The Preserver's Year

Chaos_Monkey

I need some help!!

I tried making some elderberry and blackberry jam last night but it's turned into something like fruit toffee....anyone know if/how I can salvage it? I've already put it in a jar (when it was awarm), but can't even get a knife into it now it's cooled! There's also a lot less of it than i thought there would be, maybe i've boiled it too long?

Thanks in advance

CM

rhosynbach

hi cm, not sure if it is saveable but you could try warming in the microwave, to get it out of the jar then tipping back into pan (carefully) then add a little water to it to see if it will improve the texture
or warm it turn it in to a lined tray and slice into squares toss in to sugar and you have invented a recipe for home made chewy sweets.:T

Chaos_Monkey

Thanks so much, rhosynbach - I was wondering about warming it up and adding water...if I can't fix it, I might just try your suggestion for chewy sweets (or even try a fruity 'birds nest' or something similar). Such a shame I cocked it up in the fist place as it smelled delicious. I still have 1lb of ederberries, but figured I'd best freeze them until i've worked the existing jam/toffee out!

Thanks again

nopot2pin

Chaos_Monkey wrote: »

I need some help!!

I tried making some elderberry and blackberry jam last night but it's turned into something like fruit toffee....anyone know if/how I can salvage it? I've already put it in a jar (when it was awarm), but can't even get a knife into it now it's cooled! There's also a lot less of it than i thought there would be, maybe i've boiled it too long?

Thanks in advance

CM

This happened to me last year, with blackcurrant jam
But I couldn't get it back out of the jar, and unfortunatley, it went in the bin

Dustykitten

Made my best jam to date (consistency wise) - 7 jars of cherry plum.

I think jam making is a bit like baking and bread making, the more you do it the better you get. You sort of get a feel for how it should look which is hard to describe. Keep going newbie preservers you will get there and your mistakes will help this process.

kinkyjinks

I'm going out later to pick some apples that I saw while out dog walking earlier this week. I'd been thinking about turning them into an apple chutney but all the recipes I've found contain sultanas and I really really don't like them. Could I just leave them out? What is the purpose of them in chutneys? Or even better does someone have a recipe that doesn't contain them please.

jennyo

Chaos_Monkey wrote: »

I need some help!!

I tried making some elderberry and blackberry jam last night but it's turned into something like fruit toffee....anyone know if/how I can salvage it? I've already put it in a jar (when it was awarm), but can't even get a knife into it now it's cooled! There's also a lot less of it than i thought there would be, maybe i've boiled it too long?

Thanks in advance

CM

Sorry don't know how to salvage it, but you probably did boil it too long, its very confusing sometimes making jam, you follow the recipe, but its not right for that batch. Luckily I can now see when a batch has reached setting point without testing, but that only comes with a lot of jam making, I had some awful disasters to start with.

marmiterulesok

kinkyjinks wrote: »

I'm going out later to pick some apples that I saw while out dog walking earlier this week. I'd been thinking about turning them into an apple chutney but all the recipes I've found contain sultanas and I really really don't like them. Could I just leave them out? What is the purpose of them in chutneys? Or even better does someone have a recipe that doesn't contain them please.

Here is an apple chutney recipe:

-2.75kg (cooking) apples,peeled and cored

-1kg onions

-300mls water

-40g salt

-40g ground ginger

15g ground cinnamon

-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

-1.15 litres vinegar

-1kg sugar

-450g golden syrup

Finely chop the apples and onions,then place them in a saucepan with the water.Bring to the boil,reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.Add the salt,spices and half the vinegar and continue to cook until the apples and onions are thoroughly softened.

Add the sugar,syrup and remaining vinegar to the pan and stir until the sugar has dissolved.Bring the chutney to the boil,then reduce the heat and simmer it gently until it is thickened and smooth.The cooking time depends on the desired consistency.
Makes about 3.8kgs.

I haven't made this,but now intend to!

kinkyjinks

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Here is an apple chutney recipe:


I haven't made this,but now intend to!

Excellent. Thank you very much :beer:

Juby

I'm really excited - I just made my first ever batch of jam :j

Made with blackberries we picked ourselves and I think it's worked ok - did the test on a cold saucer and it seemed right and tasted yummy! Just a bit scared that it'll be OK in the jars and not go mouldy. I did sterilise them in hot water and then the oven but think it's first time nerves....

How long do you leave it before you open the jar? Are they better after a certain amount of time?