In the busyness of the world today a lot of food preparation can easily become a means to an end. You rush to get a meal on the table to fuel your body, just to get back on that rollercoaster again. But, preserves can make a meal more inviting and special by adding just a little bit of something extra. There are many opportunities for you to get creative with making, customizing, using and sharing your homemade creations.
From using cubes of frozen pesto to make a quick and tasty pasta dish, or a disc of herb butter on a steak, to drizzling some runny jam over a plain ice cream a meal is taken from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Preserves can be easy to make, just asking you to express your creativity in so many ways with the aim of making your life a bit better.
Get creative with ingredients
- Check your local farmer’s market or roadside stand for in-season fruits and vegetables. They’ll often have great deals on produce that’s about to go bad.
- Visit pick-your-own farms for fruits and vegetables that you can’t find at the grocery store.
- Forage for berries, fruits, and nuts in your own backyard or a nearby park.
- Ask neighbours and friends who may have unused fruits growing in their gardens – in exchange for a bottle of your delicious preserves of course!
- Grow your own fruits and vegetables. If you don’t have the space for a garden, try growing herbs or tomatoes in pots on your balcony or windowsill.
Start to be creative by customizing your preserves
- Add unique spices or herbs to the mix for a flavour that is all your own.
- Use fruit or vegetables that are in season or local to where you live for a truly special preserve that you cannot buy in the supermarket.
- Get creative with the shapes and sizes of your preserves by using different shapes of jars and bottles.
- Play around with different sugars or vinegar to find a combination that is perfect for you.
- Add some of your favourite alcohol to your preserves for an extra special treat. Cheers!
How to get creative when using preserves
- Get preserve-y with your breakfast routine by slathering some jam on your toast or stirring through your oatmeal.
- Add a spoonful of chutney to your lunchtime sandwich for a zesty twist.
- Stir preserves into yoghurt for a sweet and nutritious snack.
- Use preserves as a sweetener in smoothies, pancakes, and other recipes.
- Make a simple vinaigrette by mixing olive oil, vinegar, and your favourite preserve.
- Turn the volume up on a cheese plate by pairing various kinds of cheese with complementary preserves.
- Serve preserves alongside grilled meats or vegetables for a delicious summertime meal.
Express your creativity through decorations
- Get glass jars and bottles in different sizes and shapes to fit your needs.
- Choose colourful or patterned tape to add some flair to your packaging.
- Use pretty ribbon, twine, or yarn to add a personal touch.
- Grab some cellophane bags and fill them with your homemade goodies.
- Place your treats in cute tins, baskets, or boxes.
- Decorate recycled jars with fabric, ribbon, or stickers.
- Attach printed-out recipe cards and messages to the jars and bottles.
There are many ways to be creative with your preserves. You can buy, make, use and package them in a variety of ways. By being creative, you can turn a simple preserve into a work of art and a life-enhancing experience.
Come on, give it a go – you know you want to!