A Winters Tale: Autumn's 'Mellow Fruitfulness' Preserved.

Why preserve? Because it's easy; (Cucumber relish below requires no cooking at all) because it gets rid of all those wine bottles, jam, coffee and vinegar jars you've got hanging around; because it gives you inexpensive nutritious and delicious summer fruits and vegetables in the depths of winter; because you know the quality of your preserves is guaranteed, without added "things" such as colouring and emulsifyer; and because you've done it yourself it's a satisfying and creative experience. These recipes don't require specialised equipment such as water baths, usually associated with preserving; or such things as special jars, screw bands, and lids. Use your empties and their lids with the cardboard inside removed.

Plastic film goes over the jars when they are full and cold and then their own lids, tightly. Use wine bottles for sauces.

All jars and bottles must be very clean: wash them out with hot water, then sterilise by placing in oven at 250 degrees F, Gas Mark 2, for30minutes.

Cucumber Relish (no Cooking) — for Cold Meat, Crackers and Bread.

• 1 ½ lbs cucumber
• 1 lb onions
• 1 lb apples
• ½ lb sugar
• 2 oz salt
• 1 oz ground ginger
• ½ tsp cayenne
• 1 pint vinegar

Grate all vegetables or put through mincer. Drain off any liquid. Add vinegar and remaining ingredients. Let stand for 24 hours. Bottle.

This is a thin chutney, without a thick sauce. If too thin, drain off some of the liquid.

Tomato and Green Pepper Chutney

• 4 lbs tomatoes
• 1 lb onions
• 2 lbs green peppers
• 2 lbs sugar
• 3 level tbsp salt
• 4 cups vinegar

Peel and chop onions very finely, orgrate. Cut peppers in half, remove white ribs and seeds. Chop very finely. Place tomatoes first in hot water, then in cold water. (Skins will burst and peel off easily.) Cut into small pieces. Add to onions and peppers, sprinkle with salt. Stand for ten minutes. Add vinegar. Bring to boil in large saucepan, and boil Gently on low heat heat for half an hour.

Then stir in sugar. Boil hard on higher heat until mixture thickens approx. 1 ¼ hours. Stir frequently. Seal when cold in jars.