Chilli Jam

Last Christmas I made Nigella's Chilli Jam to give as gifts, it went down so well that I have decided to make another batch for this year, here is the recipe I use.

I only use my cauldron for making a few things mostly Christmas Eve Ham in coke or if I am making a huge batch of something to freeze, but I am terrified of this boiling over resulting in me and the kitchen getting covered in boiling hot jam. There is no way the jam will bubble up enough to escape the cauldron it is huge. 

I have made 4 batches of this now and I always seem to get a lot for froth round the edges which I ether skim off or make a jar for His Lordship with the scummy bits in (he assures me it tastes fine it just isn't as pretty).

The recipe says to keep for 1 month before eating and will keep for a year unopened, but I'm never 100% confident with sterilising my jars so I normally put keep for 6 months on my jars. Now I just need to find away of getting the smell of vinegar out of the house, though on the plus side my sinuses are really clear now.

Christmas Shopping

Only 81 days to go

I am one of those people that adores Christmas, but I always do my best to buy, make and wrap everyone’s presents before the 1^st December so I can really enjoy the run up to the big day without having to fight my way through the boiling hot shops with everyone else.

I love taking time to find or make gifts for people that I know they will enjoy, rather than mad dashes around boots 3 for 2 on Christmas eve and getting things for the sake of getting them. Though no matter how organised I am buying for the men in my life is always a nightmare.

I have a spreadsheet so I can keep up with what I have got for who (it is also helpful for seeing if I keep getting the same people the same things every year) .

We have a Christmas savings account which we pay into monthly, so if I see any bargains during the year I can get them and squirrel them away in my present cupboard. Then whatever is left in the account come December usually covers the food and drink so we don't have such a tight month January. We have had a savings account for Christmas for 4 years now and it really takes the pressure off covering the cost of it all.

I am getting all excited about it now.