Now that we have been bitten by the ‘buying British bug’ one of the things that we will now never give up is our new found love of seasonal eating. However, the one issue with this life style choice is that once the cold weather starts to kick in the variety of produce available really dries up.
At this time of year our fruit selection becomes depressingly limited. Veg is mostly what I call ‘Stewables’, things like cabbages, potatoes, turnips. I like a good hearty slow cooked dumpling laced stew as much as the next girl but there is only some much of this you can take. Our fruit options are even worse – only apples and pears for 4 months!
Last year, being buying British novices, we struggled through on the limited fayre on offer. However, after a spring and summer spent preserving, jamming, picking and freezing we are unlikely to suffer the same fate again this year.
James’ damson jam gets spread on toast most mornings, we have strawberries and blackberries a-plenty in the freezer and a store of various other past seasonal delights resplendent in their multi-coloured jars in the pantry. All of these ingredients are just waiting to jazz up the staples currently on offer.
Not only have we found learning these new skills and techniques tremendous fun but we are now reaping the benefits and saving money too.
– Emily
Preserving really does make a big difference to your family diet. When I was first married my mil gave me an old housekeeping book that calculated out exactly how many kilos per person of each fruit and vegetable were recommended to be bottled ( the book was pre-freezer days) to get the household through the winter. Fascinating stuff, and of more use than I originally anticipated! Don’t forget that good jam is actually preserved fruit too. A good Queen of Puddings goes down a treat in our family. Another jam recipe is to stir a pot of strawberry jam into some plain stewed rhubarb. Adjust the sugar afterwards. Early rhubarb should be in the shops soon!
How about drying your own fruit and veg that will also keep you going throughout the winter. I believe that there are too many additives in today’s food. Supermarkets killed seasonal crops and led the way to the additives. I love cooking ‘old style’
I always used to struggle with severe tomato withdrawal symptoms in the winter until I discovered http://www.thetomatostall.co.uk/ They grow a specific variety for the winter that taste amazing and there preserved products are also superb.
These guys look fantastic. Going to get our order in.
I see that they are in the Isle of Wight.
A good few years back I went to a Garlic Festival in IOW. They produce several types of garlic which are very high quality – never see them in Sainsbury’s though.
We use IOW garlic all the time. Would love to go the the festival though!!!!
They’re fantastic, aren’t they? Required purchase from the Borough Market stall whenever I’m in London on the right day. It’s a habit formed when I was still living there. The mini plums are superb; I eat them almost as sweets.
seems strange to cannot me that I cannot leave a comment
You have!
you beat me to it! 😉
It astounds me how many people do not use their freezer for storing fresh items, rather they just fill it with awful mass produced prepared foods and ready meals. I wouldn’t be without mine!
Leeks are very easy to grow at home and are reasonably versatile in the kitchen, we are still digging them up from our garden, but they will start running to seed soon. I think you need to plant the seeds for next winter soon, perhaps in March.
When I was young and fit enough to manage a vegetable plot I would grow purple sprouting broccoli.
It takes up a bit of room but you sow it in March/April and pick it in Jan/Feb. It needs next to no attention once established and it’s cut and come again.
Ours always gets eaten by creepy crawlies so we are tempted to give up on Broccoli all together!