This week has been all about comfort food. The foods I find most comforting are those with smells and tastes that remind me of my childhood or those that evoke fond memories from holidays. When we were kids our grandmother used to make tomato jam and even though I hated tomoatoes, I loved her jam! And a few years ago (actually quite a few years ago!) I went to Canada for a holiday. It was winter and the scent of cinnamon and apples was everywhere and in everything. Since that holiday I have been obsessed with cinnamon! So the next 2 recipes are for Tomato Jam and Pear and Ginger Muffins (which have cinnamon in them - I'm also a big fan of ginger!)

This recipe comes courtesy of my good friend Maree.

Tomato Jam

1kg tomatoes
1½kg sugar
juice of 1½ lemons
Method:Chop the tomatoes: you can skin them first if you like, but the skin 'candies' in the mixture, and adds interest and flavour to the jam.Add the lemon juice and bring to the boil.Add the sugar and stir till dissolved.Boil fast till setting point is reached.

:

Ginger Pear Muffins

2 cups SR flour

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

2 tsps ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon

pinch each of ground nutmet, ground cloves

1 cup natural yoghurt

1/2 cup oil

3 tblsp golden syrup

1 egg, beaten

1 1/2 cups diced pears

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

In a large bowl mix together flour, brown sugar and spices.

In a separate bowl mix together yoghurt, oil, syrup and egg.

Make a well in the centre of dry ingredients and add yoghurt misture. Stir to combine then fold in pears and walnuts.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin pans and bake at 180C for 20 minutes. Serve warm with butter.

OR

Top with ginger icing made from 1 1/2 cups icing sugar, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tbsp butter and boiling water to mix.