Christmas is coming!

I haven't posted in ages and thought best to make an effort at this time of the year especially now my sticks are resting until after the big day.

A cosy family Christmas is something I am eager to create for my little ones, as a child my mum was (and still is) a Christmas fanatic with every inch of the house decorated in tinsel, foil and artificial swags and trees. Christmas Eve was spent listening to Christmas records and watching Home Alone or National Lampoons Christmas Vacation followed by an evening watching Xmas specials and the long awaited opening of the Quality Street chocolate tin plus a nutcracker and a big bowl of Brazil nuts. Chaos always ensued the next day with a 5am wake up call for my parents from my brother and I followed by presents and photos, whilst my Mum started her slaving in the kitchen (from which were banned) followed by a visit from or to the Grandparents.  Decorations everywhere, cooked ham, turkey, veg and all the the trimmings we were certainly well fed and spoilt rotten with all the gifts we received.

In previous years I have made jams, sweets and biscuits as gifts and love researching recipes to use.
This year is no exception and I have started the Christmas gift cook-off with Chilli Jam!

If you would like to give this a try here is the recipe x

• 2/3  fresh red chilli peppers (deseeded and cut into pieces)

• 2/3 long sweet red peppers (cored, deseeded and cut pieces)

• 1 kilo jam sugar

• 600ml cider vinegar

Place the chopped peppers and the chillies into a blender and blitz until finely chopped (if you haven't got a blender attempt to chop them by hand as small as possible) place to one side and put the cider vinegar and jam sugar into a large saucepan on a low heat to dissolve the sugar (stir as little as you possibly can). Once dissolved turn up the heat and put the chilli and pepper mix into the pan. Heat to a rolling boil and time for 10minutes, do not be tempted to turn down the heat, stir the mix if it starts to boil over. Whilst this is bubbling place a ceramic plate into the fridge and leave. Once the 10mins is up remove the pan from the heat and collect the plate from the fridge. Using a spoon place some of the jam onto the plate and after 20 secs push it with a spoon. If the Jam stays put and doesn't ooze back across the plate then it is perfect if not then pop the pan back on the heat and attempt another 10minute boil, repeating the plate test after the mixture has finished boiling. 

This will make approx 250ml of jam so make sure you have 3/4 small jam jars handy (washed and sterilised in boiling water) after cooling for approx 45 mins spoon into jars and seal. 

Et Voila!

x