susie_flo | Look at the jars, look at the jars, look at the things inside the jars!

I suspect G will be the only person who gets this blog title, but never mind that. I want to show you my jars, because I filled five of them with chilli jelly this afternoon...

...made from jam sugar, cider vinegar and these:

I used Nigella's recipe for Chilli Jelly which can be found here... http://www.nigella.com/recipe/recipe_detail.aspx?rid=20158.

In typical Nigella style, it's a cheat's sort of jam, requiring very little effort and with no particular clarity as to temperatures or results. (I usually attempt her recipes with a feeling of trepidation, as they seem to have about a 50% hit rate in terms of whether they actually work).

I'm reasonably happy with the results this time, though not sure it really qualifies as a jelly. It's more like a gelled sauce - thicker than sweet chilli sauce, but runnier than a jelly. It tastes fab though. Sweet, and with just the right amount of heat to make you go "ooh" a few seconds after eating it.

It's designed to be served with cold meats or cheese platters, but I suspect I will also slop it all over roast salmon and use it in sandwiches. There are few things that do not taste nicer when smothered in sweet chilli.

Oh, and seeing as I am blitering about jam, I shall use it as a lame excuse to link to my favourite jam-related comedy ever... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G07sWzYObnk

In other news, G has decided it's time to train me up in the phenomenen that is Star Wars. Despite being a fan of skiffy generally, I have never felt inspired to watch the Star Wars films... apart from the utter toss that was The Phantom Menace. (People having fights in space has never been my favourite genre of the skiffy world). But tonight we watched The Empire Strkes Back, made in the time when Harrison Ford was hot hot hot. Have to confess it surprised me. Some of the scenes were quite shocking ...and you can really see the influence it has had on what came later. I might stop after the next one though.

So... fiends, it is technically christmas eve! Are we all excited?