• Heat oven to 280F / 160C fan/gas 1.
• Wash the jars in hot, soapy water, then rinse well.
• Place the jars on a baking sheet and put them in the oven to dry completely.
• If using Kilner jars, boil the rubber seals, as dry heat damages them.

You can also sterilise in the microwave.

• Wash the jars thoroughly
• Pre-heat the oven to 280 degrees Fahrenheit or 160 degrees Celsius
• Fill jars halfway with cold water. Put them in the microwave on high for around three minutes or until the water boils
• Place jars upside-down in the oven.

Spoon your mixture into the hot jars and pack down well to remove any air bubbles. If you’ve made jam or chutney it’s important that mix is still hot when filling the jars.

Pour a teaspoon or two of vodka directly over the surface to create a seal, then add the lid. Don’t let the vodka left in the bottle go to waste, I’m sure you can find a few ways to give yourself a drop or three.

Label, and add pretty fabric tops and ribbons if you’re giving as gifts.

Basic Cooking Tips

• Take the time to actually read recipes through before you begin
• If you’re cooking for guests never try a new recipe and a new ingredient at the same time
• Cook pasta 1 minute less than the package instructions and cook it the rest of the way in the pan with sauce
• Instead of placing a chicken on a roasting rack, cut thick slices of onion, put them in an oiled pan, then place the chicken on top. The onion will absorb the chicken juices. After roasting, let the chicken rest while you make a sauce with the onions by adding a little stock or water to the pan and cooking it for about 3 minutes on high heat.

Kitchen

• Half a lemon stored in your fridge controls and eliminates unpleasant smells
• When cleaning your kitchen, start on the right hand side of your stove and move around clockwise. Your stove is usually the grubbiest part, so ending with it keeps you from spreading dirt and grease
• In the kitchen clean top to bottom. Wipe down appliances and benchtops then sweep. Always wash the floor last as you back out of the room
• Boil lemon slices in water for 15 minutes to fill the kitchen with a fresh aroma

Bathroom

• To clean the toilet. Pour 150ml of white vinegar into the bowl, leave for five minutes, then flush
• Clean mirrors with vinegar and newspaper to dry streak free without fuzzy residue
• To clean glass shower doors, rub a teaspoon of lemon oil on them twice a month. This makes water bead up and roll off

General House

• Do a 5-minute sweep through each room, taking a laundry basket with you. Place in it anything that doesn’t belong in that room, then put that stuff where it belongs