Sun Dried Tomato Pesto

8 oz sun dried tomato in oil and a good splosh of the tomato oil

2 cloves garlic

30 or so basil leaves

1 or 2 chili pepper/s (optional and to taste)

Method

Pop the lot in the blender and wiz

'bloomin' marvelous sauce keeps for ages in a jar in the fridge and very versatile.. it's excellent with pasta, just dilute with a little of the pasta cooking water and add some parmesan cheese.. I spread it as a base on homemade pizza, use on crostini with a slice of cheese and lightly toasted or just spread on bread.. go for it

Blackberry vinegar

I know the idea of a sweet fruit vinegar sound a little strange but once you have tried it neat over pancakes or diluted with hot water as a comforting drink during the winter months you will never want to be without it. Blackberry vinegar is full of vitamin C and so will help combat colds and chills. Why ever this product is not available in the shops is a mystery to me.

You will need

Blackberries (see the picture)
White wine or cider vinegar (enough to cover the blackberries)
Sugar

Method
1. Cover the blackberries with the vinegar in a large bowl. Cover and stand for three or four days
2. Strain the vinegar through a sieve and squeeze the blackberries to remove all the lovely juice
3. Measure the liquid into a large pan and for every pint of infused vinegar add a pound of sugar
4. Bring the liquid to the boil and simmer for 3 or 4 mins
5. Cool slightly and store in clean bottles
6. Can be used straight away but will keep for the whole year

This wonderful vinegar can also be made with raspberries instead of blackberries.