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Original poster

Chutneys and preserves

38 replies

MrsCadwallader · 27/08/2010 19:56

I'm having a domestic goddess moment

Having just harvested a mega-crop of plums from our tree in the garden, my mind has turned to jam-making and the like, which in turn has made me reach for the lovely, beautiful (and as yet unused) 'Delia's Christmas' book my MIL gave me as a present last Christmas.

I would REALLY like to have a go at making some stuff both for ourselves and for Christmas presents this year, but I am totally daunted by the whole exercise! I have a big, heavy stock-pot which I could use for cooking stuff in, but most of the recipes involved straining through muslin, wax-paper discs for sealing etc etc.

I've been browsing the Lakeland website for equipment and it's relatively inexpensive (esp if it counts as part of the Christmas presents budget) but I'm not sure what I actually NEED / which are the best products to buy.

Does anyone here make their own preserves? Can you give me any tips? Am I setting myself up for disaster?!

Here's a link to the Lakeland site if anyone fancies a bit of kitchen porn

www.lakeland.co.uk/F/C/cooking-baking

I'd be very grateful for any advice!

OP posts:

TheFallenMadonna · 27/08/2010 20:00

I use leftover jars, buy waxed paper discs from a kitchen shop (I have a roll of it too for awkward shaped jars). I don't make any jellies, so don't strain anything. I don't use a thermometer, but my set can be somewhat unpredictable, so it might be a reasonable investment. I sterilise the jars in the dishwasher. Um - that's it I think. Oh - I have a jam funnel. That I like.

taffetacatski · 27/08/2010 20:10

I make jam and chutney. I use a preserving pan, sometimes an old muslin from when the DC were puking babes ( washed, obv), old jam jars sterilised by running through a dishwasher and a jam funnel as I am vair clumsy. I use the food processor for chopping, incl oranges for marmalade.

I never bother with wax discs, I keep my jams in the fridge and the chutneys in the dark, both with airtight screw lid jars.

taffetacatski · 27/08/2010 20:11

...if you do get into it, would wholeheartedly recommend the River Cottage Preserves Handbook. Now that is preserving porn.

Original poster

MrsCadwallader · 27/08/2010 20:14

Thanks :)

I'll definitely use recycled jars for stuff for us, but it would be nice to have new / pretty jars for presents.

Why are waxed discs recommended in the recipes? Is it a preservation thing? If so, would it be better to use them than not if I was giving jars as presents? They are pretty cheap to buy so wouldn't break the bank in any case.

Do you find it all an easy process? I'm having horrors about irretrievably burnt pans and kitchens on fire

OP posts:

Surprise · 27/08/2010 20:15

I use a very large saucepan, and make delia's plum chutney recipe. Use some old jam jars and buy wax discs. Bob's your uncle. And I'm no domestic goddess, but DH reckons it's the best thing I make - like Branston Pickle only better [smug emoticon].

taffetacatski · 27/08/2010 20:21

Oooh Bonne Maman jars marv - esp when matched with gorgeous French ribbon and handmade tags. Kilner jars far too large for giving away!

Original poster

MrsCadwallader · 27/08/2010 20:24

Ah, but we have a shed-load of Ikea kilner jars that are taking up an awful lot of room in my kitchen (a result of those Ikea moments when you think you're going to have a wonderfully rustic kitchen with jars of flour and raisins on display all over the place )

OP posts:

AlistairSim · 27/08/2010 20:25

Oooohhhh...my kind of thread....

I have just made marrow and ginger jelly today.

Am so very proud of myself.

Original poster

MrsCadwallader · 27/08/2010 20:31

OP posts:

taffetacatski · 27/08/2010 20:35

In that case, make lots and lots of whatever you are making. Then you won't feel so bad when you see how much fits in those jars that you are giving away

< likes the idea of making jam and chutney as gifts, has trouble parting with it >

TeamEdward · 27/08/2010 20:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

taffetacatski · 27/08/2010 20:43

TeamEdward - what chutney will you be doing with your apples?

I should have a silly number of chillis this year and am planning chilli oil and chilli jam. Chilli jelly looks good but am a bit scared of jelly.

deepdarkwood · 27/08/2010 20:47

Chutney is very useful, in as much as it's very, very easy (other than the interminable chopping) & you can make a big batch in one go. And add cheese, crackers & some of dh's home brewed beer and christmas presents are sorted . The Delia recipe is a good one, iirc.
Chutneys I do also don't need straining (in fact, I don't really do straining ) , and chutneys shouldn't need waxed discs either.

