Jams, Marmalade and Chutney as frugal Christmas gifts

Frugal Christmas Gifts

If you're lucky enough to grow fruit in your garden, on your allotment, or have kindly neighbours who pass you their surplus, then all the better, but a pleasant couple of hours foraging among the hedgerows will likely net you a fair harvest of free fruit.

Last year's blackberry and bullace (wild plums) combined well with windfall cooking apples to give a depth of flavour unmet by common or garden shop jams.

Why not take the kids out for an afternoon to a PYO farm? My kids have always looked forward to feasting on free fruit, and the grandkids are in line to do the same this year.

Not only free entertainment and valuable exercise, but the taste-testing will fill the kids up til dinner time and fill your fridge with a wonderful selection of fresh ripe fruit...and all at least 50% less than store prices.

and...you don't have to make your jams straight away as most fruits can be frozen til you want to use them.

Ingredients for Jam making

FRUGAL TIP: As I make cakes and cookies too. I saved 25% per kilo by buying a 5kg bag of sugar.

Frugal Christmas Gifts Tip - Jam Jars

1. Most friends will return their jars to you plus any others they get from the store. It doesn't hurt to ask them or to remind them. You will need somewhere to store them as they quickly take up space.

2. Don't use pickle jars, coffee jars or ones used for vinegar or strong flavours. Even though you will strerilize the jars its just not worth tainting your work and your reputation with friends and family.
3. You'll likely have way more than you'll ever need with all your good natured friends. But if all else fails post a wanted ad on Freecycle. Somebody's bound ot be giving up just as you get started.
4. New jars will cost you around 80 pence each (UK) but you can buy a jar of 'value' jam or lemon curd at a supermarket for as little as one third of that. A massive saving!
5. Screw on lids should be used only once and you can buy new ones separately from the jars. (However I successfully use my 'value jam' lids for the new batch of jam)
6. Good old-fashioned jam pot covers are well-proven and economic. They consist of a waxed circle to place on the top of your hot jam and a cellophane cover which you dampen and attach with a rubber band. Use them for your own stock if not for friends.

Frugal Christmas Gifts - Marmalade

If you have never made cooked jam before, try making jams before you make marmalade. Making the very BEST marmalade takes a lot more time than making jam (3 - 6 hours). It is a two part process and I usually do it over a couple of days.

SEVILLE oranges are the Doyenne of marmalade oranges. Their bitter taste and tangy peel give that most characteristic marmalade flavour.

Making your own marmalade enables you to choose the cut and the amount of peel you prefer in your morning preserve. It's all according to taste!

Frugal Christmas Gifts - home made Chutney

• red onion marmalade,
• apricot chutney,
• spicy plum chutney

NOTE; Many chutney recipes need around 6 weeks to mature but once again it is a matter of taste, and many chutney makers enjoy their home made chutneys either immediately or within a couple of weeks.

Frugal Christmas Gifts - Home Pickles

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