Some time ago when in Manchester I was tempted into buying a large box of fresh mangoes. I paid  just £3 for a beautifully packaged box of seven small ripe mangoes, complete with tissue paper wrapping and tinsel decoration. When I got home I froze them planning to make mango chutney.

These ideas for packaging jam and other preserves would be great for gifts, they use vintage jars with labels using a simple font.
Vintage jars can be picked up in charity shops and flea markets, just make sure to carefully clean and steralise them before using.

February is the time of the year to make marmalade as the new season of citrus fruit is in the shops. As well as using the traditional Seville oranges, marmalade can be made with limes, grapefruit or lemons, or any combination of the above.

I've been inspired to make a Chutney for next Christmas, having been given several jars of 'Christmas Chutney' this year. While in some respects obviously a marketing ploy, it got me thinking about what sort of chutney would have the required festive feel.

Preserved lemons are traditionally used in North African cuisine, but are a useful ingredient to have in the fridge and can add a citrus kick to many other recipes. They are very easy to make, see here for a blog post about making preserved lemons.

Preserved lemons are a common ingredient in North African, and  especially Moroccan, cuisine. You can actually use them in many dishes - anywhere that would benefit from a bit of citrus flavour.  I've put together some ideas in this blog post about what to do with preserved lemons.

While making vegetarian mincemeat I found myself short of some mixed spice, so set about making some more from spices I had in stock. 

Do you need ideas for a tricky to buy for preserving person, or just want to treat yourself? Maybe you'll be inspired by the list below:

Preserving Pan
An absolute essential, and ideal if you need a gift for someone who has been struggling along making preserves in a normal size saucepan. Quite a pricey gift, but a good preserving pan will last a lifetime.

Mincemeat dates from the 15th Century, when it actually contained meat and was more of a savory pie filling. Over time the meat was replaced by animal fat (in the form of suet) and the mixture sweetened by the addition of sugar, making it more of a pudding dish.

Le Parfait jars are great for using when preserving, as their rubber seal and clip mechanism ensure a perfect airtight seal. They can often be picked up cheaply second hand and with a bit of cleaning and reconditioning come up as good as new.