Final 12 months J was for Jam (and chutneys and relishes). I struggled to provide you with one thing for this 12 months. Have you learnt there aren’t any villages in Suffolk that begin with a J? The one issues in my labels for J are jigsaw puzzles which I do not do anymore and jumble gross sales – and they’re a uncommon taking place now.
However then determined I might do J for Jam(and chutneys and relishes) once more as a result of this 12 months some various things had been made and at WI this week we had a person who lately retired from native authorities and began a small enterprise – Swallowtail Preserves – making and promoting jam, jellies, marmalade, chutney and pickles.
He was initially a scientist and had some handouts displaying the pie charts of how chutney is made (evaporation, caramelisation and so on) which went over my head – needn’t know the science – simply the recipe and the style! He spoke concerning the hoops he needed to leap by to get permission to arrange as a enterprise. I knew a few of this from doing the Hygiene certificates and District Council kitchen inspection again in smallholding days after I made and bought for WI nation markets and on the gate. Issues are even stricter now with extra guidelines about labelling.
He will get a lot of his produce from a relative who has a smallholding and makes round 30 various things. To have sufficient orange marmalade, his greatest vendor, he has to purchase sufficient Seville oranges in January to fill a chest freezer.
I purchased a jar of lemon and lime marmalade to make a change from my selfmade – which is at all times the cheats marmalade from tins of ready fruit.
In the meantime again in my very own kitchen I attempted a small batch of one thing new – Mango and Apricot chutney – to complete up the dried apricots that had been purchased in the summertime for marrow and apricot jam.
I normally do a mango and candy pepper chutney to go together with curries and to provide away however did not this 12 months as a result of downside of one thing consuming the peppers – and I had a jar left from final 12 months anyway.
I might photocopied the recipe from someplace ages in the past and made half measures which nonetheless appeared to comprise a variety of sugar. The recipe additionally had grated contemporary ginger however as I might made another gingery issues by the 12 months I left that out. It used garlic cloves and chopped chilli pepper so has loads of ooomph even with out the ginger.
It’s fairly a sticky chutney – similar to the crimson onion ‘marmalade’ chutney in consistency and Oh My Goodness it is completely scrumptious – even right away. Out of the blue changing into my new favorite chutney! It will likely be made once more for certain.
Different issues I’ve achieved this 12 months which have not been made earlier than had been the ‘Compost Jelly’ – primarily constituted of blackberries and apple peelings and over ripe plums. That is additionally scrumptious and will certainly be made once more. Additionally new to me had been pickled gherkins and the candy and bitter cucumber pickle. I will not hassle with rising and pickling gherkins once more however the cucumber pickle is nice.
Loads of preserves made for me and to place into the Christmas Hampers.
Again Monday
Sue
