Hold those thoughts …

… the first of the short cuts.

I am happy to report that these days you don't have to go through the palaver of adding pickling spice to infuse in vinegar – you can buy ready spiced pickling vinegar and it's a great product.

Try making up a batch of the sweetened vinegar :

225g/8oz demerara sugar

600ml/1 pint malt vinegar

15g/½oz pickling spice

or 1 pint of ready spiced pickling vinegar

Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar over a low heat, bring slowly to the boil and boil for a few seconds.

Leave to cool and then bottle in jars that have been sterilised - I use the dishwasher.

Check out these photos :

Nice colour don't you think?

Way back when … and the second short cut coming next.