winter warmers

December, not only the holiday season month but the month of heavy, gray clouds just waiting to let out first snow flakes. Cold air is nipping the ears and fingers and the only way to enjoy winter is to keep yourself warm. Keep your hands and feet warm or in other words wool up all unhidden parts of the body. On cold nights stay indoors and have indoor affairs with food, the food that will not only keep your body warm but will also keep your senses stimulated.

So, let winter be at your service!

Chilli jam

110g long fresh red chilli peppers (deseeded and cut into few pieces)

150 grams red peppers (cored, deseeded and cut into rough chunks)

200g gelling sugar (2:1)

5tbsp regular sugar

270ml apple vinegar

Put the peppers into a food processor and pulse until they are finely chopped. Heat them up together with the sugar and vinegar in a pan over a medium-high heat, bring to boil and let it boil for about 5-7 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and allow it to cool but just a bit (minute or two) and ladle the jam into cleaned jars. Seal tightly, turn the jars upside down and keep them like that for 10 minutes. Turn them ‘up’ and let cool completely.

I prefer eating this with hard cheese or thin slices of ham. But believe me, once you try this heavenly ‘Christmas’ treat you will have Christmas not only in December but all year round.