Olives

EagerLearner

Hi all,

I love making my own marinated olives - I just get a large jar of black olives (with pits in as these are the best):

pop them into a bowl with some of their own brine
add virgin olive oil
add one red chilli sliced down the middle with seeds removed
add oregano
add 2 or 3 smashed garlic cloves
add salt and pepper
add splash of balsamic vinegar
add bay leaves if you have any

anyway - how long can I keep them for? I end up eating them all because I am worried they will go off

squeaky

http://www.krinos.com/faq.html

THIRZAH

DD1 has a small olive tree in her garden in Kent. This year it has actually produced some olives! Does anyone know how to preserve them?I think I've heard that they can't be eaten straight from the tree-is that true?

dronid

Here's a link to a site dealing with olive preserving.

http://www.abc.net.au/perth/stories/s859811.htm
and another
http://www.gardens.co.nz/oliverecipe.htm

I have to say I'm not sure I'd go through the process. It's pretty heavy duty and probably isn't economical for less than a full tree's worth.

And then there's the slight worry about global warming if she's suceeded in growing olives.:D

THIRZAH

Thank you. I haven't actually seen these olives yet but she is excited about them .It's her first house and she only moved in last year. These are the first things she's produced in the garden-the strawberry plants died.I suspect that there won't be enough to make preserving them worthwhile.

Her garden faces south and does get very warm when the sun shines.

odds-n-sods

and even if the tree has produced olives, they may not ripen, so check that they have before eating them!

greentomato

As far as I am aware, its quite a long and difficult process to make the olives edible so really not worth it for most people who have olive trees in their garden. A shame I know - my olive tree has produced fruit too this year, but at least its nice to look at.

It would be worth her trying other fruit in the future though - I am trying figs this year, and my blueberry bush has produced some delicious berries already.

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

I just wondered if it was possible to marinade and jar/bottle olives with your own recipe oil marinade (ie: with garlic, peppers etc)? And would they keep for a good few months if you do the typical preserving trick of simmering the jar/bottle for 15 minutes to create a vacuum seal?

Can anyone point me to a method please? Thanks!



(ps: and why can't I see any smilies on posts, please?)

EagerLearner

Be careful about garlic as I heard you can get botulism from homemade preserved garlic... not sure but I think a sprig of rosemary can be placed in olive oil. Chilli is ok too.
The smileys seem to be on holiday! x

Pink.

Hi Rainbow,

There's an earlier thread with some links that may help so I've added your thread to it to keep the suggestions together.

Pink