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Sunday 8 July 2012

Jamming on a Sunday


Just because there isn't any sunshine outside, doesn't mean that I can't try and bottle some inside. On Friday's market, there were boxes of fresh apricots for sale, so I bought some and decided to try and make jam with them today. I didn't have quite enough for my recipe (one kilo) so I added some peaches to make up the quantities. They looked so pretty once chopped and stewing the in pan with sugar and water.


I tried to take a shot of them at a rolling boil, but my camera lens steamed up.....which amused me...
 You have to add a muslin bag of the apricot stones (for the pectin, to help the jam set). I didn't have any muslin so I used a scrap of linen instead. 
The house fills with a sweet, syrupy scent. Once setting point is reached, it's time to use up some of the jam jar mountain in the garage. I sterilise them by washing with hot soapy water and then popping in the oven for half an hour.

 Then comes the nice bit, potting up and labelling the jars. I recently bought an amazing old printing set from ebay. I saw one on a lovely blog called The Cloth Shed, and rushed straight to ebay to see if there might be a similar one for sale. I found a 'buy it now' for a reasonable price, and snapped it up. It's called The Silent Salesman, originally produced for corner shops, I think, and it just makes printing labels a lot more fun.



This jam tastes of summer. I have a load of gooseberries in the garden, they seem to grow anywhere and against all odds. Strawberry and gooseberry jam is a family favourite, so that is next on the list.




6 comments:

  1. I made apricot jam a few weeks ago. Would never have thought of mixing in peaches. Will have to give it a try.

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  2. If I had to choose I would say apricot jam is my favourite.I bet it tastes just divine.

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    1. Yes, we've just tried it on some warm scones, and it's very good indeed!

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  3. I just love making jam - although I don't really eat it, so my husband and friends do very well out of it! Apricot and Peach Jam sounds lovely though!
    Claire

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  4. I love your print set. What a marvelous find! I too am making jam today. Yesterday afternoon I pitted Bing cherries until my hands and sink were a deep shade of purple. I put some in the freezer, and today I'm making jam. I'm sorry about all your rainy weather, oh, I wish that I could send you a little bit of your sunshine. It looks like we are in for a very hot, dry, and sunny July. Thanks so much for popping in to visit and have a beautiful day. Connie :)

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