Thursday, February 26, 2015

Great Strawberry Jam without Pectin?

Strawberry Jam Recipe by Marnie O'Mara

 

You can’t get jam to set without pectin of some kind and strawberries don’t contain this essential ingredient. Making strawberry jam get a good set is tricky, especially if you don’t want to make a mixed fruit jam or buy pectin.

In the spring newsletter we heard about soaking extra citrus pips and pith overnight to get good marmalade set. Marnie has a slightly different technique, as she explains  “I don't like to use a lot of sugar in my jams (if 1kg of fruit then only 1/2 kilo of sugar) and I don't like the flavour of lemon to take over the flavour of the fruit, so my 'trick' is to include lemon pips (saved in a container in the freezer) tied in muslin (and pounded gently once or twice) when the fruit is boiling. I prefer to let the mix bubble away for longer to reduce the liquid - a lesser bounty, but a thicker one which is has a far more concentrated fruit flavour.”
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BLUE MOUNTAINS FRUIT CALENDAR

We can harvest a wide range of fruits and nuts locally each season.

Local fruit and/or nut gardeners are invited to make additions or suggest modifications to the following work-in-progress compiled by Lizzie Connor.


SPRING HARVEST

Across the mountains: loquat, mulberry, rhubarb, strawberry and (in late spring) raspberry

Best in the lower mountains: avocado, jaboticaba, lemonade


SUMMER HARVEST

Across the mountains: apricot, blueberry, boysenberry, cherry, currant (red, black, white), gooseberry, kumquat, loganberry, loquat, mulberry,nectarine, peach, plum, raspberry, rhubarb, strawberry and (in late summer) almond, apple, fig, hazelnut, passionfruit, pear (incl. nashi), pomegranate, youngberry

Best in lower mountains:lemon (Eureka), lemonade, lime, mandarin, orange, persimmon (non-astringent) and (in late summer) avocado, babaco, macadamia, rockmelon, wampee, watermelon

Best in upper mountains: jostaberry, lemon (Meyer), persimmon (astringent)


AUTUMN HARVEST

Across the mountains: almond, apple, chestnut, feijoa, fig, grape, hazel, kiwi fruit, kumquat, medlar, olive, passionfruit, pear (incl. nashi), plum, quince, raspberry (some), rhubarb, strawberry, strawberry guava, walnut

Best in lower mountains: avocado, babaco, cherimoya, grapefruit, lemon (Eureka), macademia, monstera deliciosa, orange, pine nut, pistachio, rockmelon, tamarillo, walnut, watermelon, white sapote

Best in upper mountains: lemon (Meyer), mandarin (Satsuma)


WINTER HARVEST

Across the mountains: apple, hazelnut, kiwi fruit, kumquat, pear (incl. nashi)

Best in lower mountains: grapefruit, lemon (Eureka), orange, tangelo

Best in upper mountains: avocado (Bacon), lemon (Meyer)