What do you pickle, freeze, preserve....

[Alison]

Will you be using that for salad? What recipe have you used? We have Tayberries in the garden wonder if they would work too....

Yes, use it mainly in dressings but it can be nice in drinks too. I use the recipe in River Cottage Preserves, can't quite remember the quantities but basically you crush the fruit, add vinegar (I use white wine or cider), cover and leave for a few days, mixing occaisionsly. Strain through a jelly bag then boil up with sugar. Cool and pour into bottles. I've made it with strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. I'd imagine tayberries would be lovely.

[Small pumpkin]

Thanks noosner. Those recipes look great, I will be trying all of those.

[Jay22]

As I'm new to all this grow your own stuff I have only made chutney and that was one of Dorothy's recipes. 'Twas delicious, going to make more this year for sure!

[Jay22]

This is a great thread with lots of wonderful ideas...thanks everyone!

[Bex2012]

My carrot chutney is pretty good with cheese too. And the peach and orange is great with cold roast turkey at Christmas.

Send me a message to remind me if I get side tracked.

Could I pester you for your carrot chutney recipe? My OH adores the m&s wensleydale and carrot chutney sandwich, and carrot chutney recipes are few and far between. The one I did have wasnt quite right.

[Lumpy]

We don't grow enough to perserve in any way but most things don't even make it into the kitchen (except tatties etc) as they tend to get scoffed on the hoof as it were.

[Mrs Bee]

Could I pester you for your carrot chutney recipe? My OH adores the m&s wensleydale and carrot chutney sandwich, and carrot chutney recipes are few and far between. The one I did have wasnt quite right.

If you PM me with your email address I will send it to you as an attachment.

I haven't forgotten about posting some onion marmalade recipes here but I have been insanely busy and knackered recently. Looking after an active 1 year old is pretty exhausting. fun but exhausting at my age.

[Tripmeup]

Good thread!

One thing I noticed about myself was that in my earlier years of growing, the thrill and feel good seemed to come a lot from a “sow and see grow” ideal..Get as much planted and growing and then do more..Youthful enthusiasm if you like....... and a strong desire to be outside in the garden at every possible opportunity! It did however lead to gluts and some wastage of food I had grown in the early days as I kept putting off the inside stuff...

I then took stock and asked myself why was I rushing around (enjoyable rushing around admittedly) seeking to grow stuff if I wasn’t placing at least as much importance on making sure as much as possible was being used. Therefore, whilst I always preferred being outside pottering around in the garden, now around this time of year (and from here forward) I place as much emphasis on being inside when I need to be to use/store produce so that it doesn’t go to waste.

For example, this week I have had masses of blackcurrants and raspberries and redcurrants. Therefore I have made lots of jam and cakes that use the fruits. I have also picked a lot of chillies that are nearly ready for pickling 

Anyway I digress! Ways I save/store food are:

Tomatoes: Relishes, Ketchup, Freeze, Soups

Chillies: Pickled, dryed and flaked, Tomato & Chilli Relishes, Chill Sauces, Frozen


Fruits: Jams, Cakes, Tea Breads for freezing, Freeze the fruits, Gins & Vodka infusions

Herbs are frozen and also used in sauces, chutneys etc
Potatoes & Carrots- leave in the ground and use as required.

Garlic & Onions: Hung to dry and used as required. Also make pickled Onions
Cucumbers & gherkins: Pickled in various formats

I am sure I have missed some

[Dalrimple]

my wonderfull wife served me with one of my favourite snacks tonight tomatoes on toast and told me it was the last beef tomato from the batch we froze last September ! and it was just as good as the ones that didn't go in the freezer and which where cooked from fresh.
atb Dal.

[Llevrah]

my wonderfull wife served me with one of my favourite snacks tonight tomatoes on toast and told me it was the last beef tomato from the batch we froze last September ! and it was just as good as the ones that didn't go in the freezer and which where cooked from fresh.
atb Dal.

How did you freeze your Tom's? I've seen lots saying they freeze them but the taste test afterwards never sounds as though it was worthwhile them freezing

[SusieG]

How did you freeze your Tom's? I've seen lots saying they freeze them but the taste test afterwards never sounds as though it was worthwhile them freezing

Yes, please pass on the secret formula - I've not been successful with freezing toms ........

[Dalrimple]

sorry for the late reply ,I just take the green stem off and stick them in a plastic bag ,in batches that will amount to a tin of tomatoes ,I never thought they could be so easey, Now can anyone tell me how to preserve courgets ? atb Dal.

[Mrs Bee]

sorry for the late reply ,I just take the green stem off and stick them in a plastic bag ,in batches that will amount to a tin of tomatoes ,I never thought they could be so easey, Now can anyone tell me how to preserve courgets ? atb Dal.

Slice them, sear them in a pan until the edges are slightly caramelised, and when you have enough, pop them into sterilised jars, and top with herbs, vinegar and oil. I have recipe somewhere if you would like the exact recipe.

Make them into piccalilli. I don't like frozen courgettes.

[Dalrimple]

yes please Mrs Bee ! then I'll get Mrs D on the case ,

atb Dal

[Guest]

I don't suppose anyone freezes rhubarb? If yes how do you do yours?