Five savvy ways to make your own delicious jam at home
But you can create jam or spread at home for a fraction of that royally high price.
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Here's how to do it . . .
PACK IT IN: Firstly, get your jars ready.
A pack of six jars on Amazon.co.uk costs £11.99, but save any pasta sauce jars and you won't need to spend.
Give your recycled jars a wash in hot soapy water before rinsing and leaving to dry.
DIY: All you need to make your own apricot-style jam is fresh apricots, £1.69, lemons, 89p, and sugar, £1.75, all Lidl.
Pit and crush the apricots and heat in a pan with the juice of one lemon.
Add around 400g of sugar and bring the heat up until the sugar all dissolves.
Leave on a low heat and stir for 25 minutes.
Once it's thickened, add to jars.
SETTING SECRETS: No sugar in the cupboard?
How to make fluffy scones in the slow cooker during lockdown
A cheap way to add sweetness is to grate half a cooking apple into your apricot mixture.
Pick one up for around 63p at Tesco.
You can also do this if you're making jam with strawberries or blueberries.
BUDGET TIP: If you're not up to whipping up your own version of apricot spread, you could cheat.
Get a tin of apricot halves in syrup or fruit juice, £1.10, at Sainsbury's, and mash, before spreading on toast.
All the flavour for a bargain price.
MAKE A BATCH: This is where the savings kick in.
Skip apricots and use frozen fruit like Morrisons Wonky Berry mix, £2.99 for 1kg.
Add approximately 600g of sugar and juice of two lemons.
LABEL OF LOVE: Make like Meghan and give your jam a touch of luxury with handwritten labels cut from brown paper and tie on to your jar lids with string.
Instead of HRH, you could write 'MHJ' for 'My Homemade Jam'.
All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
The fisherman aesthetic: anglercore is everywhere – but does it suit me?
It was, in the end, a fashion trend awaiting better weather. Now that summer is here, the 'fisherman aesthetic', long heralded as one of the key looks for 2025, has finally arrived. Or has it? Standing on the beach at Hastings, with a stiff wind blowing into my face, I am adding one layer of fishing gear on top of another while holding my fisherman's hat on my head, gently overheating under a hazy sky. I'm not sure this is what Vogue had in mind when it predicted that 'the menswear customer will take to water, embracing the 'fisherman aesthetic'' earlier this year. I can't see anyone else on the beach embracing it. Then again, I can't see anyone else on the beach. These early predictions have now hardened into a mantra. 'What started as a humble nod to weathered knit sweaters, sturdy boots and utilitarian outerwear has turned into a full-fledged movement,' declared lifestyle website The Velvet Runway. 'Practical gear like rainboots, work jackets and canvas totes abound,' said Cosmopolitan. 'Less yacht club, more fishing dock,' said InStyle. By the end of March, Veranda magazine felt able to confirm that 'the fisherman aesthetic now reigns supreme in both fashion and interior design'. However, when you investigate the origins of fisherman chic, it quickly becomes clear there are two main branches to the trend. The first is more of a general nautical vibe than a uniform: striped tops, baggy khakis, boat shoes, cable knits. The Daily Mail cited 'the naval-inspired looks on the recent runways of Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Proenza Schouler' as sources for the trend, said to be an offshoot of the 'coastal grandma' look (no, me neither) from a few years ago, which was largely confined to women's fashion. It's beach-friendly, casual and understated (Diane Keaton in the film Something's Gotta Give is apparently an inspiration for it). People dedicated to showing you how to get the look on TikTok are at pains to point out that you may well own most of the stuff already. The second strand, what might be termed the male version of fisherman chic, comes at it from another direction, specifically fly-fishing. New York menswear boutiques such as Blue in Green have been selling out of the multi-pocketed fishing vests favoured by anglers. According to the Washington Post, outfitters catering to fly-fishermen have recently seen revenue boosted by sales to men who don't fish, but are keen to adopt a look the paper dubbed 'anglercore'. Where these traditional outfitters might once have been pleasantly bewildered by all the extra online traffic, the industry is catching on. Streetwear brands and angling companies have begun collaborating on outdoor clothing lines. Last autumn, the Canadian rapper Drake, through his Nike brand Nocta, produced an actual fly-fishing reel in collaboration with Abel Reels. Where the womenswear strand of fisherman chic seems to be more about inspiration – using a nautical theme as a jumping-off point – the menswear seems more like direct occupational appropriation – literally buying the stuff real fishermen use. As the stylist and fashion writer Peter Bevan sees it, the authenticity of the gear is the point of this angler aesthetic. 'If, say, Gucci did a fishing jacket, and they bought that one, it's almost like them faking it,' he says. 