbaygirl

Noticed that Poundland are selling Kilner (like) jars. Large ones (about 2 pints?) for a pound or a pack of two smaller ones for a pound.

lbt_2

tinksy wrote: »

Hi

Im a preserving newbie so just a couple of quick questions.

If i make lemon curd will this keep for xmas?? or am I best off waiting til nearer the time?

Also i want to use this recipie

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8257/sweet-chilli-jam

again will it keep til christmas??

Very confusing all this hoping to make something this weekend!

Hiya

Lemon curd doesn't last as long so I would make that nearer the time, but you can make the sweet chilli jam now. I make that all the time and it definitely keeps. I have started making double batches because everyone loves it so much.

valentina

Just found this thread - I have just started making chutneys etc, after getting the RC book for christmas. So far I have made the gingered rhubarb chutney and onion marmalade. My question is, is it worth buying a maslin pan, or (as I only make small batches) should I carry on with my big stainless saucepan?

alfieroux

Hi Valentina,

Just to ask did your onion marmalade work? Mine just became chopped onion steeped in vinegar. I use it as "Lazy Onion" now as a base when cooking as it was pants as a marmalade. Where did I go wrong?

The RC orange marmalade worked a dream, the 17 (!) jars I made are now down to just 5 in a matter of weeks.:T

Someone will be along to answer your maslin pan question I am sure, I am only a newbie at this too, so use a big stainless steel stock pot.

Thanks
Alfie

midnightraven3

i make lemon curd (as well as lime & orange, though not together:D) fairly frequently
it has a very short shelf life
i make my christmas ones a week before christmas, never any earlier