Handmade Holidays: Festive Chutney

It’s almost a given – after the holiday festivities come the holiday leftovers. Whilst it might be tempting to get rid of all the excess before the New Year, we recommend giving your leftovers a makeover instead! Besides helping you not be wasteful, these three crafty how-to’s will save you a bundle during the holidays.

Let’s be honest, it’s been great cooking with all of those festive spices and treats. The sugar, the dried fruit, ginger, nutmeg. These are the fragrant memories of the holiday season. Now, what do you do with all of that leftover fruit (and why can’t they just sell it in smaller portion sizes!)?

Don’t throw it all away just yet – we’ve got a few perfect little things you can create to stretch that holiday cheer out.

Festive Chutney

A perfect (late) gift idea, or something to bring along to your early year get-togethers – plus, store it in a crafty, well-decorated jar and it becomes a pretty addition to any cupboard.

What you’ll need

• 3 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
• 3 firm pears, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 large onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup dried mixed fruit
• 1/2 cup fresh ginger, finely chopped
• Juice of 2 oranges
• Zest of 2 oranges
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 400ml malt vinegar
• 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar

How to make it

• Combine all ingredients, except the granulated sugar, into a saucepan and mix well
• Bring to a boil
• Add in the granulated sugar
• Let it simmer for 30-45min, until cooked
• Remove the cinnamon stick – and you’re done!

Enjoy!

Whether it’s just the perfect way to use up those spices and extend the holidays just a tiny bit longer, a late gift, or just something to bring to summer BBQs – it’s guaranteed to be enjoyed.

If it’s more than a bit of dried fruit and spices you’re trying to re-use, we’ve got a few other crafty ways to use up leftovers. Leftover Ham and Pineapple Piesand Leftover Wrapping Paper 3 Ways.