'When it comes to workwear, men just like to buy into the proper brands that do it and the real type of workwear, rather than anything that feels manufactured.' There is an inverted aesthetic at work: in most cases the clothing is purely functional; it has no style per se, only a kind of perceived integrity. The Japanese workwear brand Montbell uses the slogan 'Function is beauty', which is one way of saying: this stuff looks this way for a reason. Fly-fishing vests, for example, are often cropped weirdly short, but that's not a style – it's so the pockets don't get wet when you're standing up to your ribcage in a river. And they aren't covered in pockets because pockets are cool; it's because anglers need storage for all the kit they carry into the water. 'You're using floats, you might use sinks, you've got spools of nylon,' says Mark Bowler, editor of Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine. 'You've got a dry fly box, you've got a nymph box, you've got a lure box. You'll have scissors, forceps, nips. You've got numerous tools, almost medical, dangling off the waistcoat. You might have a hook retriever in there …' There is an obvious irony to this extreme functionality, in that few, if any, of the influencers wearing fly-fishing vests on the streets of Brooklyn will ever use the garment for its intended purpose, or even know what that is. '… You've got leaders, sight indicators, magnifiers, your sandwiches,' says Bowler. 'You might have a water bottle in the back of it, because it's got pockets at the back. There might be scales in there for weighing fish, or tungsten putty.' On the beach in Hastings, I am having a certain amount of trouble rationalising the two branches of the fisherman aesthetic. My jacket would suit weather more foul than I'm likely to encounter all year. Meanwhile, the Schöffel fly-fishing shirt I'm wearing looks like something Nigel Farage might go canvassing in, only it's made of a lightweight, quick-drying polyester. Who knows? Maybe his is too. There is, of course, something immediately satisfying about wearing a technical garment; it bestows a certain sense of competence and expertise all by itself. The Wensum fly vest by Farlows – a British outfitter established in 1840 – has four capacious pockets on the front and a swatch of shearling wool just below the right shoulder which, it turns out, is for hanging your flies on. The Ayacucho Trailblazer vest has no fewer than 10 pockets, and also – somehow – repels mosquitoes. 'Some include a life vest as well,' says Bowler. 'So if you fall in, the waistcoat explodes.' This is a lot of technical overkill for a fashionable piece of streetwear. Even without the capacity for inflation, it would be difficult to find a use for 10 pockets on dry land. But that, I know, is not the point – these things are fashionable because they are technical. In many ways, we have been here before. Workwear, with its utilitarian shape and built-in sense of purpose, is a perennial fashion favourite. Brands such as Carhartt and Dickies have made a fortune selling blue-collar style to men who can't change a plug. And the fisherman aesthetic is nothing new: the Aran knit was Vogue's celebrated jumper of 2015 and fisherman's scarves, hats and oilskins were big items in 2016. GQ declared fly-fishing 'the next wave in menswear' back in 2019. Bowler recalls an even earlier collision between fly-fishing and fashion, when Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler wore feathers in his hair during a stint as an American Idol judge. The long rooster feathers he chose were also used by the fly-tying industry. 'Everybody wanted them,' says Bowler. 'And we couldn't get them because all the suppliers were being rung up by hairdressers saying, 'Look, we'll pay anything for them.'' News of the current fashion for angling gear has also reached Bowler, although he is not exactly persuaded. He doesn't see a future in which he treats angling gear as a look to be seen in. 'You know what, Tim? When I go fishing, the last thing I want to see is another person.' However, he has noticed that even the most technical gear is becoming more fashion-conscious. 'You'd find it hard to look stylish in waders,' he says. 'But even waders are becoming more fitted, in lighter materials. They used to be like PVC with wellies on the end, and now they're kind of a fitted, breathable material. You actually attach boots to the bottom of them and they have a belt, you know, which gives you a bit more shape.' Indeed outfitters, including Montbell, produce chest-high fishing waders you might feasibly wear to a gallery opening. Another Japanese clothing company, South2 West8, is known for producing stylish gear that will also serve you well on the river. Although if I owned a £358 fly vest (currently on sale at £250), I don't think I'd want to get it wet, especially when you can buy a 'real' vest from an angling supplier for as little as £25. Could an interest in the clothes, as the Washington Post dares to suggest, eventually foster a corresponding interest in fly-fishing? Could the gear lead the hipsters to the sport? Bowler has seen nothing to support that notion. He acknowledges that while angling has a higher profile these days (thanks, in part, to Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer fishing on television), an interest in fly-fishing is not the same thing as fly-fishing. 'The number of fishermen – it's not booming,' he says. 