That's it, I think I'm now officially 'over' making plum jam. Saturday afternoon saw P, and his incredibly long arms, on a step ladder picking in all of the plums he could reach - and he can reach a very long way with his arms. We ended up with a washing-up bowl and a carrier bag full of them. So, having purchased yet more preserving sugar, today I set to and made yet another batch of plum jam. I seriously don't think I want to cut up another plum for a very long time!! The plum jam itself is lovely and we're managing to make good inroads into the jam I've already made but, for this year anyway, the jam-making element of the kitchen is closed. C-L-O-S-E-D. Ferme, finito.
Unfortunately, we still have half a washing-up bowl full of plums and I know my next-door neighbours are also 'all plum-ed out' so I'm seriously considering putting them in a box out the front with a few carrier bags and asking people to help themselves.
The greengages I picked in last week were simply stewed up and proved to be absolutely delicious - especially as we had them with a generous dollop of clotted cream!!
Tomorrow I'm going to investigate the blackberries in the little lane that leads between our road and the next one. This lane has become almost impassable this summer so I'm hoping I can still squeeze my bulk down there. Last year I had some lovely blackberries from there and they're really safe to eat too as no vehicles, not even motorbikes, could get through the lane-way and I didn't pick any that were low enough for dogs to have pee'd on them. The bungalow that lies along one side of the lane has recently been sold to a builder - judging by the amount of work going on, and he is busy ripping out all the overgrown shrubs in the garden so I fear if I don't get my act together quickly he'll have dug out all the blackberry bushes too. I've got a real craving for blackberry and apple crumble (with clotted cream, of course) so I'm hoping I find at least enough to make one - or two.
That's all making my mouth water! If only I lived nearby, I'd be buying it off you. Have you thought about offering your excess on freecycle?
Or why don't you find a little local Christmas Fayre and sell them? Pretty labels on them, do some chutneys too - fab! Failing that, Christmas presents!
Posted by: Catherine | 09/14/2009 at 05:59 PM
I am reading your blog...hungry yet again! I love the sound of the stewed greengages and clotted cream. When it got cold last week I got all excited and made my first apple crumble since before summer. It was good...
Posted by: Shoestring | 09/14/2009 at 07:24 PM