Jams and Chutneys, Preserving the Harvest, Thane Prince

I've been waiting a long time for this book. Thane Prince's Book of Jams and Chutneys is the best book on home preserving to be published in a long time.

Jams and Chutneys, Preserving the Harvest is a beautiful book to look at and to read and I challenge anyone to not be tempted into the kitchen with the 150 recipes and beautiful photography contained in its covers.

The book journeys through the seasons and covers berries, orchard fruits, citrus, even flowers, spices and herbs. It makes the best possible use of ingredients and ensures a pantry shelf stocked with delicious treats.

And it's not just jams and chutneys. There are recipes for vinegars, sauces, ketchups, jellies and relish.

For the novice and expert alike there are opening chapters on essential equipment, failsafe methods to ensure setting point, and even how to pot correctly to avoid mold and ensure the fruits are preserved.

This book is set (excuse the pun) to become a classic of its time, and if you only choose one book on preserving, this has to be the one.

Thane Prince is a well-known British food writer with a regular cookery column in the Daily Telegraph. She has made regular TV appearances and runs her own cookery school in Suffolk, England called the Aldeburgh Cookery School.