'It's dwindling, in fact.' It's the same story on the sea. In the 1980s, Hastings boasted a fishing fleet of more than 40 vessels, but the ones I'm using as a backdrop for my fashion shoot are reputedly among the last five or six still regularly working. It would be a shame if, in 10 years' time, all that people know about fishing is the clothes. While the nautical movement and the fisherman aesthetic may be two distinct trends, independent and coincidental, they do have one thing in common, and it ain't fishing. Both looks are essentially about wealth. Fly-fishing chic, with its checked shirts, waxed Barbour jackets and old-fashioned gear, mimics the relaxed vibe of the landed gentry. Like the coastal grandma trend that is said to have spawned it, the fisherman aesthetic is really an attempt to appropriate moneyed understatement. 'I think fashion is generally obsessed with wealth recently,' says Bevan. 'There was stealth wealth, the old-money aesthetic, quiet luxury, equestrian-inspired womenswear collections. It feels like one side of this is an extension of that.' Essentially the two looks project the same vibe: tell me you're rich without telling me you're rich, even though you're not actually rich. Even that isn't the whole story: walking back from the beach, through Hastings Old Town, I am suddenly struck by the number of men my age – tourists, mostly – wearing fly-fishing vests. And they're not doing it ironically or because they genuinely aspire to the angling life, or because they're trying to project quiet luxury. They're doing it because they like pockets.
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘I met my best friend': two students on the many benefits of joining university clubs
There are few times in life better suited to trying new things than your student years. In fact, many people would say that's the whole point of going to university. Higher education is about more than just the subject you study – it's a time to meet new people, step outside of your comfort zone and discover new things about yourself. And one of the best ways to do that is by joining student clubs and societies. Now in the third year of his philosophy degree at the University of Lincoln, Thomas Woodcock is a member of no less than seven student societies – ranging from archery to animal sciences, the book club to bellringing, and Kin-Ball to philosophy. The 22-year-old's choice of societies perfectly illustrates the huge range of clubs on offer at universities – whether you're looking to keep fit, learn or maintain skills, dive deeper into your degree subject or simply socialise, there will almost definitely be something that ticks the box. While many of Woodcock's activities are new to him, the hobby that's proved most meaningful is one he's had since childhood, and has continued at university. 'I joined Lincoln University Guides and Scouts (Lugs) at the start of my first year, having been Scouting since I was six years old,' he says. 'Although it's a relatively small society, the community I have because of Lugs has really contributed to my enjoyment of uni. Many of the friends I have made are from Lugs, and I don't know what my experience would have been like if hadn't joined, but I do believe I would have been worse off – that's how important this society, the community, and the people within it have been to me and my student experience.' It's a sentiment that 19-year-old Maya Mathiou-Rose, now in the second year of her psychology degree at the University of York, can relate to. Unlike Woodcock, Mathiou-Rose has channelled her time and energy into just one passion – volleyball – but she has also found that the impact on her university experience has extended far beyond the court. 'Joining any society allows you to find like-minded people and form lifelong connections,' she says. 'I can personally attest to this – having met my best friend, Aurelie, during the team tryouts in first year, we've been inseparable ever since. I also met my three current housemates through the University of York volleyball club (UYVC) and the James College volleyball club. Playing volleyball has not only brought us together, but also strengthened the bond between us.' Woodcock and Mathiou-Rose are far from alone in feeling that their university experience has been enhanced by joining a club or society. A study released by British University and College Sports (BUCS) in May 2025, covering the previous year, found that almost 94% of students agreed that being involved in sport gave them a sense of belonging to their institution and its community. Another recent study, conducted by the University of Lincoln students' union, found that students who were members of a society (of 17,414 students, 4,351 were involved in an activity) were more likely to complete their studies. 'Of the 1,774 who have withdrawn this year, only 86 (5%) were activity members,' reads the report. 'This means that just 2% of activity members withdrew, compared to 10% of non-activity members, highlighting that students involved in sports or societies are five times more likely to continue their studies than those who are not activity members.' Joining a society (or seven) isn't just a great way to enrich your university experience, it can also positively affect your life post-graduation. Extracurricular activities don't only look great on your CV – adding depth and breadth to your life experience – they're also a great way to learn new skills and build your confidence. This is especially true if, like Woodcock and Mathiou-Rose, you go one step further and take on a leadership role. 'As the secretary of the UYVC I've developed key skills which are directly relevant to the career I want to pursue in human resources,' says Mathiou-Rose. 