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Monday, 16 September 2013

jam making.................

Last week I spent a couple of hours blackberry picking with Mr R and we managed to pick nearly 2kgs of fruit. A few days later I picked a large bowl of plums from our tree in the garden in anticipation of a jam making session with Laura.
Laura came over early evening and we set to work on our jam, we made a batch of blackberry and a batch of plum. Equipment wise it was a bit of make do and mend as I don't have a jam pan. We used my two largest saucepans and hoped for the best, I did invest in a jam thermometer a few years ago after having to reboil jam that wouldn't set. I followed Delia Smiths method and thankfully our jam was a success and set perfectly.



We also experimented with some microwave lemon curd  and made three small jars.


It's a lovely feeling looking at your finished jars of jam all lined up like soldiers ready for inspection. Laura and I were thrilled with our evenings work although we were exhausted as jam making seems to create a very messy kitchen and lots of washing up. Laura was amazing and did far more than her share of the tidying up.

Making jam is so fulfilling and apart from the sugar and a handful of inexpensive ingredients (blackberries and plums were free) it's an inexpensive preserve. If the weather is dry this weekend I want to persuade someone to come blackberry picking with me as I want to have blackberries in the freezer to make hearty crumbles and pies for the winter months. If I can pick a bumper crop I want to make more jam as well. My stock is already depleted as I have given most of my first batch away to family.

talk soon x

16 comments:

  1. I love making preserves too. I made a batch of plum jam on Friday and have a load of brambles (blackberries!) ready for jam making....or possibly just the freezer, I haven't decided yet! Juliex

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    1. Lovely home made jam you can't beat it. I have been busy with plums this evening, some for crumbles and some for a plum liqueur x

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  2. I am not sure about all this autumn blogging. It is making me very hungry and wanting jam and cake all the time!! Love the idea of lemon curd in the microwave, hubby makes lovely lemon curd sometimes, but not in the micro. Will have to investigate. Great pics - as always Sue!! Amy xx

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    1. Hope you try the lemon curd and thank you for your lovely comments x

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  3. Your jam looks very yummy.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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  4. What a fun thing to do with a friend! I have never made jam! But I want to give it a try. Yours looks delicious! And the lemon curd too!!!
    xo Kris

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  5. I made some plum and some rhubarb jam recently and a lady at work gave me about 7kg of plums today so looks like I'll be making more! x

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  6. I really want to try lemon curd at home soon. I've only eaten store-bought and I loved it so homemade must be even better! :)

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  7. I love jamming! I have made nectarine and blueberry and starwberry recently, and have some plums just waiting to be jammed! And I love to make lemon curd too. Preserves make such fab gifts, in fact my friends are quite disappointed if I try to give them any other present........!

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    1. Sounds like some lovely fruit combinations - I love giving preserves and home baking as gifts x

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  8. Just catching up here ... you have been busy! The jam looks delicious ... I can't wait for the blackberries to finally ripen here.

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