With the rest of the windfall apples that I mentioned in my last post we made jam.
I peeled, cored and chopped the apples and washed, stoned and chopped some plums we had bought very cheaply at the local supermarket. They were Italian plums and I couldn't help but wish that we had had more plums on our own tree this year. A couple of years ago we had so many we had several bags in the freezer and it would have been nice to have had some this year to take out of the freezer and put with the apples. The fruit was cooked in water and then sugar added. The mixture was brought to a rolling boil until setting point was reached - this caused a few anxious moments with dripping spoons and testing with plates and spoons taken cold from the fridge.
Jars were sterilised in the oven and Paul spooned the mixture into them whilst I sterilised the lids with boiling water from the kettle. It was satisfying to hear the popping of the seals as the jars cooled down throughout the evening.
Overnight the jam had set quite well so we chose a jar to open and test.
The jam was sweet and refreshing with the scones I made yesterday afternoon.
Two of the jars have been set aside as a thank you to the friends who gave us the apples from their garden.
Whilst I was making scones Paul was mixing bread dough and leaving it to rise. A couple of hours later we had two lovely crusty cobs.
We did seem to have quite a productive time in the kitchen over the weekend.
We did seem to have quite a productive time in the kitchen over the weekend.
Lovely. I can almost smell the bread. Bet the jam was delicious. Have a good week. B x
ReplyDeleteThanks Barbara, hope you have a good week too:)
DeleteMmmm. I may move in!
ReplyDeleteHa Ha - as long as you can tell when jam reaches setting point:)
DeleteA very productive weekend.Our next door neighbour had put out a box full of apples for anyone who was walking by.He just asked for a donation to the local hospice.We got a bag full bit I have to admit I havn'T done anything with them yet.Too busy in the garden cutting things back.
ReplyDeleteSuch a good idea to put out an honesty box if you have too much produce or lots of windfalls:)
DeleteJam, scones, bread all look so delicious! Brought back memories of deciding on the dreaded setting point! I did buy a sugar thermometer but it wasn't any better to use than the tried and tested method of chilled saucers, a spoon of jam and seeing if it wrinkled when pushed! I think blackberry jam was the last I made!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for leaving a comment on my Chastleton post (house is so worth a visit) but just in case you miss the reply - check opening times on NT website as it seems shut over the winter.
The 'wrinkle when pushed' method is the best one I think! There are one or two places we want to visit Oxford way so we may plan a short break next year around them, Chastleton looks wonderful from your photos and well worth a visit:)
DeleteThat looks so good. I haven't made jelly in a couple of years, maybe I should do some.
ReplyDeleteIt is very tasty jam and I'm glad I combined the fruits:)
DeleteLooks good. I am afraid I cheat and use a breadmaker for the bread.
ReplyDeleteBreadmakers are a good way of getting home made bread:)
DeleteA bit late I know, but I've been using a bread machine since 1996 (when we got a combi boiler, so the hot water tank went) to do the dough cycle (90 minutes), then I kneed, then put it in a bread tin, make rolls etc, and that way I don't get a hole in the bottom of the loaf!
DeleteThat looks fantastic Barbara and scones as well, it just gets better and better! x
ReplyDeleteI just had to make scones to go with the jam, just to test it of course!;)
DeleteYou had a wonderfully productive weekend! Scones and jam or bread and jam, either wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI like pottering in the kitchen when it is damp and misty outside. Next make will be homemade soup, didn't have a pumkin this year but had a butternut squash instead:)
DeleteIt all looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteThe scones and jam were delicious and I'm sure the bread will be, it has been frozen for now:)
DeleteIt looks as if you had a productive time in the kitchen. There's nothing better than a fresh scone with home made jam. It's also satisfying to have good things in the freezer to be enjoyed another day. The bread looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. I do love scones and jam especially if they are homemade. Paul always makes a huge batch of bread - there were four wholemeal loaves as well as the crusty cobs and we take it out of the freezer as we need it:)
DeleteIt looks very good!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Louise:)
DeleteThe scones and jam look yummy as does the cob loaves. When can I come for tea? :) x
ReplyDeleteYou would be very welcome, Simone, it would be lovely to chat over tea and scones:)
DeleteHi Rosie, nothing beats the taste of homemade bread does it? I love homemade jam too - I haven't made any this year, but I do like the process of preserving for those dark winter days. Marie x
ReplyDeleteThis was the first jam I'd made for a couple of years as there hadn't been enough fruit in the garden to make anything other than a few crumbles. Hopefully next year will be better:)
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