  | All
Kinds of Preserves for | ||
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Preserving conjures
up pictures of old-fashioned larders, shelves full of richly coloured
jars & bottles containing all kinds of treats which
bring cheer
during cold & dismal days - the very essence of There's such a variety of preserves that can be created, it's probably possible to find something to suit most people's tastes. One idea is to make more unusual preserves that people wouldn't necessarily make or buy for themselves - what about quince jelly, damson cheese, Indian spiced tomato chutney, pickled blueberries, chilli pickle, tarragon vinegar... It's also a really nice touch to include a couple of recipes or 'serving suggestions' with your gift. What you have to be is organised. Most of these gifts require you to buy seasonal fruit & veg, and many of them need time to mature before they are at their best. Some Inspirational Books...The Good Housekeeping Complete Book of Preserves Joanna Farrow
Preserved Nick Sandler & Johnny Acton
What's great about this book is that it serves as an introduction & inspiration to try lots of different preserving ideas. Why not follow their instructions & sun dry some of your tomato crop. Or go foraging for wild mushrooms & dry them for gift giving. There are also some great recipes for preserves that are a bit out of the ordinary - what about some preserved lemons (maybe presented in a handpainted jar with a repice for a Moroccan tagine containing some of the lemons)? Or some homemade curry paste? Or dried smoked chillis along with some more recipe ideas. And if you are really ambitious, what about presenting your family & friends with some homemade salami?! Jams, Preserves & Edible Gifts Sara Paston-Williams Sadly this book isn't in print any more but is well worth getting hold of from your local library or online 2nd hand sources. It's real value lies in the more unusual recipes such as Spiced Plum & Lime Chutney, Rhubarb & Coriander Chutney, Rowan & Crab Apple Jelly, Hawthorn Flower Liqueur & Damsons in Mulled Wine. Christmas Matters is also really keen on all the old-fashioned sweet recipes too. Thrifty preservingYou
can, of course, buy lovely jars for your preserves but if you want to
be thrifty (and more sustainable) you can save up jars through the year to
use for your produce. You can buy | |||
Christmas, in
fact. 
new
plain lids or you can re-use the lids too. You could try making
decorative fabric pot covers if you are feeling inspired. Another fab
way to save money is to use homegrown foods in your
preserves. In
the past