Chutneys, pickles, jams, chocolates and booze!

Michala_B

Hi all,

I am wanting to attempt to make some chutneys, jams, pickles and boozey christmas gifts for people this year but I've never attempted it before so not sure where to start!

I have been told the Mary Berry christmas chutney is a good one to do as it is fairly straight forward. Has anyone tried this?

I also fancy trying some piccilli (not sure how to spell it!) and some lemon curd as I love lemon curd so can eat it all myself! However I'm not sure which recipes are good ones and there are loads on the internet so don't know where to start! Can anyone help me?

I am also debating on trying to make flavoured vodkas or possible gin, but again have no idea what to do? Would I be able to make a big bottle of it and then pour into smaller bottles for people?

I have also bought a chocolate mood - is it as simple as melting good quality chocolate, pouring it in and letting it set? Or am I missing a vital step?

Can anyone help me please? I would be very appreciative!

Thank you
Michala

Totality

Delia Smith mincemeat is always worth doing!

Michala_B

Totality wrote: »

Delia Smith mincemeat is always worth doing!

Hmmmmm! I could make some of that now and then use it to make mince pies with! Now there's a thought! Although I was going to make the Jamie Oliver mince pies with fill and puff pastry this year so wonder if it would work with them?!

mum2one

Sounds like some good ideas

Vodka
Skittles (stick to one colour green, red, orange)
Vanilla - add a pod/ stick of vanilla
Chocolate - a few chunks of choc

I put the vodka mix in a large bottle and pop in freezer as vodka doesn't freeze then shake regularly.

Choc -
I find that if I makin a choc shape to melt 3/4 of the bar then add the last quarter at the end think the posh word is tempering as with choc so quick to go bitter.

Jams
I do a mixture of cheating - which I use a tin of premixed marmalade from Lakeland - makes 6 jars add either whisky or brandy to the mix (Orange marmalade) with lemon I use gin or vodka.

They also do a strawberry jam but it's like a puree when it's finished ��

One I make from the start is rhubarb and Orange - it's lovely, will pop u the recipe on later on the computer.

Books - The one I've got is the dk preserves book goes step by step to making preserves, chutneys, jellies, butter.

Websites - the bbc good food is worth a peep ��

Michala_B

mum2one wrote: »

Sounds like some good ideas

Vodka
Skittles (stick to one colour green, red, orange)
Vanilla - add a pod/ stick of vanilla
Chocolate - a few chunks of choc

I put the vodka mix in a large bottle and pop in freezer as vodka doesn't freeze then shake regularly.

Choc -
I find that if I makin a choc shape to melt 3/4 of the bar then add the last quarter at the end think the posh word is tempering as with choc so quick to go bitter.

Jams
I do a mixture of cheating - which I use a tin of premixed marmalade from Lakeland - makes 6 jars add either whisky or brandy to the mix (Orange marmalade) with lemon I use gin or vodka.

They also do a strawberry jam but it's like a puree when it's finished ��

One I make from the start is rhubarb and Orange - it's lovely, will pop u the recipe on later on the computer.

Books - The one I've got is the dk preserves book goes step by step to making preserves, chutneys, jellies, butter.

Websites - the bbc good food is worth a peep ��

Thank you for all the info.

With the vodka how many skittles to how much vodka?! And do the sweets melt or will I have to strain it before giving as presents?


Do you know how to do toffee vodka by any chance?

With the Lakeland jams , how much alcohol do you add?

I will have another look at bbc good food website for more ideas then I can decide what to make and when.

Thank you
Michala.

Jobo88

If you want to make toffee vodka, try the following;

Bag of werthers originals
Bottle of vodka
An empty container (larger than the bottle of vodka, so if you’re using a litre bottle of vodka, then try using a big empty pop bottle that’s been washed out and dried)
Pour the vodka into the empty container.
Unwrap the werthers originals and put them into the vodka, until they make up about 1/3 of the volume.
Cover and leave for a few days/until the werthers have dissolved
You will get a creamy looking liquid that separates into two layers eventually.! You can either leave it like that and just shake it before you use it, or filter it through coffee filters to get rid of the creamy layer that sits on top.

I like to filter mine, as I then find that it will fit back into the original bottle, rather than having extra due to the amount of mass you add when putting the sweets in.

The same instructions for skittles vodka, although I recommend separating it out into different colours, otherwise it goes an awful muddy brown colour – not nice if you’re wanting to give it away as gifts!! I used 500ml pop bottles to make a litre of skittles vodka, and two bags of skittles, separated into colours, I filtered this vodka as well, as you get stuff floating at the top, but it’s kind of like sediment, IYSWIM? Not very nice!! But once its filtered it’s a lovely clear colour and tastes gorge!

I stored my toffee vodka in the large vodka bottle, and decanted it into some smaller bottles to give to people as gifts, and my skittles vodka separately in medium sized bottles (for the different colours!) and again decanted into smaller bottles where needed.

You can use cheap vodka for this, but one of my favourite things to do is to wait until the supermarkets have and offer where you can get a litre bottle for £15 and get a nice branded one.

With chocolate, you need to temper it properly otherwise it will be soft and sludgy at room temperature once you’ve finished.! There are loads of videos on You Tube that tell you about tempering chocolate and the reasons why you need to do it.! I’m usually quite good in the kitchen but tempering chocolate is one of my bugbears! I hate doing it!

Haven’t really tried Jams or chutney’s or anything like that, but second what mum2one said about the BBC good food website!

Jo xx

Niknak77

Ive just made a batch of Nigellas chilli Jam which is lovely. Had some with cheese and crackers last night. Its really easy to make. It is quite a sweet one, but thats probably why I like it so much.

flopsy59

i use this recipe for lemon curd.
Lemon Curd
Ingredients
Serves : 12
• 180ml fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 175g sugar
• 3 eggs
• 125g unsalted butter
•
Directions
Prep:10min › Cook:6min › Ready in:16min
1. In a 2 litre saucepan, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, eggs and butter. Cook over medium-low heat until thick enough to hold marks from whisk, and first bubble appears on surface, about 6 minutes.
2. Pour into sterilised glass jars, seal and leave to cool completely. Store in the fridge.
Note:
This should keep for 1 month in the fridge.

Jams i agree
I do a mixture of cheating - which I use a tin of premixed marmalade from Lakeland - makes 6 jars add either whisky or brandy to the mix (O

ellysi

Jamie Oliver Chutney is also a great recipe, the chilli chutney is particularly good and can be found on the Jamie Oliver website.

Mary Berry one is also good!

Anyone else going to the Good Food Show next week?

savvy

Check out this Index on the Crafting Board and look under V, there's Christmas Pudding Vodka and Toffee Vodka recipes

X_YuMmY_X

Nigellas chilli jam is really nice, and very simple to make.

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/chilli-jam-2692

I also made caramelised onion marmalade which is lovely.

I found this for starburst vodka which I think I will try this year.

http://mixthatdrink.com/starburst-vodka-tutorial/

I can't find the link now, but a couple of weeks ago I saw a blog that put sweets like candy rock, werthers original etc in a kilner bottle, and had a really nice tag attached with instructions to make your own flavoured vodka, it looked really nice and I thought it would make a good present, as the person could make and drink it when they wanted to.