Take my temperature - having a mid life CWI chutney/relish moment

[Suzanne Early]

Yes its true, I need my temperature taken - Im having a mid life Country Womens Institute moment - thanks to all your postings, I have spent a lot of time reading and have been inspired to attempt chutney. I am what has been referred to as a "basic cook", but I might have found my calling with Chutney / Relish! Well, to be honest, they are more of a thick chunky sauce consistancy - perhaps I shall call them saucie-relish! In the last couple of weeks I have been using my fathers tomatoes - Ive made:

tomato, corn and green pepper
tomato and mango
tomato and apple

I also made:
plum and cranberry
peach and apple
peach, ginger and red pepper
pear and walnut (visually very unappealing - looks like jars of oysters yuck! But hope it tastes yum - I should have thrown something colourful in to brighten things up a bit!)

Goodness only knows what I will make next - once I have got rid of my "training wheels", I may graduate to perserving fruit next summer - going into winter here. There is something so satisfying about seeing the jars in the pantry, not to mention coming up with labels!

Thanks for the inspiration!

Suzie
NewZealand

[Nicos]

Te he....well done!
It really is very rewarding isn't it????

Be bold and add a bit of chilli to the next one!!!!!

Next thing is different jars and pretty lid covers - then you'll e winning 1sts at any show!

[FionaH]

Suzie it happened to me too! Believe me 4 years ago the very last thing I ever imagined myself doing was making chutney!

Good here innit?

[Pumpkin Becki]

Ooooh I love making jams and chutneys too. I've just taken a first prize with my awesome beetroot chutney. I even had a special cupboard built in my new house, specifically for storing my preserves, fondly called 'The Funny Cupboard' because the builder couldn't imagine what we were going to use it for!!

[Comfreyfan]

I'm getting there! Think if I didn't have to work full-time I'd be preserving anything and everything! Just bottled up some spice oil which has been sitting for a couple of weeks.

[Hilary B]

I'm sticking with the marmalade for now, but if we get too many pumpkins and courgettes this year, and possibly runner beans.....