Monday, 18 October 2010

Grape jelly

Ingredients:

•1 kilo of grapes - grapes with pips help the jelly to set. •Sugar
•Water

Method:

1.Wash the grapes and discard and bad ones.
2.Pull the grapes away from the stalks and place in a deep heavy bottomed saucepan or preserving pan.
3.Barely cover the grapes with water and bring to the boil and simmer gently until the grapes are soft.
4.Keep an eye on them, stirring from time to time. Top up with water if necessary. (I mashed them gently with a plastic potato masher to hurry them along).
5.Pour the cooked fruit through sterilised muslin / jelly bag into a large clean bucket or bowl bucket. The sieve is covered with a clean tea cloth to protect against flies.
6.Leave the jelly bag to drip overnight (or about 12 hours).
7.Measure the juice the next day.
9.Pour the juice into a deep heavy bottomed saucepan and add 1lb/454g of white granulated sugar for each 1pt/570ml of juice.
10.Heat the juice and sugar gently stirring from time to time, so as to make sure that that all the sugar has dissolved before bringing the liquid slowly to the boil.
11.Continue to boil for about 10 minutes before testing for a set. This is called a rolling boil. Test every 3 to 5 minutes until setting point is reached.
13.When jelly has reached setting point pour into warm sterilised jars using a funnel and ladle.
14.Cover immediately with plastic lined screw top lids or waxed disks and cellophane tops secured with a rubber band.
15.Label when cold and store in a cool, dark place. Away from damp.


Read more: The Cottage Smallholder » Grape Jelly recipe http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/piquant-grape-jelly-recipe-74#ixzz12hdNTKVL

emon Pickle

Ingredients:

•4 green limes
•1 inch piece root ginger, sliced
•1 tbsp white vinegar
•10 Cayenne chillies sliced
•2 tbsp sugar
•1 tbsp paprika
•1 tsp Garam Masala
•1 tsp cumin seeds
•2 cloves garlic, sliced
•2 tsp salt
•2 tbsp oil
Cooking method for Lime Pickle
Serves 8

Quarter the lemons. Place in a large jar with 1 tsp of salt and seal. Mix the salt up by shaking then leave in a sunny spot for 3-4 days. Move the jar round regularly. Add the rest of the salt to the jar, mix, and leave for 1 month in the sun. Rotate the jar every day. Heat some oil in a pan and cook the ginger till golden. Now add the vinegar, lemon and lemon juice from the jar. Mix well and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the spices, garlic and chillies, and cook for a further 3 minutes. Store in sterilised jars and keep in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Sunday, 17 October 2010

Lemon Curd

Original Recipe Yield 2 cups
Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 cup fresh lemon juice
3 lemons, zested
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Directions
1.In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk together the sugar and eggs until smooth. Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest and butter. Cook in the microwave for one minute intervals, stirring after each minute until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from the microwave, and pour into small sterile jars. Store for up to three weeks in the refrigerator.

Note: If you over cook the mixture a little, or forget to stir, you can pass the mixture through a fine sieve to remove the bits of cooked egg. Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 117 | Total Fat: 6.7g | Cholesterol: 55mg

Nutritional InformationMicrowave Lemon CurdServings Per Recipe: 16
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 117
Total Fat: 6.7gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 14mgTotal Carbs: 14.1g Dietary Fiber: 0.2gProtein: 1.