'It's given me real, tangible experiences to reflect on in interviews, like managing stakeholder relationships, handling logistics under pressure, and maintaining clear and professional communication.' As for their advice for the next generation of students about to embark on their own higher education journeys, Woodcock says: 'Go to the sports and societies fairs during freshers' week and talk to the committees and members. Register your interest in those that sound good, and go to the taster sessions. I promise you it will be worth it. The communities and support I have built have massively helped me over the last three years – I can't recommend joining a society more.' Mathiou-Rose recommends not just joining societies, but getting involved in their structure and management. 'It's through this deeper engagement that you gain experiences and lessons that you'll cherish for a lifetime.' For more guidance on the right course for you, check out the Guardian university league tables for 2025. The Guardian league tables for 2026 will be out on 13 September in print and online
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Why celebs think cigarettes are 'cool' again: Bizarre reason stars shun vapes in favour of real tobacco, as Beyonce and Dua Lipa lead the legions lighting up
From Beyonce lighting up on stage to Dua Lipa dangling a cigarette between her fingers in a holiday snap shared on Instagram, celebrities are entering a new era of outright flaunting the dirty habit they were once at pains to keep a secret. Pop stars with a young fan base went through a long phase of keeping any penchant for cigarettes as private as possible, for fear of being accused of promoting bad habits - but that era appears to be at an end. Stars including Paul Mescal, Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams have all been spotted smoking in public - and crucially they've opted for traditional cigarettes rather than vapes or e-cigarettes. While nicotine is known to increase the risk of at least 16 types of cancer and contributing to 20 per cent of preventable deaths, vaping has equally disasteful problems of its own - that have nothing to do with the health risks. Last month, the sale of disposable vapes was banned in the UK to discourage children from taking up the habit and to try to mitigate the environmental impact. Vaping is also closely associated with teenagers, who would have in previous generations experimented with smoking, and middle aged addicts trying to quit cigarettes, with the the 45-54 age group seeing the largest increase in vaping rates. Stars including Paul Mescal (pictured), Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, Dua Lipa and Beyonce have all been spotted smoking, as vapes and other quitting aids dwindle in popularity - having been deemed designed for middle-aged people or teens So perhaps it's no surprise that smoking cigarettes has enjoyed renaissance over the past year with superstars resuming smoking in an apparent bid to 'look cool'. It's a habit celebrated by the Instagram account 'Cigfluencers' documents stars smoking alongside the bio: 'aka HOT PEOPLE keeping the art of SMOKING & BEING COOL alive…'. One of the world's leading lung oncologists, Dr James Wilson, told MailOnline that after an explosion in popularity for vaping, a return to traditional smoking is not surprising. 'Vaping now has a curious allure, appealing to two very different groups, young and old,' he explained. 'We have traditional smokers attempting to stop using cigarettes, and teenagers attracted to the novelty of e-cigarettes. Vaping has become associated with image rather than health. 'So, much like the 1950s, when smoking was regarded as trendy, today's young people are attracted to vaping for its perceived coolness. And of course failing to see the risks associated with addiction. A simple image-driven appeal can lead some back to smoking cigarettes, perhaps when the novelty of vaping wears off. 'Society is beginning to acknowledge that while vaping may assist some in quitting smoking, it also risks normalising tobacco use for our vital younger generation. The benefit of quitting cigarettes versus the adoption of vaping is something we must honestly address in this country. 'Education on the risks involved is key. Oddly, this echoes the kind of cyclical nature of smoking's desirability. From the mid-20th century to today, it is a history we need to discuss. 'The reality is that there's nothing glamorous about nicotine addiction, no matter how it is delivered. Both ultimately take a toll on general health, skin, lungs, heart, lifestyle, and overall vitality. That doesn't sound too cool to me.' In addition he warned that celebs who favour smoking over vaping are taking a serious risk with their health. 'Smoking is very simply more harmful than vaping,' Dr Wilson said. 'This is due to the specific toxic substances involved and the subsequent biological effects. 'The promotion of smoking, especially by huge stars like Beyoncé, does two things, it reinforces its acceptance and normalises a dangerous habit to vulnerable young people. Research shows us that early exposure to smoking imagery does increase the likelihood of smoking initiation. 'When tobacco is combusted, we know it unleashes thousands of harmful chemicals, from tar to carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and various carcinogens. These substances damage lung tissue directly and also impact the cardiovascular system. That means an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Tar is particularly worrying as we know it accumulates in lung tissue, leading to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and emphysema, conditions that severely impair lung function. 