I'm a relatively novice preserver, but was amazed how easy jam is - but it's much easier in small batches, so you expend more man hours per jar (iykwim)

taffetacatski · 27/08/2010 20:56

Agree with ddwood, chutney is a better place to start than jam as no setting point stresses etc.

re the chopping, Pampered Chef do some great children's serrated knives that they can't cut themselves on, if you want to outsource the labour.....

Original poster

MrsCadwallader · 27/08/2010 21:05

Excellent - thanks! Was planning to start with chutneys and preserved fruit anyway, and see how that goes before embarking on jams.

I've also just remembered that my sister gave me a recipe book for sweets, and a sugar thermometer for Christmas last year, too. I'm going to be a one-woman cottage industry if I can get the hang of that too!

OP posts:

Saladbomb · 27/08/2010 21:07

Yep I am well into preserving. So far I have made plum chutney and ketchup (just the chutney recipe blended) Plum and ginger jam, I've got bramble and raspberry juice in the freezer waiting til i get round to making jelly or cordial. Also have got raspberry gin and elderflower champagne on the go. Will probably make damson jam and gin tomorrow as they are nearly ready. I use recycled jam jars, soak the labels off and then use some pretty fabric tied round the top to tart them up for christmas pressies. (I also print out my own labels on the computer ) I did splash out on some fancy flip top bottles for the champagne and ketchup as recycled screw tops look a bit manky. I usually cut out waxed paper disks myself but only cos I haven't got around to buying any. I think it is to stop bloom and then mold growing on the top.

Its all pretty easy just don't take your eyes off it as jam especially can burn to the bottom of the pan (and be ruined) chutney takes longer but doesnt take as much watching. If you don't have a thermometer then a couple of saucers in the freezer can test for your jam to set. I think thats delias method anyway so should be in your book.

Saladbomb · 27/08/2010 21:10

oh another tip to avoid having to stone the plums, the night before you want to make your chutney, take about 75 ml of the vinegar from the recipe for every 3 lb of fruit and simmer them in a large pan for about 20 mins (until the fruit softens) Leave to cool over night, then the next day you should be able to pop the stones out of the plums. Its a lot less hassle than stoning them with a knife as long as you don't mind getting your hands a bit mucky. Hope you enjoy! :o

Salteena · 27/08/2010 21:10

Chutney is dead easy (as taffetacatski says, no worries about setting points), tastes great, makes excellent presents (the difficult bit is trying not to eat it too soon - it needs to mature for a few months at least). Apple and ginger is one of my favourites but plum and ginger would be lovely too. I'm sure you'll turn up plenty by just googling. A good tip is to look on Freecycle for jars - I've seen lots of posts on my local one recently giving away Kilner jars and so forth.

TeamEdward · 27/08/2010 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blissa · 27/08/2010 22:36

I made my first chutney last year for Christmas presents, am definatley going to do it again this year. I have lots of chillies in the garden which are either destined for chutneys or to be soaked in vodka and covered in chocolate!
This is delicious

lilolilmanchester · 27/08/2010 22:39

I recycle jars and ask friends to save any nice jars they have. I also make jellies - having muslin, my mum told me she just used to use a boiled pillowcase. Worth the extra hassle cos you don't need to peel/deseed fruit for jellies.

asouthwoldmummy · 27/08/2010 22:46

I only started preserving this year and I'm planning to give hampers filled with homemade goodies as presents this year.
I bought the river cottage preserving handbook and it's fantastic, loads of really good recipes! It has flavoured vinegars and drinks as well as jams and chutneys, well worth investing in!

Sinkingfeeling · 27/08/2010 22:57

Anyone got a good recipe for courgette chutney?

TeamEdward · 27/08/2010 23:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Scuttlebutter · 28/08/2010 00:26

Another keen preserver here. We made Nigella's chilli jam last year and it was fab, but a bit runny. Have been making batches of blackberry and apple jam, and spicy mango chutney in the past couple of weeks. I make the mango chutney in the slow cooker, and it works brilliantly. We have minimal specialisit equipment - we do use waxed discs, and have a jam funnel which makes life much easier, but that's it. For making jam, I just get out my big stockpot, and that works fine. Am looking forward to making some plum jam and chutney this week and will shortly be getting bags of apples from ILs - fab! Last year we also made the Nigella Cranberry Chutney - that was gorgeous. Like most people I save jars through the year,stash them in the utility room and run them through the dishwasher just before filling. I am looking forward to giving them as Christmas presents, and am also seeing my aunty next week, for a chutney swap session - so will be trying out her apple and date while she gets some of our spicy mango.
However, I would never put off anyone from going to Lakeland (one of my fave shops) - if you, ahem, feel the need to inspect their fine array of condiment accessories, then go for it! We topped up last weekend, and I was able to do a bit of pleasurable other shopping while there too....

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