Who is Auntie Val?
Auntie Val made Jams and Chutneys for Billingshurst WI market having learnt her trade from her Grandmother; after the market closed down, demand continued to grow, today her delectable selection of preserves are in demand from purveyors of fine food both in the UK and abroad.
For Many years Auntie Val worked as a highly qualified professional carer for people with disabilities in both the public and private sectors, therefore it is not surprising that the production of Auntie Val’s is given over to the training and social programs of what has become Auntie Val’s Ability Centre where every aspect of production from the specially designed kitchens through to the labelling, warehousing, distribution and offices has been designed to help people with physical or mental disabilities.
Full training is available with qualifications for those completing various courses.
Auntie Val’s manufactures collections of Award-Winning marmalade, jams, chutneys etc., the Downsman brand of preserves, as well as producing products for a growing number of other companies under their own label.
Auntie Vals Recipes
Apple & Marmalade Cake Recipe made with Auntie Val’s English Breakfast Marmalade
Ingredients 250g wholemeal flour 1/2 tsp mixed spice 200g Peeled cooking apples 100g Sultanas or raisins 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp baking powder 220g unsalted butter 210g light muscovado sugar 125g Auntie Val's English Breakfast marmalade 4 eggs Method 1. Preheat...
Cheese & Chutney Muffins
Makes 16 Ingredients: 250 – 300g Self Raising Flour 1 Pinch of Salt 4oz Butter or Margarine 5.5oz of Grated Cheese 3 eggs Beaten 150ml Milk 1 pot of Auntie Val’s Chutney of your choice Method Measure the Self Raising Flour, put into a mixing bowl Add the salt &...
Jammy Dodger Rock Cakes
Picture Pending as the first lot made were eaten YUM!! Ingredients: 225g self raising flour 1/2 tsp of cinnamon 100g butter 75g caster sugar, plus extra for dusting 75g mixed dried fruit 25g mixed peel 1 large egg, beaten a few drops of milk if needed Auntie Val's jam...
Auntie Val’s Baked Apple
Peel, core however many apples you want, Bramley Apple is best for this dish! Mix together a good spoonful of Auntie Val's Seriously Ginger Jam and some sultanas ( depends on the size of your apple ) either wrap around some short crust pastry or just wrap in foil !...
Lemon Marmalade or Rhubarb and Ginger Shortbread or with any of Auntie Val’s Jams and Marmalades
Gently melt the butter/Marg. in a Large Saucepan. Remove from the heat. Using a wooden spoon, beat in all the other ingredients, including a good spoonful of Auntie Val's Jams or Marmalades! This will make a smooth moist dough! Using a spatula, evenly spread the dough...
Auntie Val’s Marmalade Tart
INGREDIENTS Tart 4 oz – 125g Self Raising Flour 2 oz – 30g Butter or Margarine 1 Tablespoon of cold Water Pinch of salt. Make Pastry in the usual way and put into a greased 7” flan tin.. Filling Cream together the butter and sugar gradually mix in the beaten egg, stir...
Auntie Val’s Marmalade and Pecan Muffins
You can use any flavour of Auntie Val’s Marmalades and if you have a NUT ALLERGY just leave out the nuts. Grease a 12 hole 80ml Capacity Muffin Pan Put flour into a large bowl, rub in the butter. Stir in the nuts, sugar, then Auntie Val’s Marmalade, eggs and milk,...
Auntie Vals Hints and Tips
Tackling too much salt
If after making soup or stew and you find you have put too much salt, put some slices of peeled raw potato into the pot. This will take away much of the salty taste! Don't serve up the raw potato though!
Brussels Sprouts
This is one of my favourites, Brussels Sprouts! What a fad to peel and put crosses on their bottoms ,all I do is take the outside leaves off and cut them in halve lengthways ,this shortens the cooking time (if you or a member of the family don't like the taste of...
Parsnip cores
When preparing veg. If you are in the habit of taking the hard core from the inside of a Parsnip, don't bother! After peeling the parsnip and cutting in halve lengthways score the hard centre two or three times with the point of a sharp knife and cook as normal ,I...
Share the costs
If there is special offers on fruit, ask a friend to go shopping with you, you can pay half each and have plenty of fresh fruit!
A quick and easy dip
Open a jar of Auntie Val's chutney, turn out into a small bowl, mash with a fork, till nice and smooth, you now have a quick and easy dip, Auntie Val's Marrow and Red Tomato with some Anchovies added is great!
Jam or Marmalade Sauce
If you have a jar of Auntie Val's Jam or Marmalade hiding in the back of the cupboard (although I can't understand, why this would happen) make a sauce by putting the jam or marmalade into a suitable container and microwave for a few seconds 30 seconds should be...
How to keep egg yolks
To keep a yolk of egg, after separating from the white (to make meringues etc) add to the yolk a few spoonfuls of water, this will keep the yolk for two or three days in the fridge.