Apple and Pears - and Quinces!

Well I don't know about you but I am pretty much buried in apples! The strong winds have 'picked' the rest of the large cookers for me so it's nose to the grindstone now and I am busy making lots of chutney. My Spiced Apple Chutney is a very popular all rounder with my customers - lovely and dark, a nice fruity flavour. There have been plenty of pears too so I have experimented with some Pear & Orange Chutney - I am very pleased with it and it is absolutely delicious.

Another seasonal chutney I have devised is Beetroot & Elderberry - a gorgeous colour and the elderberries' tartness is offset very nicely by the sweetness of the beetroot - very tasty with a lovely smooth Brie as you can see! There are lots more recipes on my recipe site.

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Been busy compiling a 2014 Jam & Preserves Calendar. It has a recipe for each month and comes in a handy case similar to a CD so that it can stand on a desk or kitchen shelf. I have also included a very useful jar lid size gauge so that you can be sure to buy the right sized replacements. It would make a great present as it is small and light to post - there will shortly be wrapping paper and gift cards as well.

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A seasonal recipe on the back of each card

The New Chix on the Block have really settled down, grown all of their new feathers and now eat absolutely everything they can get their little beaks around. They are laying well and I often have surplus eggs for sale in The Old Smithy. They love scratting about in all of the fallen leaves now and Trev and I have been busy putting up a plastic greenhouse as a shelter from the wind/rain/snow for them - they won't go back in their run once they are up and about - that is for going to bed! They are all very vocal and love 'chatting' to me when I get back from work - goodness knows what they are saying!

A neighbour brought in bags and bags of Quince today - lovely big, fragrant fruits so I am experimenting with an old, French recipe - I'll update you in the next blog when I see how it turns out. Quince keep for quite a long time so be sure to snap some up if you see them on sale, there will be plenty of time to make some lovely jams and jellies. So, more mincemeat - then Cranberry Relish, Butterscotch Sauce, Red Cabbage & Beetroot Chutney - Christmas is on the way!