Anyone fancy a luxury larder challenge?

[WaitingForMe]

If we started on Monday we could do twelve projects prior to December. I'm thinking flavoured sprits, cakes, puddings, mincemeat etc.

Does anyone fancy joining me?

Disclaimer: I'm a poncetastic lunatic who can't wait until 25th Sept

I'd be happy to post the recipes I'll be doing.

The chocolate marzipan was yummy, might need a trial run

If you freeze the Sloes and thaw them they split and you avoid all that tedious pricking. Damson gin is gorgeous too.

MrsLindor that does look like a great Apple Chutney recipe and certainly ticks all my boxes. I think I'll be trying that with our garden apples.

Anne, did anyone tell you where to find sloes?
They're usually lurking in hedgerows - they're the fruit of the blackthorn (you probably knew that).

Blackthorn also grows on scrubland, or inlaces that are hacked back/mown every 3 years or so. Around here, it grows on land owned by whatever the water board is called now, on the wildlife reserve (which is managed by mowing) and along the flood defences.

I tend to wait to pick the sloes till after the first frost, but TBH I have no idea if that makes any difference or not.

I think I might try that Christmas chutney recipe...

I did an internet search for pictures Mehs and today I saw some at an open farm, just by chance! I was amazed to see them in real life! (Need to get out more!)

I am going to have a look in some hedgerows now that I know what I'm looking for, but if I don't find any in the next few days I'm going to go back to the farm and ask them if they would let me pick some there.

I'm so excited!

Probably can't make it thus early in advance, but a slow cooker group I'm part of is going crazy for fudge at the moment.

200g milk chocolate
200g white chocolate
Tin of condensed milk
splash of vanilla essence
small knob of butter

Put into the slow cooker and cook in high for 1-2 hours, stirring every 10 mins or so. Pour into a cling film lined tin, and then set in the fridge over night.

I've done a crunchie one, and a kit kat one. Just chopped up the bars, and stirred them through the fudge before pouring into the tin. I plan on bagging some up and giving them to the staff at ds's nursery...

Red gooseberry jam made, raspberries picked for jam.

Apples collected but want some ideas which aren't just crumble for now. Apple jam anyone?? Apple and ?? chutney? Does anyone store apple pie filling or do you jut freeze your apples?

I made a lovely raspberry balsamic vintager with Lidl vinegar last Christmas for my gift hampers.

Just cracked opened a 2013 five berry jam

I normally wait for the first frost before picking sloes too but apparently this year they are ready a month early. Something to do with hot weather followed by heavy rain means they think autumn came early.

We picked a few yesterday and now have 500ml of gin hiding under the sink.

That slow cooker fudge looks worth a go.

Coldcottage It's best to freeze apple pie filling then it's there to use when you need it. I never trust 'storing apples' they go off unless you own a cool room that's reliably cool Like your name!

I'm up for this :-)

I saw a Mars bae vodka somewhere on the telly last week. It had cream in it, so I guess it's like Bailey's? I'll try to wrack my small brain as to where I saw it and post the deets if anyone would like?

I'd love to join in but am worried I would pick some poisonous berries! I don't suppose there is who anyone lives in Surrey who fancies a foraging partner?

Ppeatfruit thanks. Think I might have to spend more on gas hearing the cottage this year rather than just adding jumpers as DS will only be 6 months old come November.

I was thinking of making the filling and the storing in large jars. Looked up canning and stored some raspberries last year in a sugar syrup for ice cream which worked. Put in jars like you would jam, then boiling the jar on the hob for around 15 mins.

Do you think that would work for cooked apple with sugar too? Not as much sugar though.

Cold Yes it probably would but because of the lower sugar content you'd need to store it in a fridge, it might not last till Xmas though. I make a lot of jams with no sugar (dh has pre type 2 diabetes) I use apple\pear juice for sweetening. I cook them in the juice with quite a few unripe fruits to give the 'pectin' or lemon juice if they're ripe.

Can't wait to get started. I plan to make Christmas Pudding Vodka. Then Candied Oranges and Bacon Jam.
And even if people say gifts in a jar are rubbish, I really like the look of this one

Lurking - out to pick blackberries later so will watch the spirits with interest; though more of a vodka girl and aiming to be BF over Christmas so will read up also on the 'pump & dump'!

Sorry to go 'off piste' but if you can afford it Cold look at getting shutters we love ours they keep us warm in winter (with extra insulation in the roof of course) and cool in summer.! Bless the LO she or he could be crawling early though to keep warm!

Ppeatfruit do you have the sugar free jam recipes as my dad has type 2 as well.

Thanks for the tip. We rent so can't add anything. He is so strong and trying already so maybe. I'm hoping he holds off for a while as I have a bad back and am not that mobile myself at the moment.

My sister makes a lovely raspberry vodka. Be careful which jars you use. She lost a whole batch when a John Lewis jar broke when she opened it. It was a very sad moment.

Our blackberries have nearly all gone over. Been picking since July!

Yes sure cold I'm a very 'play it by ear' cook though!

Sugar free jam.

600grms. fruit (using plums,greengages,damsons etc) Always add some unripe ones maybe 4 or 5 (if not add the juice of a fresh lemon) Do that if you're making this with strawbs or rasps..

Wash them use them whole\ or cut and remove the pips (but you don't have to at this stage ). and put in a heavy saucepan without a lid

Put in a 3\4 litre of apple juice (or whatever juice you have)

Bring to a boil for 4 mins or so then leave to simmer until it thickens and starts sticking to the bottom of the pan. Then sieve into bowl taking out the pips afterwards. You don't have to sieve.

Pour boiling water into your jars and lids and leave for a while.

Put in the jars when they and the jam have cooled.

You could make this with apples which would be lovely and healthy for the baby.

You do have to watch the jam and stir every so often in case it starts to stick quickly.

Lurking as I have a quince bush in my garden and I never know what to do with them

Something tells me you lot might have a few ideas.

I'm in too
I love the rituals of preparing Christmas food and drink, and had already promised that I would make my own piccalilli this year so if anyone wants to share a recipe....

Thank you. I will try that. I usually add when hot into hot jars so the lid is pulled in for a 'pop' when you open it seal. That is with full sugar or 2/3rd sugar to fruit.

Going to try this week with raspberries. I like the tang lemon gives