The Preserver's Year

lisa26_2

Ooh thanks, that recipe sounds lovely. I think I'll give that a try and maybe have a go at pickling next time I get some.

Chimera

well, my marmalade set, nice soft set, loverrrrly!! Will defo keep liquid down a bit next time... have another kilo here, may do whisky marmalade next!!

windowshopper100

I made marmalade for the first time last weekend. Been thinking about it for years since the annual window of opportunity is so short. Then there's the procrastination thinking which recipe shall I use. Then I read that thriftlady and Penelope Penguin used Delia's basic and I thought 'that's all the endorsement I need' and in I jumped.

I only got a net of Sevilles from Sainsbury, so not particularly OS on that front but if I'd look around in farm shops and the last knockings of markets I still would be waiting for the perfect moment.

And it went really well. Used my big stockpot so maybe that meant I had to boil to setting point quite a few times, and when it got there I did it some more to be sure... but who wants runny marmalade.

Learnings - buy a funnell. But my 'boiling sugar burn' blister has nearly healed anyway. And it didn't throb for too long.

And possibly the best reason of all was to say to DH that there was clearly a reason to keep all those jars for soooo long. Dh loves his marmalade and declared the little bit I had left over to be delicious.

Question - Can we start on it straight away or does it need to sit for a bit?

Definitely will experiement with more preserves this year - chutneys maybe. Thanks for listening.

WS100

Gigervamp

I started on mine the next day after making it!

thriftlady_2

As Gigervamp says you can start on it straight away. You can eat all sweet preserves-jams, jellies and marmalades as soon as they're cool. It is chutneys that need a bit of maturing so that they mellow.

And, yes do get a jam funnel, they make life a lot easier.

Well done on your marmalade success!:T

nopot2pin

I was Paddington Bear, the day I made my marmalade :whistle:... and had hot marmalade sandwiches :drool:

I also improvised with the funnel thing... I used the funnel that came with my dishwasher, that helps you get the salt into it

MrsBsBlog

Morning everyone, just have a nose at some of the threads and came across this one. I`ve had, just a quick look, so may go back and have a good old read later, but I think I might have a go at marmalade, sometime. I did some blackberry jam last night from the berrys I had in the freezer, as my lot go through jam like there`s no tomorrow and I must say, i`m pretty chuffed with myself and tastes great too( always helps) I`m not too sure exactly how much I got out from the 2lb of fruit I used, because I used different size jars, but roughly I would say I got 4 normal size jars full. So hopefully will keep them going for a little while anyway. Catch you all later.

windowshopper100

nopot2pin wrote: »

I was Paddington Bear, the day I made my marmalade :whistle:... and had hot marmalade sandwiches :drool:

I also improvised with the funnel thing... I used the funnel that came with my dishwasher, that helps you get the salt into it

Brilliant idea!

Replying so that it goes back to the front page and more people will see this terrific idea.

Savannah02K

Inspired by you all here, had first go at making marmalade on Sunday. Made chutney over Christmas hol but obviously not tasted that yet, got 1 April down as 'official tasting day!' The marmalade came out really well but quick question: I work full time and have busy couple of weekends coming up so won't have time make more and I gather the Seville oranges will finish soon. I noticed further back on this thread that someone mentioned freezing the oranges for usign later in the year. How exactly do you do that? Do you do all the prep (cut, de-pith, shred) and then bag the shreds and pith and freeze those? Or is there another way? And do you defrost overnight or use from frozen? Thanks, am loving this Little House on the Prairie feeling I got from making my own stuff, soups last year, preserves this!

Justamum

Savannah02K wrote: »

I noticed further back on this thread that someone mentioned freezing the oranges for usign later in the year. How exactly do you do that? Do you do all the prep (cut, de-pith, shred) and then bag the shreds and pith and freeze those? Or is there another way? And do you defrost overnight or use from frozen? Thanks, am loving this Little House on the Prairie feeling I got from making my own stuff, soups last year, preserves this!

I just bunged them in the freezer as they are. I did this with lemons a while ago, and just defrosted them overnight to make some three fruit marmalade, and they were fine.

I wish Little House on the Prairie was shown on tv again - and The Waltons!

Have you ever read the LHonP books? Very different from the series, but what a difficult and harsh life they led. I know they are childrens' books but I still love re-reading them from time to time.