Made the chutney today with the same spices as in the pear & orange chutney, used up some chunky apple sauce that I'd bottled, but it had separated, so a good use up of two 'not so good' recipes. Added a few dates and other bits and pieces I had lying around and it's brill, but just don't ask for the recipe as I don't think I could replicate it. As for the pear & orange. Not got a printed copy, so here goes.

1.5kg pears, peeled, cored and chopped

1 pt malt vinegar

.5kg cooking apples, peeled, cored & chopped

450g dark molasses sugar

450g raisins

2 oranges, zest grated and juice

1 tsp each of ground cloves, ground ginger, ground allspice and ground cinnamon.

put everything in large pan, bring to boil, simmer for 1 hr or until ready.

pretty simple eh - and it really is like christmas in a jar.

Sorry BS, never tried adding nuts to the chutneys, but I imagine they would soften slightly, but still add texture, a bit like walnuts or pecans do in a cake recipe - especially if you put them in towards the end of the cooking time

not looked at that recipe before BS, but then I haven't got a mincer, and by the sound of the comments, you need one. Always on the look out for things like that at local car boot sales and the like...could do with a new spice/coffee grinder.

ah, never thought of that, might give it a go later in the year then, when the apples are ready