I really enjoy making jams, chutneys and relishes.  Nothing beats the thrill of cooking up the latest in-season produce and knowing you will have it stored in the pantry ready for use later in the year.  Make your preserves when the fruit and vegetables are in season and then they will be cheaper.

Last summer I made enough tomato ketchup to last us about three years.  We grew the tomatoes ourselves which makes it taste even nicer.

I keep a few jars back especially to give away to friends. These jars are beautifully labelled  and have little rounds of pretty fabric secured to their tops.  My teenage daughter, Hayley, helps me in this area as she is quite artistic.  If someone arrives unexpectedly with a gift then we have something special to give back to them.

Try these:

    Lemon Marmalade
    4 lemons create 4 good sized jars

    Lemon & Passionfruit Marmalade
    Somewhere between a jam and a
    marmalade

    Lemon Spread
    Tangy spread for scones, cakes or
    eaten by the teaspoonful if you're me
 

    Mango Chutney
    In my opinion this is the
    best recipe on this web site

    Strawberry Jam
    The most popular jam of all

    Tomato Ketchup
    Make it yourself and you
    don't need colouring or
    preservatives
 

    Tomato Relish
    Tasty with cheese & crackers
 

    Tooty Fruity Jam
    You can make this even when
    there is no stone fruit or berries
    around

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