
Recently I made a batch of marmalade. The kitchen was filled with the aroma of boiling simmering fruit and everything close to the preserving pan, including me, received a generously sticky coating. After the jars had been sterilised in the oven I ladled the mixture into them and screwed on the lids. I labelled it 'Marmalade glue' as it looked quite extremely stiff! Job done! A couple of days later I looked at the marmalade again and noticed a thick crystalline topping in each of the jars – I didn't need a knife to tell me it was solid. Barry said it should more accurately be called 'Marmalade Metal.' Wresting Removing it from the jars was no easy job – brute strength, hot water, determination achieved the impossible objective. The preserving pan was brought into play again but now I think I have added too much water and it will never thicken reduce. I'll try again tomorrow!
We have two crab-apple trees in our garden and they were laden this year. 'Golden Hornet' yielded six pounds of fruit which produced four jars of crab-apple jelly. 'Red Jade' , which has very small apples, gave less than a pound and I burnt overcooked the fruit. There are still some left on the tree so perhaps there'll be enough for another attempt.
We have two crab-apple trees in our garden and they were laden this year. 'Golden Hornet' yielded six pounds of fruit which produced four jars of crab-apple jelly. 'Red Jade' , which has very small apples, gave less than a pound and I burnt overcooked the fruit. There are still some left on the tree so perhaps there'll be enough for another attempt.

Glad you stopped by today. Thank you. Also, I've never tried to jam or preserve. I might get inspired one of these days ... you never know!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my 55.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I ever tried preserving anything it was tomatoes and it was probably 40 years ago. Turned out O.K., but way too much work. Never again.
PG
Very cute!!!
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