If I tell you that we have a red currant bush in our garden that I didn’t even know existed (until it’s heavily laden branches were almost touching the ground), you might be able to tell what kind of gardener I am! I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth but it took me ages to decide what to do with them… On their own they can be eye-scrunchingly sour, but can be a nice partner to rich chocolate puds and the like. This time we decided to make a red currant jelly with them.
Having never made Jam or Jelly before, I was pleased to discover I live in a marmalade (the term for Jam over here strangely) obsessed country, and a bit like school uniforms, available in the shops before the summer holidays have even begun, there are supermarket shelves dedicated to preserving for the winter season right now. So this Haus Frau stocked right on up, and came away with several empty jars, and a funny straining cloth thing.
If you want to keep two small children quiet for at least 42 minutes, give them a bowl of red currants to destalk. They might look like they have committed some horrible blood thirsty crime the next day, but they enjoyed it all the same. It is not imperative that the stalks are removed by the way, as you will see from the recipe below, but it’s definitely an outdoor activity – trust me one this one.
As red currants naturally contain a lot of pectin, I based our jelly on Delia Smith’s recipe in the end as it seemed the most straight forward. I adapted it by using a 1000g berry to 1000g sugar ratio however, which still worked well. As she says, if you don’t touch it during the straining process, the jelly will be clear, but we had to give it a helping hand as the expensive cloth thing turned out to be rather too good at its job, and didn’t actually let any jelly through!
Our Jam Making Society declared the result a beautiful colour in any event, and said it even tastes nice. Label expertly designed by The 5 year old.
*This is a scheduled post as I am still in the beautiful, but very wet and rainy UK. Back shortly!
mmm yum! Berries seem to be about the only thing we have grown this year. We have a small redcurrant bush that has quite a few berries and some blackcurrant berries. We also have gooseberries that I made jam from last week – makes beautiful jam. I’m very envious that Bavaria is jam making country. More and more to like about it – I shall have to visit it one day!
Gooseberry Jam… Yum, my favourite! Waiting for the blackcurrants to ripen, and that’s the next project! :)
Wow, those berries look delicious! I would love to give that jelly a go so I could slather it all over my next roast dinner. Whoever decided to try putting jelly with savoury dishes was genius :)
Do you know, up until now we have been eating it with toast… Not anymore! Thank you :)
I’ve started dabbling with preserves the last year or two. Like the idea of being able to buy all the stuff locally – wonders to self will Aldi and Lidl be stocking that sort of thing here.
Now is definitely the time to look. They had a few bucket things full of jars etc. :)
ooooh fantastic! I might have to go an buy some red currents for when the holidays start to turn disastrous!
Do… Guaranteed peace for at least half an hour :) x
Have fun in the Uk! We made this with our redcurrants http://www.canadianliving.com/food/baking_and_desserts/raspberry_red_currant_torte.php
Thank you. I have just got in! That sounds amazing. Have yet to see it here, but that could be because it gets eaten before I get to it :)
im so jelouse i planted a bush in our garden three years ago and in those three years we have had 4 berries only
I bet you it’s those blinking birds :) x
Sounds and looks amazing! Fun activity for the kids too. We made blackberry jam last year for the first time and it was gorgeous. Like you I go for the straight forward recipies ;-)
By the way that silent sunday photo I posted was while I was away in Lanzarote. Only just back and it seems I brought some good weather home…hope it improves for you too!
xx Jazzy
Thank you JG. Blackberry Jam sounds lovely! You know, the good weather is apparently going to arrive in the UK on Saturday, the day after I leave! Typical! :) x
Well done Darling – next time scald the cloth with boiling water before you pour the jelly through and it will work perfectly! Can’t wait to taste it – save me some. Mx
Now you tell me! Thanks Mum xx
Lucky you to have such a productive fruit bush in your garden (and that the birds didn’t get to the berries first!) There’s something so satisfying about the whole jam making process, isn’t there? Even when (as I must confess has happened to me just recently) it doesn’t turn out quite as planned.
I don’t think the birds had noticed them either! Thanks Mary :)
My favorite jam! But save some red currants for summer pudding, we never see them here so I always have to find a substitute.
xxx
I will stick some in the freezer! :) xxx
I love the label and I’m very impressed with your industriousness.
Thank you Rachel, I just couldn’t let them all go to waste… :D