Tuesday 4 October 2011

Jars full of Delight

My store cupboard of preserves, pickles and chutneys isn't as full as it should be - why?  Because I haven't made any jam this year - why?  Because I still have jam in the cupboard from 2006!  It is obvious that we don't eat as much jam as we used to, so I can't see the point of making it - anyway, I have been given some crab apple jelly and damson jam which will be enough to keep us going.  The trouble is that I feel a little guilty not preserving all the lovely fruit that we have had this year - but there is still plenty of it in the freezer, which I am sure will all get used eventually.

On the other hand, I have pickled some onions and beetroot and made picallili and one or two different  chutneys. but in general I do make a lot less of everything, it just doesn't get used - and I'm not going to make stuff for the sake of it, and the produce seems to get used in other ways.

One thing I do like making though is  windfall marmalade which is made from apples but looks and tastes just like the real thing.

To make 4 - 1lb jars
1lb windfall apples, 1 grapefruit, 2 lemons, 2.1/2 pints water and 2.1/2 lb sugar
  • peel core and chop apples reserving the cores and peel
  • pare rinds from grapefruit and lemons as thinly as possible and shred finely
  • remove pith from fruits and chop flesh removing pips
  • tie citrus pith pips and apple peel and cores in muslin
  • put all fruit in preserving pan with shredded rind water and muslin bag
  • bring to boil
  • simmer for 2.1/2 hours until reduced by half
  • remove bag and add sugar then boil rapidly for 15-20 mins.
  • leave to stand for 15 mins
  • then stir to distribute the peel before potting and covering the usual way
Enjoy!

9 comments:

  1. Hi Elaine,

    I've always fancied making my own preserves and chutneys but I've always been put off by the volume of stuff you end up making. There's only 2 of us. We haven't had enough fruit from the plot to make any anyway as its my first year although we have quite a stash in the freezer for tasty crumbles throughout the winter.

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  2. Your store cupboard looks pretty full to me. We don't really use pickles and chutneys, though we probably would if I made some, I'll have to think about that for next year.

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  3. Marvelous. I always love to see new cans of canned fruits and veggies. They always look so pretty to me. Years ago when I canned everything it always looked so pretty to see them all on shelves in the basement.

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  4. Yup...have got to try your windfall marmalade recipe!

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  5. I must say seeing a cupboard full of homemade produce makes me feel like an 'earth mother', sadly I don't make as much as I used to as we can't get through it all.

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  6. Looking forward to trying out your Windfall Marmalade recipe.

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  7. You could always give away or sell any surplus preserves... Or donate them to a charity maybe?

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  8. I make far too much as well...but everything seems to find a home in the end :)

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  9. Hope you enjoy the marmalade - it's a winner.

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