Is it that time already?😱

I wish I was this clever and had the patience to do all this cooking, I just have never had the inclination at all to be honest. I don't eat/drink any of it either so perhaps that is why, but I would love to have it all for our fortnightly raffles. LOL

Am getting windfalls from the Bramley so need to start making apple pies and jam and chutney.

This happens every year... As soon as we pass the longest day and the days get shorter, and Wimbledon finishes, before you know it the C word begins to creep in. It starts with marmalade, mincement and sprouts and before you know it everyone is boasting about having finished their C word shopping. Good luck to all but I shall remain in denial for a few more months.

Norah

I save all jars, not all the same size - any clean jar will do.

But I do prefer bigger, taller ones - the ‘footprint’ isn’t much bigger but they take up less cupboard space than the equivalent quantity in small jars - I don’t have a lot of spare cupboard space.

Wonderful to have such special memories Redhead56

I've never heard of Red Currant wine but would love a recipe as it's my s-i-law's favourite fruit.
I used to make litres of Elderberry wine for medicinal purposes. It's great for winter colds.

Georgesgran

Thinking of when to put the sprouts on now!

You mean they’re not?

My dad was an avid tomato grower very successful. If the summers were poor we would all help him wrap the tomatoes in news paper then in boxes.
We would be eating lovely ripe tomatoes for weeks. Such special memories my dad and his pride and joy greenhouse.

Thinking of when to put the sprouts on now!

Was given carrier bag of green tomatoes by an Italian lady who only grew tomatoes on her allotment. I said I’d put some on a window ledge to redden up but she said NO. Put them in a drawer for the night. I did and wow, half turned red by the following morning.

I still save all my jars with lids for chutney and mincemeat.

I feel a bit guilty admitting this, but here goes. We save jam jars, take them to the tip every few months, and recycle them in the appropriate skip by smashing them - a wonderful stress-buster.

I save all jars, not all the same size - any clean jar will do.

I use the big jars from Polish sauerkraute and the tomato salad for preserving lemons.

I am impressed! I have never made jam or marmalade or mincemeat - and love marmalade especially, so hope the friends of GN makers of marmalade know how lucky they are! Good luck to everyone making these delicious things.

mrswoo

I've nearly come to the end of last year's green tomato chutney. The way our tomatoes are not ripening or even really growing this year I imagine I'll be making lots this September.

Recipe please mrswoo I need to make some this year, thank you.

I quite like the small square jars - the ones I have collected have metal lids and they're nice looking. I always have a battle discussion with DH about the number of jars I squirrel away in the cupboards in the garage. Although our blackcurrants are not too good this year, I still have loads from last year in the freezer, so intend to make jam with those. The other jars will come in handy for mincemeat which I make using a Mary Berry recipe - I've tried lots of different ones and this is the best. Shan't be making tomato chutney as, in common with many other people, our tomatoes are rubbish this year.

Family and friends are really good at returning empty jars and beer bottles, but at this time of year it’s bottles for wine and cordials that are in short supply. I’ve used all my clear glass bottles for elderflower cordial and the redcurrant wine I’m currently making will use up the last of my wine bottles. Our kitchen smells like a brewery today with redcurrant wine and a very hoppy smelling beer on the go.

pably15

when I was young I used to go out with my dad to gather sloes, he made sloe gin .

My Oxfordshire allotment had a hedge of blackthorn all around the site it was on so I made a lot of sloe gin while we were there.

I also made some sloe and rowan wine. DD3, aged about 3, asked what was in the must bucket. I told her the black berries were called sloes and she quickly said: "and the red ones are fast". So we labelled it fast and slow wine.

Witzend

mabon1

I hate those square jars, throw 'em all out into the recycling.

They’re no good for jam or chutney though, don’t they all have plastic lids? AFAIK only metal ones will do.

I've got a number of square jars and they all have metal lids.

I have made red currant juice and rhubarb juice, but there is very little fruit this year, as it has rained almost constantly since January.

Just discussed Christmas puddings, the making thereof with DD and bought raisins and orange peel and green peel.

So yes, it is that time already.

when I was young I used to go out with my dad to gather sloes, he made sloe gin .

mabon1

I hate those square jars, throw 'em all out into the recycling.

They’re no good for jam or chutney though, don’t they all have plastic lids? AFAIK only metal ones will do.

I hate those square jars, throw 'em all out into the recycling.

knspol

When I saw the title I thought it was going to be preparations for 'C'.

Well, it was in a way, since I mentioned C-word mincemeat.