jam making Capture the flavours of summer with a batch of homemade jam. Once you’ve mastered the basic technique, you can swap the fruit to make all kinds of varieties. Use the same amount of blackberries or cherries as you would gooseberries, and the same method as below, or use 1kg (2Ib) stoned and quartered plums and boil for 6 minutes. G O O S E B E R RY JA M Makes 3 x 500g (1lb) jars Takes 45-50 mins, plus cooling Cost per serve 21p knob butter, for greasing 1kg (2lb) fresh gooseberries, topped and tailed 1kg (2lb) granulated sugar
1 Grease the base of a large, heavy based pan with butter. Put the gooseberries in the pan with 150ml (5fl oz) water. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the fruit is tender.
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cross stitching 2 Stir in the sugar. Continue cooking, over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes, or until the sugar has completely dissolved with no granules remaining. Bring the mixture back to the boil and cook rapidly for 7-8 minutes. 3 To test if your jam has reached setting point, spoon a little onto a fridge-chilled saucer and let it cool a little. Push the mixture with your finger – if the skin crinkles, it’s ready. If not, return the pan to the hob and boil for 2-3 minutes more, then test again. Repeat as necessary. 4 Spoon the mixture into 3 x 500g (1lb) sterilised jars (see top tip, below) and tighly seal with the lids. Leave to cool before labelling. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. Once opened, keep chilled and consume within 1 month. Each tbsp contains Energy
179kJ 42kcal 2%
Sugars
Salt
<1g <1g 11g 0% 1% 12%
Fat
0g 0%
Saturates
of the reference intake. See page 96. Carbohydrate 11g Protein <1g Fibre 0g
Top tip
To sterilise your jam jars and lids, wash in hot, soapy water and rinse. Dry in a low oven for 1 hour, then cool.
Just like knitting, embroidery is enjoying a new lease of life. Practise the three steps below to help you learn how to do a basic cross stitch, then download the template at tes.co/crossstitch to make the tree (p25) or ‘Home sweet home’ pattern (pictured right). You will need Cross-stitch fabric; a needle; scissors; embroidery yarn Step 1 Select a starting point on your embroidery fabric. Thread a needle with your chosen yarn and, starting at the bottom left corner of your first square, thread the yarn up, before taking it back through the top right corner of the square. Bring the needle back up through the bottom left-hand corner of the next square, directly beneath your last stitch, and then back through the top right. Continue to create a line of 3 forward slashes. Step 2 When you’ve sewn the right number of stitches, reverse the process to create a cross per square. Thread the yarn through from the back of the fabric to the front, starting at the bottom right and returning it back through the top left corner of each square. Step 3 To cast off, thread the needle through the last two stitches (so the yarn is on the reverse of the fabric) and cut off the overhang.
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