Live on £4,000 for a year - 2009, Part 3

sophiesmum_2

Always put the hot jam into hot jars and put the lids on straight away and then you will get a good seal. Mooloo I recycle lids and jars for jam making and never have any problems as cheryl says the pop tops will reseal themselves, and you don't need any fancy equipment just for basic jam making just a big heavy pan and a wooden spoon will do fine:D Enjoy your jam xx

grandma247

SM yumm they look good. Hope you Dad is comfortable. How is he doing?
I put the lids on while the jam etc is hot and now I go one step further and boiling water bath the whole thing. They will keep indefinately like that. Good if you make more than you can use in a few months and you do not get any mould that way. It can only be done with metal or glass lids. You just put sealed jars of jam in a deep pan of hot water enough to go a couple of inches over the top of the lids and bring to boil and leave boiling for 10 minutes. By doing this you can just wash the jars and do away with sterilising them first because this does it all in one step. I also do not use wax discs in the jar and all my jam is fine.

sophiesmum_2

Grandma - i may do the hot water bath when I get my canner but haven't bothered up to now. I sterilise jars in the dishwasher immediately before filling so they are red hot when the jam goes in, I don't use the wax discs either and have never had a mouldy jam yet. Still got about a dozen jars in stores from last year and they are still fine:D Wish my canner would hurry up and get here:rolleyes:
My dad isn't doing so good at the moment, had to have blood transfusions each day this week so far as his liver has failed and is very poorly but still at home. Thanks.

Hardup_Hester

Morning all
Had a great day out with the DGK, my friend insisted on giving me £20 for looking after her budgie, so I now have some extra money in my 'neutral' pot.
I shall have a look to see if I can pick any blackberrys today, but don't hold out much hope, very poor pickings round here.
Hester

grandma247

SM sorry to hear that about your dad,take care of yourself (easier said than done I know).
I don't have a dishwasher and could not fit one in this kitchen if I tried,Ican't even get much food in here its so small, it all goes in the understairs cupboards and now under our bed.

cw18

I sterilise my jars in my microwave...... put some water into each (about an inch), then run the micro on high power under the water is really, really hot. Have to ber VERY careful lifting them out and tipping the water into the sink though !!!!

The lids just get washed in very hot water (I have to use my kitchen tongs to lift them out of the sink)

It's something my Mum was told to do a good few years ago, and has served us both well since then........

Frugaldom

Good morning frugal peeps, loving all the tales of preserving all the free foraged foodstuffs! What a clever bunch of people I know - maybe I need more of you moving here so we can get the activities of the local LETS group bumped up a gear. SM - I inadvertently mentioned that you had a sausage maker, there were several ooh's and ah's at that!

Today is market day and I was desperate to go as it's a special polutry & rare breeds sale combined with horses/ponies. I'll bet it would have been a great day. Unfortunately, I've wimped out of doing the 200+ mile round trip alone (always my downfall) and have opted to stay home, not spend any money, and concentrate on rearranging the kitchen and pantry plus make the jam & lemon curd. That is the plan, just as soon as I get work stuff out of the way, but I'll wait and see what happens as I am not very good with plans at the best of times.

Hester, sorry if I have missed this but who or what is 'the DGK'?

SFT, hope your journey was alright and that you aren't too disappointed that it's over. Looking forward to seeing some pics soon.

Bails, you're such a spoilsport with the secret blog, how about just an occasional picture for us poor frugalites?

Whitewing, where are you? Is everything ticking along alright? Hoping you're just far too busy for posting but missing the updates.

cw18

nykmedia wrote: »

Unfortunately, I've wimped out of doing the 200+ mile round trip alone (always my downfall)

Lightweight

and have opted to stay home, not spend any money, and concentrate on rearranging the kitchen and pantry plus make the jam & lemon curd.

but have to admit that sounds like a very industrious use of the time

Hester, sorry if I have missed this but who or what is 'the DGK'?

I read it as 'darling grand kids' - I know she mentioned her daughter being short of funds so she was raising money to take grand kids to a farm

sophiesmum_2

DGK - I have been reading as dear/darling grand kids seemed to be compatible with the subject matter mostly.
Nyk - off to costco soon do you need sugar???

shaz_mum_of__2

Must have been a jamming night .......................used a quarter of my haul to make 8 and a bit jars of wild plum and apple jam. cost of ingredients 2 x 69p bags of sugar:T

Nyk - have fun tidying the kitchen amd pantry and congrats on showing restraint(i think)

SM - hugs to you and your family

Hester good luk on theblackberry hunt

Another garden tidying day planned here so should be a no spend day today at least

Shaz