Morning. It's a perfect autumnal start to the day; the sun is shining, it's cool, the early mist has almost cleared and we had rain overnight. It feels so much fresher and less humid than yesterday too, at the moment anyway.
I got to Lathcoats yesterday morning and picked another containerful of plums. There are still plenty to pick but I had to go to the far end to find them. They are so ripe that pick one and three or four fall off at the same time.
I also went a bit bonkers with their apples too so I have rather a lot to eat now. As well as about ten varieties of their own apples, they also had more Smitten apples from elsewhere so I splashed out on some of them too. I love apples so eating them will be no hardship!
We're so lucky to have a place where they grow so many different varieties and let you taste before you buy.
Once home, I washed and sorted the plums. Some split as soon as I looked at them and I removed the stones and popped them in my maslin pot. The rest will either be halved and frozen or put in the fridge for desserts and snacks - I had some stewed with a sweet omelette and it was so delicious!
I'm maki8ng plum jam in two stages. Yesterday, I cooked them and added the sugar, setting it aside once the sugar had dissolved. Today I have to dig some jam jars out of the garage and then I will boil the mixture to setting point. It's just a simple plum jam, no added spices or anything. It will make nice Christmas presents.
Circuits was tough! A week and a half off (or semi off) does one no good at all. I was shattered afterwards so I came home and chilled. And that was my day really.
Today starts with Groove aerobics and Sharon was going to do my hair but she's rescheduled for Friday so I'm going to get moving with some serious housework today, after I've made the jam. The place is a bit of a mess, to be honest, and it needs a good going over.
Not the most exciting day but it should be satisfying (when it's all done)
I hope yours is too. xx
Had to look up Smitten apples, never heard of them and don't think they're available in S'b**y's! :-) Don't know what's going on, now it's not even accepting my Google URL .... grrrr Abeth x
ReplyDeleteFlippin' Google. It's such a pain for people at he moment. :-(
DeleteI found them in M&S and then in Morrison's but not recently. I thought it was just a short season until Lathcoats had them again - but not locally grown.
I think they are a lovely flavour and nice and crispy too. xx
I've not heard of Smitten apples either. I like a good crisp juicy slightly sharp apple - Cox's are my favourite.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen them before this year. I saw the name, thought 'that's new' and 'they look nice' and bought a few. I think they're lovely (in case you hadn't guessed lol)
Deletexx
I've not heard of Smitten apples either but you make them sound lovely. Did you have much home grown produce this year?
ReplyDeleteThe tomatoes have been good and I was happy with the cucumbers really, although they didn't really produce loads apart from one time. i'll do corn again too. The rest was a bit disappointing really. But really, as long as I have tomatoes, that's what matters. :-)
Deletexx
Add me to the list ... I haven't heard of Smitten apples either. I don't think I've ever seen them being sold but will have to look out for them so I can try them for myself! xx
ReplyDeleteHappy hunting . . . xx
DeleteI tried plum jam for the first time last week, It tasted delicious. Xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely jam, I think, and one of the easier ones. xx
DeleteWe love plum jam and I am a bit disappointed that we didn't get our usual plums from the neighbour. No jam this year (unless they go on a good sale at the store).
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Maybe they will, Jackie. What a shame though - was it a bad harvest? xx
DeleteIt sounds like a productive day! Plum jam sounds interesting. I can't say I've ever had any!
ReplyDeleteIt's a good jam, Sharon, and pretty easy to make too - I've never had setting problems, even when using very ripe fruit, and it takes only minutes to soften the fruit before adding the sugar. xx
DeleteOh, I love plums! Plum kuchen is my favorite. Your jam sounds divine.
ReplyDeleteIt is delicious. Plum liqueur is gorgeous too. I have a delicious recipe for spices plums that involves star anise and is so good with cream or custard. xx
DeleteVictoria plums are my favourites, and I too love English apples. My local greengrocers always has local fruit and veg. so I pop in whenever I can. We have had rain overnight so the big crack in my daughters lawn will loce that. every drop is welcomed as rain seems to miss Suffolk all the time!!! x
ReplyDeleteThey're a good plum - my Mum used to say they were the best apart from the golden plums they had in their hedge at the bottom of the garden that only produced occasionally because the blossom almost always got frosted. That jam was like eating sunshine - so, so delicious.
Deletexx
What is a sweet omelet? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt's just beaten egg with sugar or sweetener in, instead of salt and savoury seasonings, Marjorie. You have it with things like fruit, syrup, etc - a bit like a sweet pancake, in fact, but just eggs. I really like it.
DeleteYou can soufflé it, if you want, but I don't bother. xx