It's Not Just About the Jam....

It's about the special pleasure of still being able to do things with my children - well, one of them, today - even though they are way past the "hanging onto mother's apron" stage. In fact, this morning was more a case of "mother hanging on to 19 year old son Tim's Tee Shirt" - while he stirred and scraped the rolling, boiling, apple and blackberry syrup as it turned itself into jam.

We had so much fun - comparing the success of using a sugar thermometer (dangled into the jam with cooking tongs - fire-breather Tim's asbestos
fingers were better at doing this over the rising steam than my own) - with the old fashioned method of "cold plate from the 'fridge - drop  jam on surface - push with finger - is it setting? (Otherwise known as "the crinkle test").

The old way was the best way - so satisfying to see the thin sugar and
fruit boiling down into thick, bubbling jam and setting almost instantly
as it hit the plate.

Tim took over the bottling as well - jars were sterilised by a cycle
through the dishwasher, and in lieu of a jam funnel we used the funnel
for directing salt into the dishwasher water softening socket
(sterilised in boiling water first). It was perfect - fitted over the
jam jar necks like a dream, and all jam straight down into the bottom,
instead of smearing the sides on its descent.

Spread on brown bread and tasted while still warm (naturally - impatience
runs in the family) - it was declared "Damned fine jam, that!" - and an
appointment made to turn the next crop - the bowl of beautiful quinces (below)
also picked by Tim, into quince jelly or Marmalade. (Did you know that
the original marmalade was made from quinces -  The Portuguese word for
a quince being "marmalo" ?). Such a happy morning, enjoying simple pleasures,
which are so often the best.

Oh, and by the way - the grapes on the patio vine are darkening by the day - looks like the Vendage at Autumn Cottage is only a week or two away!

Comments

[ardi]

How great you and Tim were able to do jam together. The domesticity of this time of year lives deep in all of us, doesn't it? Our apples are nearly ripe and since they're not good pie apples, they are made into applesauce. I figure one frost and we'll be ready to pick. We trade apples for plums with the next door neighbors and the plums are already ripe. I miss having grapes and suppose I should plant some - our daughter lived in a rental with a lovely row of grapes that were delicious eating ones. Ah, the last kiss of summer to be sure.

[Darla]

When I read the title and quickly spotted Tim in the photo I thought this post was going to be about MUSIC - a jam! hahaha.

I like the old fashioned method for testing jam because you get to "lick the plate" each time you try it out and find it isn't quite ready yet.

Darla

[Nancy]

What a handsome son you have Roz! And one who makes jam as well. ;) What more could you ask for?

[Britt-Arnhild]

The perfect son Roz :-) I can see from the photos and your writing that you had a perfect time together.

[Fran]

Tim is one good looking young man--and the jam experience with mum is one he'll never forget. Yum!

[Loretta]

What's cuter - maker jam or Tim? Hard to say! I have never seen a quince in the flesh so to speak. I almost bought a bunch of figs today to make fig jam, but frankly, at ONE DOLLAR A PIECE, I bought some fancy gourmet fig jam for only $8. BTW - I love your cooker!

[Sioux]

Sounds like one wonderful day...good for you and Tim!

[tea]

What a good looking son you have! And how sweet that he helped you make the jam :)
Love the pictures!