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.

Got given a load of cooking apples today. I'm going to make a couple of apple sponges for the freezer, but need some more ideas.

Toffee Apple Cake Anne ? It's really easy and freezes apparently (although I have never tried!
Just found this thread and definitely trying some of these recipes - especially the fudge

Wobbly I have just made that fudge. It. Is. Awesome. Even if it would last until Christmas it won't

Oh that sounds good, Lariflete. Will have a google for a recipe.

Me too, do you have a link to good apple sponge recipe?

Anybody else making Mandarin Curd? It sounds amazing! Think it has to be made nearer the time though.

I just slice a mix of cooking and eating apples and a sprinkling of caster sugar and then make a basic sponge (like a Victoria sponge recipe) and spread it on the top. There are probably better ones around. Sometimes I add sultanas and a bit of cinnamon.

ColdCottage Well I make my morning fruit smoothies with raspberries when they're about (they don't last long at all ). Oh I also made a raw cherry and strawberry tart!

Toffee Apple Cake This is the one I used. Does anyone have a good apple sponge recipe?

Whoops - should have read Anne's last post!

Also Apple and Blackberry Jam has turned out really well and is definitely going to be given as presents.

Oh dear I meant a raspberry and strawberry raw tart( the base was made of ground almonds, maple syrup, walnuts and rose water flavouring, it was yum!)

I cooked up a load of apple last night to freeze for pies. Do you think if I took some out and added extra sugar I could make an apple jam type thing for pork?

Of course you can make apple sauce or apple puree for the baby with it Easier if you froze it in smallish containers though!

Oh lord, mandarin curd had never occurred to me but now I absolutely have to have it for christmas morning brekkie, and also for presents.

I do bacon jam every year, it's delicious, very simple to make and a great conversation starter!

Just been out and picked a load of sloes and bought some cheap gin. Just going to read some instructions then I've got a happy afternoon of sloe-pricking ahead!

I have found my people

So far have made large batch of plum jam with plums donated by one of DH's work colleagues, plus a small batch of blackberry jam. We've started eating these already, but there will be plenty left by Christmas.

I also have a jar of damson gin on the go (spotted damsons in our local greengrocers) and this morning started some limoncello as I found a bottle of vodka at the back of the cupboard which has been there for years. Vodka doesn't go off, right??

I obviously picked more sloes than I thought, as I had enough for three lots, so as I only bought two bottles of gin today I've put the third lot of sloes and sugar in a jar ready and will pop out and get another bottle of gin tomorrow.

I hope it turns out well. I feel very proud of myself!

I bought a nice "kilner" jar from Asda, filled it with my blackberry whiskey and shook it, it's not good at sealing !!! Will get a proper jar tomorrow and decant and mutter about Asda crap ....

Watch out for the John Lewis jars. My sister had one of their jars break at the seam after 6 months of raspberry vodka investment. Only about 4 shots left in the bottom and JL would do a thing

AnneEyhMeyer I'm not usually ignorant but I 'm not sure that I know what a sloe and sloe tree\bush looks like e.g. how big are they?

ppea, sloes are the fruit of blackthorn bushes, often found in hedges or on waste ground and commons. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_spinosa

Blackthorns are vile prickly things so go gently...

FoxSticks whereabouts in Surrey are you? Pm me if you like, I would help (vaguely know what they look like but also worries about poisoning everyone!) in the name of sloe gin!

Sloes are about marble size or a little smaller. They are a dark blue/purple colour (think blueberry) with a matt finish, if you rub the skin it goes shiny. They are firm fruits and taste horrible raw.

ppeat - looks like everyone got there before me, but yes, think largish blueberries, and the leaves are longish. I found mine tended to be interspersed with lots of blackberries.