The commonsense thread

boultdj

It's been a bad year for all type's of fruit tree's it seem's LW, last year I was picking damson's/gage's/apple's and pear's, this year where I am there's no damson's or gage's, no blackberries, and very few apple's or pear's, so glad I made 60+lb's of jam's and fruit cheese last year, OH dos'nt like 'em so there all mine[ and bro's when he come's up].

Tawny75

I have some frozen mixed fruit in the freezer, do you think I could use that to make some sort of mixed fruit jam? Not having a garden or allotment, I will have to buy my fruit for making stuff, it will make lovely presents at Christmas though.

bossymoo

I haven't had one apple on my tree this year. Usually have to give them away as I can't cope with them all

boultdj

Tawny75 wrote: »

I have some frozen mixed fruit in the freezer, do you think I could use that to make some sort of mixed fruit jam? Not having a garden or allotment, I will have to buy my fruit for making stuff, it will make lovely presents at Christmas though.

Personaly I would give it a try.

Bitsy_Beans

HariboJunkie wrote: »

i posted yesterday but logged out straight away and must have lost the post.

I just wanted to say a bit about the common sense of preserving. This time of year is my busiest preserving time due to perpetual foraging and harvesting fruit and veg but I try to preserve food all year round. It's an easy skill to learn and requires surprisingly little effort.

I have groaning shelves of jams, jellies, pickles, chutneys, flavoured oils and liquers. The ingredients are mostly cheap and often free and they are used for my own storecupboard and for small gifts throughout the year and to make up hampers for Christmas. The beauty of preserving apart from the low cost is the fact that if done properly they will last for ages and you will always have a wee stock of things for yourself and a quick prezzie for someone else.

Even a couple of Saturday mornings a month spent bottling things will build up a decent stock.

Ask friends and neighbours for jars and bottles too.

I love the idea of jams and preserves but quite frankly we just wouldn't eat them. Only think I make is onion chutney and I have to buy those
I am in envy of you who do preserves

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

bossymoo wrote: »

I haven't had one apple on my tree this year. Usually have to give them away as I can't cope with them all

We're exactly the same, last year we had so much fruit on our apple and pear trees that we made jams, wine:beer:, froze a load and gave some away.

This year. not a sausage on either tree:(

321 xxx

LameWolf

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog wrote: »

This year. not a sausage on either tree:(

Sausages growing on trees?? I've heard of a ham-bush, but never a sausage-tree. :rotfl: (Sorry, I couldn't resist);)

Tawny I'd deffo give the mixed fruit jam a go.:o

meer53

I have 4 pear trees and an apple tree. Nothing on any this year for me either ! I'm not a gardener, i hate it but think i need to do something with the pear trees. The leaves are curled and some have blackened and some of the lower branches seem to have rough bits on them. God, i'm rubbish aren't i ? Theres probably some horticultural term for this but i have no idea what it is. Do they need cutting back or something ?

Tawny75

LameWolf wrote: »

Sausages growing on trees?? I've heard of a ham-bush, but never a sausage-tree. :rotfl: (Sorry, I couldn't resist);)

Tawny I'd deffo give the mixed fruit jam a go.:o

I gave it a go and it is lovely! I under boiled it slightly so it has a bit of a runny set but it tastes divine! I have to hide it from K, because she keeps dipping a spoon in the pot as she goes by!

I am seriously thinking of making some more and giving it away as Christmas presents...

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Tawny75 wrote: »

I am seriously thinking of making some more and giving it away as Christmas presents...

Last year we made Runner Bean Chutney, Pear and Lemon Jam and homemade wine and gin. Made pretty labels and used Xmas fabric on the tops of jars and gave them as part of a hamper along with Date, Prune and walnut cake. They were very well received as not everyone has the produce or the time /skills to make their own.

This year (due to the lack of fruit on the trees) we will be making the alcohol but no jam however I did pick up several boxes of Pannetone mix in Mossies for 50p a box so will be baking those and gingerbread to go in the hampers.

321 xx