'Vaping is simply heating a liquid solution, usually with propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. Vapes are not without risk, but we know they contain fewer harmful substances than cigarettes. It is the absence of combustion in the vaping process that means many of the dangerous byproducts are significantly reduced. The latest research shows that vaping presents health risks. But cigarette smoking delivers a far greater level of toxic compounds. 'The biological impacts of smoking, particularly on adolescent lungs, can hinder growth and development and also long-term respiratory issues, plus a potential addiction to nicotine. 'The long-term consequences from smoking are indisputable. In my clinic in I see cancer, cardiovascular diseases, a reduced quality of life, all directly because of cigarette use.' GRACIE ABRAMS The singer and nepo-baby, who is the daughter of Star Wars titan JJ Abrams, came under fire last weekend for being spotted with a cigarette at Glastonbury. Fans took to social media to blast the star, 25, with references to her 2021 song Camden at the helm of the critique over her smoking. In the song, Gracie utters: 'At least I'll never turn to cigarettes / My brother shielded me from all of that / He said that smoking was a killer.' Taking to X, users penned: 'Let's think about our choices, Gracie... Can't afford to smoke with that voice... Smoking? This explains her out of breath performances... She takes her career as seriously as we would imagine nepo babies to.' PAUL MESCAL Gracie's boyfriend Paul meanwhile is also a fan of puffing on a nicotine stick. The Irish hunk is often seen smoking and even gave an interview in which he detailed his inability to quit while bulking up to star in last year's Gladiator 2. Despite honing his buff body with a strict diet and gruelling gym routine, he admitted he refused to sacrifice his two main vices. He said: 'I did everything he asked but I like to drink, and I like to smoke, so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned'. Paul is known to rub shoulders with fellow A-list puffers, as he was recently spotted enjoying a cigarette with Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Natalie Portman. CHARLI XCX As the founder of the 'Brat Summer', Charli XCX is a strong promoter of smoking. The British star described the concept of 'Brat' as 'a pack of cigs, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no bra'. Such is her passion for smoking that at her 32nd birthday party in LA last year, her fellow pop star Rosalía gifted her a bouquet of cigarettes. DUA LIPA Dua Lipa publicly stated that she quit smoking, yet there were late instances in which she was seen with cigarettes after this announcement. In December 2021, she mentioned quitting due to laryngitis and for her 'Future Nostalgia' tour. However, in the summer of 2023, she was photographed smoking. More recently, she posted photos on Instagram where she is seen holding a cigarette, seemingly in defiance of a no-smoking sign. DOJA CAT Last year, Doja Cat was seen puffing on a cigarette - despite extensive discussion of her plans to quit both vaping and traditional smoking. The musician enjoyed a smoke despite previously claiming she was 'nicotine free' through the help of hypnotherapy, and undergoing tonsil surgery to remove an abscess in 2022. In April 2023, Doja spoke about smoking nicotine-free vapes during a conversation with Interview Magazine: 'I haven't smoked nicotine in like 10 weeks... 'And then Elle just came out with a shoot where I'm smoking a cigarette, but it was when I was smoking. They've had these photos in this interview for a thousand years, and now people are like, 'Oh my God, she's smoking again.'... 'But I don't smoke. I'm nicotine free. And I love nicotine free vapes. Any zero nicotine vape doesn't hit, it just feels like you're breathing and it's like, 'What is this?' It feels pointless. But this thing really feels… It hits, it has the same effect. 'I also got hypnotherapy. And it worked, like immediately. I did it and then just didn't smoke after that, forever'. The next month she was blasted for vaping at the Met Gala, despite Anna Wintour banning smoking and it being nearly a year after she had an abscess surgically removed from her throat. Although seemingly simply part of her stage act, Beyonce proved cigarettes are certainly the accessory du jour at her Cowboy Carter tour stop in Paris last month. The superstar pulled out a cigarette mid-performance and started pretending to puff on the prop during her show. As seen in fan-taken footage at previous shows, she takes 'smoking hot' literally during the gig and goes onstage to theatrically light a piano on fire. SABRINA CARPENTER Sabrina Carpenter - known for her sizzling, oversexualized image - used a fork as a cigarette holder in the music video for her latest single Manchild. The song, which was released last month, saw her sparking up a cigarette in a petrol station while sitting on a retro car with a fur coat. She has also been pictured puffing on cigars at various times Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Justine Triet, Swann Arlaud, and Sophie Mas backstage at the 2024 Academy Awards. It was reported in 2022 Kirsten and Jesse had kicked the habit for their children, however recent snaps appeared to indicate other ways. She is a long time smoker and has even been accused of losing her voice due to her habit.
