Since mentioning Gerald’s Green Tomato Jam very briefly last week, and despite sharing his recipe for several years, I have had a few ‘new’ requests for it. It is, by Gerald’s admission, a fusion of several recipes and, as the name suggests, is much more of a jam than the more familiar green tomato chutney. It is delicious and has, over the years, gained quite a following. As always, the recipe below is exactly as I received it from Gerald and, as he concludes, it is indeed ‘easy peasy!’.

Green Tomato Jam (Recipe culled from several; seems to work.)

Ingredients:

1kg green tomatoes, cored and sliced (2-3mm) with seeds

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

600g jam sugar or ordinary granulated sugar (I usually use ordinary)

20 g candied peel

Crystalised ginger

Put tomatoes, lemon zest and juice, and sugar in a large pan. Cover and leave overnight at room temperature. You’ll find it produces a lot of liquid.

Bring to a “rolling” boil, stirring frequently. Takes about 45-60 minutes: goes transparent green>amber, and bubbles “crack”.

When ready, add candied peel and/or crystalised ginger (I happened to have some CG, so just cut a few cubes into bits and added – lovely subtle gingeryness!)

Jar up. I always put lids on while jam still hot – gives vacuum seal and no mould, however long you keep them (not long, we find!) Many jam recipes advise letting it cool before lidding, but never say why. Doing so, we’ve often found mould on surface of jam after storage.

!! EASY PEASY !!

As we are in the wake of the Abergavenny Food Festival, it seems apt that I mention that I am also using the fruits of the stunning Himalayan Dogwood to make jam this year. You can eat them straight from the tree too, but please make sure you are confident with your identification skills.

And as a proud Ambassador for World Animal Day, I am giving you a bit of notice for this year’s occasion on the 4th October – and there is still time to organise your own event and promote it on their website www.worldanimalday.org The list of deserving animal charities is endless, as is the type of event you could organise – at work, school or even just on social media.

Sadly there won’t be an Animal Blessing at St Michael’s Church in Llanvihangel Crucorney in October this year as the Vicar is on holiday, but one may be arranged for later in the year or earlier next year – I will let you know – and if there is anything else being held locally, if I can find out.

The 4th of October is chosen annually for World Animal Day to mark the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Catholic patron saint of animals and ecology. So the purpose (or porpoise) of WAD is to raise the status of animals and improve welfare standards. If you are unable to organise or host an event, you could still help to make a difference by donating funds or items to a shelter or sanctuary – like the Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary, for which I am also a proud Patron. www.ape-monkey-rescue.org.uk

Amid the political donations hoo-ha, I was uplifted to read that last year, the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon received more in donations than every major political party combined. It’s unlikely to be the case this year and I’m sorry that I can only name a couple of these fabulous places already helping our beloved animals. Sadly, there is no shortage of deserving causes, so please make a difference if you can. Thank you.