Jams, chutneys and stuff, come and post photos!

[PeanutButterAndMarmite]

Has anyone else started making stuff for Christmas?

We had a lot of apricots this year so I've just finished making some jam and I'm quite proud of the results!

They look lovely, very jealous. Will they be for presents?

I never know when I'm supposed to start making this stuff or how long it'll keep. I also need to find some recipes. I had good intentions last year but then all of this stuff put me off.

Just checked my Nigella Kitchen recipe book and it has recipes for fruit jam and gooseberry chutney that keep for a year. I'll be back with photos when I've made them!

Jams and chutneys keep for ages due to the sugar/vinegar, just make sure the jars are sterilised and then sealed properly. The ones above are for Xmas prezzies if we don't eat them first !

When I post mine don't be surprised if they're a rubbish version of yours, I'm not very creative! I think a trip to hobby craft is in order.

I know this is a thread for photo's so I'm sorry for all the questions but where do you get your jars from?

They're just old jam/olive/pesto jars! The material hides the branded lids, it's held in place with an elastic band, which is hidden with some ribbon. The labels are just plain office labels which I did a watercolour wash on, then added the drawings and name with a waterproof pen.

They work out at about 50p a jar to make.

I always have good intentions of making them for family but put it off too long. I really wanted to make a nice chutney and some oatcakes for my DM and jam and nut butter for my sweet toothed DGM but I just felt confused by the jars. I read you're not supposed to reuse old jars because they're no longer sterile once opened hence why you shouldn't buy a jar if that button on the lid has gone down? Is that not true then and if it isn't how do you correctly sterilise them? And where should they be stored/for how long can they be safely stored?

I think I might start a new thread for home made stuff like someone did last year, then all of the questions aren't on the photo's thread do you think?

It doesn't matter if there are lots of questions here! Just promise you'll post photos when you've made stuff

As for sterilising old jars, obviously they wouldn't be up to food hygiene standards for selling, but fine for gifts. First I wash them in warm soapy water, then give them a soak in Milton. Then make sure they're bone dry before filling (don't use a tea-towel, either dry the jars in the oven or use kitchen roll - don't put the lids in the oven though, it'll melt the tiny rubber seal). I fill them with very hot jam, put the lids on, put them upside down in an oven proof dish and then fill the dish with boiling water. After about ten minutes I take them out of the dish, turn them the right way up and leave them to cool, after about half an hour you press the middle popper thing down and it shouldn't come back up, meaning they're aritight.

I do promise to post photo's. I've made another thread too for general ideas. I don't normally post much but I think all of this Christmas talk has got me too excited!

We need to make Rhubarb and Blackcurrant jam asap, we have the fruits ready, we just need to pick and preserve.

I want to do lots of preserves but I lack confidence in making things. Yours look lovely Peanut

I made some rhubarb and fresh ginger jam recently, it was lovely!