THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
Chutneys and pickles are an essential part of holiday food - to gussie up leftovers and make memorable sandwiches - and jams and preserves are vital for breakfast but also as an ingredient for bigger dishes.
Trouble is, no matter how much most claim to taste 'like Grandma used to make' most of them are more like 'what the factory churned out'. So I was knocked out by the genuine home-made taste of Cottage Delight's Perfect Party Pickle - it lived up to the billing, packed with fruit and spices and ideal with ham, cheddar cheese and crusty bread.
Then there's Winter Warming Marmalade. As an inveterate marmalade devourer (yes, like Queen Elizabeth and Paddington Bear) my taste is usually for the thick cut, dark, bitter kind. But my head was turned by this thin cut, orange and lemon, acacia honey and demerara sugar version. The 'warming'? That'll be the 5% Scotch whisky!
Cottage Delight have been doing this kind of thing for over 40 years. It's all made in small batches with no artificial additives and 'tended by hand.' Their Christmas range also boasts Magical Mulled Wine Jam and Luxury Tipsy Mincemeat, individually or in gift boxes and hampers. The website has some great recipe ideas too - how about Turkey & Cranberry Wellington followed by Pear & Mincemeat Crumble Cake?
Prices start at £2.39.
