The aftermath of the jam woes

[wiseheart]

The mutant grapefruit jam (=syrup) was fantastic with the crepes. Still, I'd have preferred actual jam. Ah, well. At least my friend Evie declared herself willing to take one jar, also for crepes/pancakes. Her oldest grandson (age 4) loves those.

Today was mostly crafting day. I've finished the two felt baubles that had been waiting for their hangings all week; and I've made the front panels of all four Heineken Santas (I call them that because they are based on five-pointed red felt stars). I even completed one of those. They'll look very nice on our tree.

Not much else got done today; these small details required a lot of fussy work, and there was crap telly to watch as well. Quiet days can be very relaxing.

Add two phone calls with friends/ex-colleagues, and I really can't complain about the lack of social life, either.

Oh, and we had rain and wind, to which the balcony capitulated, as always. At least my catastrophe prevention measures worked; meaning that the rain water dripped directly into the plastic container as it was supposed to do.

Comments

[meathiel]

It's been very wet and yuck here as well ... autumn at its worst!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, it cleared up in the afternoon, we even had bright sunshine for an hour or so, but by then the leakage had already happened.

[red-day-dawning.livejournal.com]

The grapefruit syrup actually sounds delicious! It’s a shame that it didn’t set as jam, but it sounds yummy.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It is delicious — but I wanted jam! :(

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. The grapefruit didn't set either? I pulled out my (one and only) cookbook from the 1970's and it has a recipe for orange marmalade. Would you like me to copy it for you, or are you just going to chalk this up to experience?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

My orange marmalade did set. It is actually so firm that I need a knife to cut it. It was the apple jam that remained liquid... and, of course, the grapefruit. Still, I'd be grateful for the recipe. Perhaps next time I'll end up with actual marmalade instead of orange-flavoured rock.

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

OK. Here's Marguerite Patten's take on marmalade.

The rules are the same as for jam making...the fruit MUST soak well if so directed and then be simmered very gently so that it really IS soft before adding sugar. (Her capital letters, not mine.)

BITTER ORANGE MARMALADE

1 lb oranges, 3 lb sugar, juice of 1 large lemon, 3 pints water.

Cut or mince oranges finely, removing the pips.

Soak the peel and pulp overnight in water, together with the pips, which should be tied up carefully in a piece of muslin.

After soaking, put the fruit, water and pips in a covered pan, and simmer slowly until the peel is quite soft. This should take approximately one and a half hours.

Take out the bag of pips. Stir in the sugar and lemon juice

Bring to the boil, and boil rapidly in an uncovered pan until setting point is reached. This should take approximately 20 minutes.

.....

I suspect this is little different to what you have, but maybe the proportions are slightly different?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

The method is similar, but the amount of sugar required here is quite shocking. My jam was rock hard with just half as much. But I think you nevertheless. :)

[noadvertising.livejournal.com]

Will you post a pic of your Heineken Santas once they are finished?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Of course! You know how much I like to show off! :)

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

You have me dreaming of grapefruit, lol. I really miss having some. Glad you had a nice quiet day, we all need some of those every once in awhile. Sorry about your balcony, at least you now have somewhat of a solution.