Apples

whistler-alison

Hi - I just picked some apples off an overhanging branch from my neighbours - they were falling on the patio and making a mess. They are speckly green like Granny Smiths, some small and some larger, and the bushy branches had very sharp thorns on them. Can anyone confirm to me that they ARE actually apples and they are edible. I thought I would make some jelly out of them. Thanks

Biddyrolo

Apple trees don't have thorns,so no idea what they are.

newleaf

They sound like Quince. Still good for jelly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaenomeles

thriftlady_2

Definitely not apples, I think they sound like ornamental quinces (chaenomoles(sp?) japonica) too. You can make jelly with them but they aren't edible raw.

whistler-alison

Thanks - here's a picture (hoping the link works). Looks similar to the quince but different colour - don't worry thriftlady - had no plans to eat them raw :-x

http://images.kodakgallery.eu.com/photos199/1/2/34/11/85/7/785113402133_0_ALB.jpg

whistler-alison

oh - also, if they are quinces - just checked my recipe for quinces and it says 7g of citric acid. Except it doesn't say if this should be added when you simmer up the fruit or when you boil up the strained liquid. Any ideas?

newleaf

I would think it goes in with the fruit to simmer, but you're right - my recipe doesn't specify either. It just says: 'If fully ripe fruit is used for this jelly, then 1/2 oz (15g) citric or tartaric acid should be added to give a good set'. This is for 4lbs Quinces & 6 pints water btw.

V.Lucky

Can't see your picture, but they sound like a plant we used to have in our front garden. It wasn't a tree, more of a climbing bush.

I was told the fruit were poisonous - so got rid of it once I had my son. Not sure how true it is though, but better safe than sorry.