Spiced Damson Chutney

Preparation time 20 minutes, cooking time 1 hour

Makes 4 jars

Chutney makes a delicious and cheap gift. Make this chutney now, and it will be ready to give as Christmas presents to your friends, neighbours and family. It is delicious with cheese and pate. Make sure that you have a jar set aside for your boxing day lunch! Stoning the damsons takes a fair amount of time but the end result is worth it.

2lb/900grams damsons, stones removed

2lb/900grams cooking apples, peeled, cored and roughly chopped

Juice of 1 lemon

3 cloves of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

2 large onions, peeled and finely chopped

500ml white wine vinegar

1 tsp allspice

3 star anise

2 cinnamon sticks

1 tbsp salt

200grams raisins

7oz dark brown sugar

7oz caster sugar

Place all the ingredients in a large saucepan or a jam pan and simmer over a gentle heat for an hour until the mixture is thick and the apples have cooked down. Pour into sterilised jars and seal. Leave the chutney in a cool cupboard for at least a month. The flavours will develop with time and the chutney will keep for a year. Once opened, store the jar in the fridge.