So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks SH. Yes, exploding beer was not cool at all!

Had a lovely day with Niece yesterday - we saw two of my friends and their little ones - it really took the pressure off, having other small people around, so I actually didn't find it too mentally exhausting! I was still exhausted physically by the time I got in (despite not actually doing much) - but I think some of that is lingering coviddy-ness. Mr MV was also exhausted, so he sprang for takeaway pizza - I collected though, it was BOGOF and not from the big chain, so relatively low cost (£13 total) and there's some for our lunch today, along with the salad I didn't take yesterday. 

This morning I have finished the blackberry vinegar (inspired by Foxgloves, whose diary I am currently reading) and finished jamming the remaining plums. I only made a small bottle of the vinegar as I wasn't sure if we'd like it, but it tastes delicious, so I may well go and pick some more to make another batch/gift batches. Will need more white wine vinegar too though (making my own can be next year's experiment!) The jam was vicious (I wasn't using the really big pan) and I have a couple of burns (not to mention I need to wash the walls). However, 1 jar for us and 3 gifty jars (from my FB bargain of gifty jam jars) made.

Am collecting some apples from an Olioer shortly (Tescos rather than homegrown sadly), which I intend to bottle with some blackberries - need more bottling jars though - will use a voucher to buy more jars (have looked on FB, but they don't have lids/seals and it looks almost as expensive to buy these as replacements as to buy the jars with them).

I also still need to make some jam buns to use up some unsealed rhubarb and ginger jam. And I need to get to Lidl/Aldi as we have people coming for a BBQ tomorrow, so need to purchase meat and various other bits. Have a Cambridge meeting this afternoon, need to do some work for them and also have a bit of work to do for myself. Mr MV has the afternoon off - think he'll do some cleaning/tidying for tomorrow and maybe we'll list some more Ebay bits as it's 80% off FVF.

MS things:
* YG survey done
* HW done - 40p won and a free bet placed, clicks done
* No fruit wasted
* Free apples, raspberries and mint from Olioer (no idea what I'll do with the raspberries, but eat them in a worst case scenario!), mint will be used tomorrow in tabbouleh - allowing our baby mint plants to grow a bit more

Gratitudes:
* Niece behaved beautifully yesterday, despite being exhausted poor thing
* Saw a friend I haven't seen in ages!
* Blackberry vinegar, mmmm

Have a good day all!

Cheery_Daff

Must go and check on our blackberries at the weekend! 

What instructions do you use for bottling? I've never done it but wouldn't mind giving it a go. Do all the dire warnings of botulism apply to fruit as well??

the_cross_rabbit

Could I have the recipe for the vinegar please
CRx

themadvix

Blackberry vinegar is here, although I just picked this randomly, there may be better ones: https://www.countryfile.com/how-to/food-recipes/seasonal-recipes/blackberry-vinegar/

Cheery, I follow the instructions Suffolk Lass posted on here on 6th July - can’t remember what page. Have never done it before, so please direct all questions to her! Don’t think botulism issues apply as it’s fruit in syrup - basically you stew the fruit in a syrup in the jars and then the jars seal as it all cools, effectively a not  very well made jam IYSWIM!

Fortune_Smiles

Hi MV - I make blackberry vinegar too 😁 I love it in salad dressings.  I've also make it with blackcurrants, redcurrants and raspberries - if you can't find a home for your Olio raspberries?

Fortune x

themadvix

Thanks Fortune - that’s good to know, I might have to try it with red currants! Sadly when I looked at the raspberries this afternoon having collected this morning they were a big squishy mush in the punnet with a fair few mouldy bits, so they went straight in the recycling 😔

the_cross_rabbit

Thanks for the recipe 
CRx

Suffolk_lass

I am finding a few Kilner jars on FB this morning (lots seem to list on a Friday so stuff is collected when people are not working). I bought 10 new disks for £9 from big river company...

themadvix

No luck round this way SL - £15 for 14 jars with no lids is all, and tbh I don’t need that many or have the space for them. (And then would have to pay £9 for the discs and rings). Ordered another 6 0.5l ones from the big river for £15.50 and used £15 survey money for them.

themadvix

You’re welcome CR - hope all is ok with you x