CHESHIRE CHEESE SAUSAGES WITH DAMSON CHUTNEY

Summer having arrived at last with hours of bright sunshine has caused the damsons to ripen fast and now the race is on to get them picked and preserved before they become over ripe and lose their pectin ,or  are eaten by wasps and our large population of wild parakeets! The following recipes are old ones but they are a firm favourite with us.
Vary the type of cheese to suit your own taste of course ,although i do find that melting cheeses such as Cheddar make the cooking a little difficult, cheeses which crumble are best.



DAMSON CHUTNEY

4lb damsons stoned (Ghastly job but worth the trouble)

6 oz dried fruit

1 tablespoon of pickling spice

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of ground ginger

half a pint of vinegar

1lb Demerara sugar.

Simmer the damsons and dried fruit,pickling spice (tied in a small muslin bag),salt and ground ginger in a heavy bottomed pan with just enough of the vinegar to prevent the mixture from burning.

Cook gently until the fruit is soft,stirring occasionally.

Add the remaining vinegar and sugar stirring until the sugar has dissolved.

Boil the mixture until it is thick then remove the spice bag and disguard.

Pour in to clean hot jars and seal.

This chutney may be eaten at once.

While the weather remains hot we often find that we do not care for meat dishes ,the following recipe is an old one and one of our favourites.

CHESHIRE CHEESE SAUSAGES

5 oz fresh bread crumbs

1 medium onion finely chopped

3 oz Cheshire cheese crumbled.

1 tablespoon of fresh parsley,or tarragon chopped

quarter teaspoon of dry mustard

3 eggs

flour

extra bread crumbs for coating

fat for frying (I use dripping but vegetable fat will do.

Mix together the breadcrumbs,onion,tarragon,cheese ,seasoning and mustard.

Beat together two eggs and one yolk bad add to the mixture to bind it, if the mixture is still too dry add a little milk

Divide in to 12 sausage shapes and roll in the flour

Beat the remaining egg and white until frothy, brush over the sausages and then roll in the bread crumbs. Chill for 30 minutes then fry until golden brown.

Serve with the chutney and a mixed salad
If are careful to buy the right cheese this makes a great meal for vegetarians .

Our new neighbours have moved in and on first impression they seem very nice.
My little cat is ignoring me at the moment,on Friday I treated her for fleas,a thing she detests,she has not spoken to me since. All blandishments having failed I shall have to endure Her Majesties huff until further notice.