Pantry hero: sweet chilli jam

#Eat Plentiful 60

We might just have to accept that these will be sporadic newsletters…It’s completely against what everyone says you should do: stick to frequency, the more often the better…but I am just struggling sticking to a strict newsletter routie., there’s a lot going on.

I’ve been so enthralled by work, that almost everything else has taken a back seat. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I am doing exactly what I should be doing. I am growing, working with passionate people and enjoying the pressure that comes with the job. Hospitality is what I love - it’s very clear in my mind: be it the food, the service, creating the concept.

A colleague sent me a quote recently from Simon Sinek;

‘ Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress…working hard for something we love is called passion’.

So bearing that in mind, I must admit I am not cooking dinners every nights like I used to, I often run through the door 5 mins before we are due to sit down together. Ash has kindly taken the dinner responsibility on. When I am home, I usually have very little time prepare something, so the meals have been simple, still home cooked though. A few weekends ago, everyone was a bit ill so we had one of our rare weekends staying in the city and spending time at home. Being in my kitchen is still and always will be, one of my happy places. I spent the morning at the market, and the next 2 days cooking. I made Chili jam for the first time, a Mellor family favourite. My grandfather, aunts and uncles have made it for years, and I can guarantee you that every member of my family has a jar in their pantry.

Sweet Chilli Jam

This jam is a true pantry hero, and one I definitely can’t live without now that I’ve made it. Homemade will always taste better than store-bought. This is an easy recipe, just needs a bit of patience.

Ingredients

• 2 red onions, roughly chopped

• 400g cherry tomatoes, halved

• 400g tomatoes, roughly chopped

• 3 large mild red chillies deseeded, finely chopped

• Thumb size piece of ginger, grated

• 250ml of wine vinegar

• 300g light brown sugar

• 6 tsp fish sauce

Method

1. Make sure your 4x jars are nice and clean.

2. Heat the red onion and chopped tomatoes in a heavy-based saucepan over a low heat.

3. Add the chillies, ginger, vinegar and sugar. Bring the mixture to the boil, then simmer for about 45mins-1 hour, or until very thick. You need to be able to draw a wooden spoon across the pan without its path filling directly with liquid.

4. Add the fish sauce and cook for 2-3 more minutes. Taste and add anything you find might be missing (chillies if you like it hot…) then spoon into the jars.

I made a 500ml jar and have almost finished it. It’s like grown up ketchup but 10 times better. Cold roast chicken, any type of cheese, sandwiches, you name it…it will work perfectly.

Maybe this Christmas don’t waste money on gifts and make some chilli jam for everyone.

What I’ve loved recently

• Will Guidara’s book ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’, I devoured it over 3 days when I was travelling to Paris last week. He is definitely one of the greatest restauranteurs of our time. I’m not sure I agree with everything in the book but I was so inspired by his passion. A must read for anyone remotely interested in what great hospitality is (it doesnt stop at hotels and restaurants).

• Parisian bistros in general. I was home recently and went to a classic bistro with my friends, its had been a while. I had forgotten how much I love a classic bistro. Bone marrow on sourdough, garlicky snails, celery remoulade and steak tartare, what else do you need. I sat with some of my favourite people, drank a bottle of burgundy and smoked half a packet of cigarette, the perfect Parisian evening.

• Lisbon. I know I bang on about this constantly but it's December and I still have not worn a jacket, I spend most of my Saturdays surfing at the beach and I am still have lunches in the sun. I had a beautiful lunch at my friends’ Italian restaurant this week in Cascais, Corleone. We sat on the terrace in the sun, facing the sea, both in our t-shirts. If you’re in Cascais, treat yourself to lunch there.

Until next time x