THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

mardatha

Everytime I mention making jam, younger ladies always say oh that's too much of a faff.

jk0

Am I the only person on this thread who can't stand olives?

DigForVictory

Cappella wrote: »

. And what puzzles/ worries me slightly is that in a very built up and rather poor urban area I seem to be the only person picking them. Even 5 years ago I would regularly meet people stripping the bushes but so far this year there's only been me. And so I'm torn between stopping - because truthfully I have MORE than enough - and not letting the fruit drop and rot. But surely free fruit should be a huge incentive to everyone?

I'm afraid some of the younger folks just do not link berries and the sweet spread on the toast. I do - I watched then helped then obeyed my grandmother & my mother & decades later made my own - and realised none of my sons were there to help so I had to do all the heavy lifting and the fiddlier bits solo.

It is always possible the young just do not know, or having seen their family sweating in a hot kitchen thought "no way" without realising there are microwave alternatives (albeit for a puny number of jars per session.)

The Womens Institute springs to mind - I know they say they are *not* all jam and Jerusalem, fine - but seize this and do something for the Trussell trust? Also your local places of worship may still have people who can muster bodies and kit for a cause.

After that, guile - ask a gossiping older lady if she could suggest something to help you get these bramble stains off your hands, skirt whatever & tell her where you've been picking. Then let Fate, the matriarchy and the gossip net take its course... As that's two or more ladies with one query and with luck one will be seized with the jam fervour...

I do know how you feel, thinking am I the only person in this gold mine who knows what a nugget looks like? I'm leading my scouts astray in small numbers - the risk assessment for jam *making* is too high but I can get folks *picking* & then bring jars of "Swift Patrol's Blackberry Jam" in the week after (or whomever!)

(I also routinely offer scouts as young muscle when folk need a hand but can't really afford to hire a young teen - our good old Bob a Job went west with safeguarding & risk assessments but you can get a lot of bodies performing simple tasks for a short time if you can get even a couple of patrols doing something "community" or specific badge related (have a look here to get ideas & then see which badge(s) could include what you need doing.) Just spell out the benefits for the scouts & wait (not too long!) - I got an entire rickety old hen-house the size of a container shifted as my pack wanted bonfire combustibles & I wanted the garden space...)

fuddle

I have a confession to make.

I can't make normal consistency jam. Whenever I make it, it's runny jam. Jam making is not my forte but I would like to get better.

THIRZAH

jk0 wrote: »

Am I the only person on this thread who can't stand olives?

No, I can't stand them either although the rest of the family including GS aged 6 love them.

thriftwizard

Runny jam, Fuddle? Surely you mean "coulis"...? That fruity sauce they drizzle over ice cream in posh eateries? It's just runny jam, according to our ex-lodger, who at that point was a trainee chef. Getting one's jam to set is mostly a matter of supplying enough pectin; it's highest in slightly under-ripe fruit. But some fruits have very little & you may need to boost it by adding some apple or quince, or even stuff from a packet! Then it's just a matter of hitting the right temperature.

Cappella

I wondered if lack of knowledge was the problem re blackberry picking. It means the current generation will be slightly less skilled than the last though which I find worrying.
D-f-V the ladies I used to see berrying were all either my age or a little older.. I've mentioned the quantity of fruit to several acquaintances, but no takers so far. I'd really, really hate to think it's because it's 'too much effort', but do suspect there's an element of that involved as well. All the more for them that's willing though so I should stop questioning and carry on picking :rotfl:

Fuddle - I cook my strawberry jam for 10 minutes more than any recipe I've ever seen suggests or I add a good handful of gooseberries to it as well as lemon juice. Some of my early jams were certainly coulis, it's taken me years to perfect set jam - and I still have less than perfect results from time to time. Bet yours still tastes far nicer than anything shop bought though so keep jamming!!!

VJsmum

I've given up making jam - we just don't eat that much of it. Maybe a jar a year - so i buy a decent jar (like Bonne Maman - or Aldi equivalent).

I do make marmalade - but even then i cheat and use the 'Mamade' tins of pulp. I just can't be doing with cutting up the 'marms' (as my dad used to call them). It works really well and is still nicer than any shop bought.

I had to turn out some stuff from my cupboard today - a carton of LL milk for starters. it was over a year out of date and was lumpy as I tipped it down the sink...

I am eating through a stash of tinned fish - also about a year OOD, but is fine. I will stock up with a few tins again when they've gone.

ivyleaf

jk0 wrote: »

Am I the only person on this thread who can't stand olives?

Quite possibly, but my OH is definitely on your side if that helps

ETA Oh, there you are, THIRZAH doesn't like them either so you are not alone!

I didn't used to like them - I suppose I've just acquired the taste - and GQ, much better for you than Fray Bentos pies, eh?

maryb

I still make marmalade because I can never buy it the way I like it. Fine shreds but lots of them. Shreddy marmalade in the shops is just jelly with a very few bits of peel. Not keen on thick cut. So I make my own each year with the added bonus that the oranges are organic (Waitrose)

I used to make jam as well but with DDs grown up, we just don't get through it. DH is very fussy about jam, only likes strawberry, and it's easier to buy the occasional jar. He detests blackberries so I don't bother with those these days

But I do other preserving especially elderflower cordial. Later I will make elderberry cordial which is supposed to be really good for throats and chests