Home-grown, Hand-made, Vintage Christmas, Vol 2

We have decided here at Your Vintage Life to share you with you some of our Christmas ideas. They are all based around home-grown, hand-made and of course vintage.

There is nothing better than receiving a gift with has had lots of thought, time and oodles of love given into the idea. So, here are is what we will be doing this year.

Volume 2

Tomato and chilli jam

Our garden is full of tomato plants bursting with red fruit. We have grown cherries, plums and beef….and together they make a wonderful flavour. Most years we have grown them in the greenhouse, but since we have moved we have lost this space. So we grew them in the beds and they have been fantastic.

I love tomato and chilli jam…with cheese at Christmas especially. In fact, I make enough to last all year as it’s great added to pasta sauces and even spread on pizza! It makes the perfect gift…added with cheese and nibbles into the perfect fruity hamper.

So the recipe: Put a glug of olive oil into pan and add 2 teaspoons of mustard seeds. Add heat until they start popping. Then add 1.5kg of fresh tomatoes, 2 onions, 2-5 chillis (be careful how hot they are..I used only 1.5 as these ones are hot, hot, hot) and 1 tablespoon of mixed spice.

Then add 2 cups (500ml) of cheap malt vinegar and 1.5 cups (330 g) of brown sugar. I always cook in cups using my Tala measuring cone!

Bring this to the boil and then simmer for about 2-3 hours. Stir throughout. Easy peasy!

Add to sterilised jars, add a label and store until December! They should last 6 months..mine last year lasted longer.

Pour the hot jam into the jars, tighten lids immediately and turn upside down for 2 mins. Then they are ready to be decorated!

Now I’m not totally into the gingham topper, so this year I’m using bits of old lace linen we have had for a while. Tie with string or ribbon…perfect!

Make a gift in a vintage basket or hamper, adding some vintage side plates. Mix and match different colours and patterns, or add a set…whatever you choose make sure there’s enough for the whole family who are receiving the gift to eat their cheese and jam from!

Or why not add to a vintage bread bin instead of a hamper…this way they get a wonderful gift as well as the yummy food! Wine is a perfect addition too.

I know a great website which sells an empty hamper or basket along with cellophane and bow if you don’t have a vintage one spare! Check out Your Gift Basket