The Preserver's Year

lbt_2

thriftmonster wrote: »

Onion Relish

4lbs onions, peeled and finely chopped
2pts vinegar (malt is fine)
1tbsp mustard seeds
2tsp mustard powder
8oz sultanas
1lb sugar
1tbsp salt

Put the onions and half the vinegar in a preserving pan, add the mustard seeds and simmer till soft. Mix the dry mustard to a paste with some of the remaining vinegar and add with all the other ingredients to the pan. Stir to dissolve the sugar and then simmer till thick. Pot into hot jars. Keep for at least 6 weeks before using.

This is nice with cold meat or cheese - but my sister likes it smeared onto hot corn on the cob as a lower fat alternative to butter.

Hi TM

I am going to try this - it sounds lovely but I just wondered what sugar you use? Do I need to get a special one or is granulated okay?

Also, to make sure I have enough jars, how much does it make?

Thanks

415SanFran

OOOOW I didn't think I could just use malt vinegar!! Thats a saving, Thank you.
Yes I just use normal granulated sugar

[Deleted User]

Hi all
Would love to join in but as I live "down under" the seasons are a little different.
I live on an acre of land in the middle of a tiny coastal village in the North Island of New Zealand. Am blessed to have a small orchard at the bottom of my garden. Today I made apricot chutney, tomorrow will have to deal with the bucket of plums I picked today, the apples, grapes and peaches are nearly ready, blackberries on the estuary are ready for picking, and the basil in the greenhouse is crying out to be turned into pesto. So if you have any recipes or can point me in the direction of some it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much.

Gigervamp

floyd wrote: »

Does anyone know if the white muslin squares sold in Mothercare can be used for the same purpose? They are much larger and washable

My friend and I went halves on a pack of the muslin squares from Mothercare and I used one for the marmalade. It worked well.

floyd

Marvellous, thanks alot

lbt_2

Hi floyd

I had a look at the mothercare ones and they are quite expensive - and you get a lot in each pack ... but I found these (6 for £7) on the John Lewis website, so I will probably order those. These are quite big - the ones on the Lakeland site hasn't got the best reviews - one of the reasons being that they are quite small and not hemmed.

EDIT - must add that you also get free delivery from JL

purpleivy

What are you all paying for your seville oranges? I was in Mr M this afternoon and they were £1.49 for a 900g net. THis seems expensive to me. I'm sure they were about £1.20 last year.

floyd

Can't remember which thread I posted this in but I paid £1 for 2lb at my local fruit stall (Liverpool). They were £2.99 for 1.5kg in Sainsbury

purpleivy

floyd wrote: »

Can't remember which thread I posted this in but I paid £1 for 2lb at my local fruit stall (Liverpool). They were £2.99 for 1.5kg in Sainsbury

Need to find a local greengrocers I think.

thriftmonster

65p/ lb in the greengrocers - although last year they were 49p/ lb. But for 10lbs of marmalade you only need 3lbs of oranges - £2 and 6lbs sugar £2.40 - I used citric acid instead of 2 lemons cos I had it in - 44p/ lb for HM marmalade (excl electricity costs)