Garden produce ready for Christmas gifts.

22 Nov, 2015
17 likes

I've used the onions for pickling as some were quite small this year. Two weeks ago I picked all the crab apples and made the crab apple jelly. I froze some blackberry and raspberry when I had a glut. Yesterday afternoon I defrosted them, added apple, boiled them up and left them to drip through muslin overnight and this morning I made the juice into jelly. I made beetroot chutney yesterday and some marmalade this morning. Everything's a bit stuck up now, I'm not too clever at pouring it into the jars without dripping it all over the cooker, work surface and me......lol. Yesterday I also made some sweet apple and date chutney from some of the apples left on the trees. I feel satisfied now that they are all done ready to label and I'm going to give them in a hamper to my close family and friends for Christmas.

Comments on this photo

Waddy

My goodness you have been busy! Your friends and family are very lucky to have such tasty treats to look forward to.

22 Nov, 2015

Cottagekaren

Wow! Well done! :))

22 Nov, 2015

Dawnsaunt

Whooo you've been busy. I pickled some onions last week but that's all. All look great.

22 Nov, 2015

Wildrose

Very impressed, how delicious it all looks :-)

22 Nov, 2015

Johnjoe

Don't forget me I am one of your very best friends Sheila. I will be look out for the post delivery at Christmas.

23 Nov, 2015

Melchisedec

That looks wonderful, Hb! I haven't made any preserves this year. I thought it was going to be a green tomato chutney year, then they all ripened in the late sunshine. Those will make lovely Christmas gifts, and I bet they'll be very well received!

23 Nov, 2015

Amy

They look wonderful Sheila your family will be thrilled with them , we've done our pickled onions & Beetroot and would you believe I've also made my mince pies and sausage rolls for the freezer ,I'm so ahead of myself Lol ...

24 Nov, 2015

Bathgate

wow, your an alchemist in the kitchen. Very talented.

24 Nov, 2015

Amy

Sheila I always use a pastry recipe from Delia Smiths Christmas book it makes lovely buttery 'quick flaky pastry ' you need to freeze the butter before you start to enable you to grate it into the flour ,you can then freeze the sausage rolls raw taking a few out at a time as you need them to bake , if you don't have the recipe I can PM you with It :o)

25 Nov, 2015

Melchisedec

I have been getting ahead with baking, too. Freezing sausage rolls and mince pies uncooked is ideal - they go straight into the oven for fresh bakes when needed. I always freeze cooked scones. They only take a few seconds in the microwave and are lovely eaten warm. I try to cook double batches if we are eating them so I can be sure there'll be some left to freeze!

25 Nov, 2015

Lindak

What a lovely lot of home preserves. Also a special present for the people who ware going to receive them too. It sounds as though everyone has been busy cooking for Christmas. I will make some mince pies nearer the time. Happy baking...great eating!!!

26 Nov, 2015

Ladyessex1

Wow! You have been busy, wish I was your neighbour as I would of come in for a taste of them whats in your jar's LOL

28 Nov, 2015

Bathgate

You're welcome. These are especially delicious during the dismal winter months. Items like these always go like hotcakes at the farmers' markets. "$!"

5 Dec, 2015