It's that time of year when I can't let what's on offer go to waste.
Sometimes it feels ridiculous to be growing my own - gardening is back breaking and I should be writing - when you can get it from the shops at an okay price.
What's an 'okay' price? Whatever is the lowest at the shops.
There's a sense of satisfaction in 'growing my own'. It's organic too. I love being able to make my own preservative-free preserves.
As well as growing my own blackberries, I've been out picking them too. After adding them to my own gooseberries, strawberries and raspberries, I've made two types of jam; with as little added sugar as I could get away with. Lemons help with setting. My jam usually stores for up to eight years.
A friend has pear trees. She helped me peel them. With the remaining blackberries, gooseberries, strawberries, chillies, vinegar, salt and a couple of ounces of demera sugar, I've made spicy chutney. It has layered taste now and will continue to improve. My 2021 chutney was delicious but I gave too much away. 2022 was okay. 2023 shows promise. Fingers crossed.
I might make pickle in September, not sure yet. Depends on what veg is affordable and available.
Fingers crossed. :)
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