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| SPSH #20 - You Grew It, Made It - Peach Jam! |
Today, Saturday, I made a batch of peach jam! It has a rather soft set, but, that is OK, I think; a nice, spreadable jam, not fruit leather! I canned the 10 half-pint (8 oz.) jars that are shown here. There were another two and a half jars that I didn't can as the pot I use for canning didn't have room for them. Several of the jars of jam will be given as gifts to family and friends.
Even though I made the jam over two days, cutting up the fruit yesterday and then, making the jam today, I felt tired at the end of it! Although, I'm happy to say that my hands didn't cramp! I still have a few more peaches to process - I plan to cut them up and freeze them to make chutney when my daughter comes home.
I rested for a bit after I finished making the jam and ate some buttered toast for my brunch. Then, I took a container of soup, a jar of the jam that I didn't can, several fresh lemons, and some sprigs of curry leaves to give friend R. It was another of our curbside visits with both of us wearing our masks. After I came home, I took a container of soup over to neighbor T.
I rested after that and relaxed with a cup of tea and some cheese and crackers. Later, I had a bowl of soup, followed by leftover rice and curries, and a peach for dessert. There might have been one of the chocolate biscuits that my cousin gave me, after that!
Later, I video chatted with my daughter.
Today, I am grateful for:
- The peach harvest
- Lemons and curry leaves from the garden
- The batch of peach jam
- A safe drive to friend R's and back
- Being able to video chat with my daughter
Today's joyful activity was making jam!
Plans for Sunday include cleaning up from making jam - I wiped down the stove and counters, but, there seems to be a sticky spot on the kitchen floor! Also need to label the jars of jam!
How was your Saturday? What are your plans for Sunday?
I'm not surprised you were tired! That was a job well done, and no doubt the results will be well appreciated. Do you leave the skins on when you prepare the peaches? And does the finished result taste properly of peach, or is any of the flavour altered by the jamming process? (Might seem like a daft question but I sometimes think some fruits' flavours are enhanced by jamming and others make a really nice, but less definitely flavoured, jam.)
ReplyDeleteI'm getting old now, I think, Lady Ella, because I used to make a batch of jam, start to finish, in one day and not be tired. I'm also all for short cuts, these days! I used to peel the peaches before making the jam, but, after my successful attempt at no-waste peach jam, I've been leaving the skins on! I blend everything in the blender and that eliminates having big pieces of peach skin in the jam (and also, gives a rosy hue to the jam!). I think it preserves the taste of the peaches, especially since I didn't add other flavors to this batch (I often add spices like cinnamon or cardamom to my jams; my last batch of strawberry jam ended up being almost too cinnamon-y!)
DeletePeach jam sounds really good. I'm sure everyone you share it with will enjoy it. Nothing much exciting yesterday for me since I was at work all day. However, today we are giving my FIL an 89th birthday party at his house.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June; I hope people will like the jam. Sorry you had to work all day, yesterday, but, we all appreciate those who keep places open during the weekends for the convenience of the rest of us.
DeleteHappy birthday to your FIL and have a wonderful gathering to celebrate!
Yay, you've started on the SPSH ... well done. It sounds like you've had a foodie day. I've spent this afternoon watching the Jubilee Pageant on TV ... it was fantastic. I've left a link in my response to your comment about the Queen and Paddington - hopefully it will work and you'll be able to see the sketch
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen; after I took the photo, I thought, this will be ideal for the SPSH prompt as I both grew and made it! :D
DeleteThank you, too, for posting the link in response to my comment - I was able to access the link and watch the entire video. Loved it! :D
Sounds like a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon, enjoying watching the celebrations. :)
Lovely that you now have lots of jam as well as the peach topping! It is certainly a lot of work cutting up fruit in quantity. I'm always impressed by how much you achieve.
ReplyDeleteI've been to church, made egg salad sandwiches for lunch, and soon we will be going for our Sunday walk. There is a nice breeze and it is not overly hot.
Thank you, Bushlady. Yes, I have some jam to share as well as to enjoy, myself.
DeleteYum! Egg salad sandwiches! You know they are one of my favorites! I hope you have a lovely walk, Bushlady, and a great rest of the day. :)
How wonderful that you were able to make the jam from your harvest. Your garden provides such lovely treats and it's nice that you will share it with others. There is nothing better than a homemade gift - something given and made with love!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy I could make the peach jam and have enough to share. I look forward to opening a jar of peach jam in the winter and it will be a taste of summer, preserved in a jar! I love receiving homemade gifts because I know it took time and effort to make them. :)
DeletePeach jam sounds fabulous. Enjoy the "fruits of your labor."
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susanne. I've shared some of the jam with friends and neighbors, too. :)
DeleteHappy that you made the jam. Having some to share is just a bonus!
ReplyDeleteI took a page out of your book and made some peach preserves with some peaches I was given.
Hi Anne, sorry for responding so late to your comment, but, it, along with several other comments, had gone into my spam folder and I didn't find out till today!
DeleteI'm glad I was finally able to make some peach jam and glad that you, too, made some peach preserves! How lovely to have been given some peaches!
You have worked hard making all your peach topping and jam, no wonder you feel tired. It all looks delicious and so nice you are able to share with your family and friends.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. Making jam, chutney, etc., seem to tire me more now than it used to. But, the harvest has to be preserved, if not eaten right away! Being able to share some of the homemade jams is a pleasure!
DeleteThere is always something very satisfying about canning your own produce. X
ReplyDeleteYes, there is, isn't there? I'm going to freeze some of the broccoli I've been picking, too. It's getting to be too hot for broccoli and some of the plants are bolting.
DeleteJam making is quite the effort - good job getting it done.
ReplyDeleteYour gift cupboard is growing!
I like how you and your friend R have your curbside visits.
I hope her family in Sri Lanka is doing ok.
Thank you, Debra; it takes a little time and effort, but, it is good to have homemade preserves for us to eat and to give as gifts. I was thinking of what you said in an earlier comment, about how we will soon be talking about the holidays, when I was making the jam! :D Holiday gifts are being made even before summer has officially begun! LOL.
DeleteCurbside visits work well for me. :) According to R, her family is doing OK; they are managing, she says, although times are hard. Shortages are rampant as everything from gas to medicines are in short supplies!