When the warmth of the sun retreats and winter makes its arrival, it’s not easy to find many of your favourite fresh foods. Even if you are able to buy fruit and vegetables at your local shop, you can be sure that they will either prove very expensive or they won’t taste quite as delicious. Fortunately, the good news is that there are a number of foods that you can preserve to get you through the winter.
Pears, once ripe, do not usually last all that long but if you preserve them, you can enjoy them whenever your cravings set in. They can be preserved much like any other type of fruit. Alternatively, if you prefer, you could make some delicious pear vanilla jam, pear and chocolate jam, or even pear cinnamon jam. These are just a few scrumptious ideas and there are plenty more that pear lovers should try!
Apples are also currently in abundance but this will not last too long. Pick up a batch of delicious apples and make your own honey lemon apple jam, apple cranberry jam, or you could even make some apple pie filling for use at a later stage! Be sure to portion them out so that you don’t have to open more than one jar per pie.
Some food also does very well when pickled or prepared as a chutney. Pears, peaches, and apples are all delicious in a chutney recipe. You can make yours spicy or mild, depending on your personal preferences. All you need to do is add a who chilli pepper or two for some hot flavour. Cucumbers, onions, cauliflower, carrots and various vegetables can be pickled. You can also make them spicy by adding hot peppers if you like.
Make sure that your jars are all properly sealed and stored in a cool dry place. The jars should not be exposed to extreme heat, cold, or direct sunlight. Properly stored, your preserves will get you through the winter!