It's been a long time since I've updated this blog.....I've still been preserving, just not shouting about it as much!
The marmalades are just about sold out, and we're onto early summer fruits and vegetables. Thanks to Ruth and Laura, who both donated some rhubarb so that I could make some Spring rhubarb relish! There doesn't seem to have been as much rhubarb around as last year (our rhubarb patch is looking a bit sorry for itself this year!) but I do have a handful of jars of rhubarb relish for sale. This relish was popular last year, especially with people who don't like onions, as it is onion-free!Rectory Farm has been my source of strawberries and beetroot again this year. 
The strawberries I used were 'Sonata' a mid-season variety, which were very tasty (well, obviously I had to check to make sure that they tasted good enough to make jam with!).There's something quite satisfying about walking up and down the rows of beetroot at Rectory Farm, choosing which ones you like and pulling them out of the ground! My beetroot relish was made with fresh beetroot that I harvested the same day (can't get much fresher than that!) and is made to a recipe that my grandma gave me. It's lovely with cheeses or cold meats and again was popular last year, with reports of people even eating it straight from the jar (Good grief!). Some people even told me that they don't usually like beetroot, but were converted to die hard beetroot eaters after trying some of this relish.
Prices for the jars are £2.20 per jar, or two for £4.00. I should be able to maintain these prices, if everyone continues to return their empty jars to me. (and thank you to those who have been doing so!) This means my costs are reduced, you receive 20p off your next purchase for each jar returned and we all have a warm feeling inside as we're doing our bit towards re-using and recycling. Everyone's a winner!
