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| Fresh Peaches |
These are the peaches I picked on Monday. They weren't fully ripe, but, something (the weather, perhaps?) is causing them to mold while still on the tree and I am finding half moldy fruit on the ground on a daily basis. They don't have the flavor or the sweetness of sun ripened peaches, but, I don't want the fruit to go to waste, either. As it was, some of the picked peaches had started to mold, overnight!
I decided to make chutney with 5 lbs. of the peaches. I had to peel and stone about 7 lbs. of peaches in order to get 5 lbs. of cut peaches. But, I spread kitchen towels on the newly cleared family room table (the new kitchen towels were a big help, as I dripped peach juice everywhere!) and watched TV while I cut up the fruit, peeled the garlic and the ginger and weighed out the dried chilies and mustard seeds. My peach chutney recipe is here.
I started cutting the peaches at 11:00 a.m., after I brought in the trash cans and checked on the garden, etc. I finished making the chutney at 5:00 p.m.! Cutting the peaches took a long time. Then, cooking the mixture down to chutney consistency took more time. One is supposed to stir the mixture constantly, according to my recipe, but, I took time off from stirring to clean up as I went. My recipe doesn't call for canning, but, I processed the jars of chutney in a water bath for 15 minutes (I don't have a canner, as such; I just fill a large pot with water and use that.)
And the end results:
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| Peach Chutney |
Ten and a half American pint (16 fl. oz.) jars of spicy, sweet peach chutney! I put the half filled jar in the fridge as I didn't can it. The chutney is dark red in color due to the chili powder.
I'll probably make one more batch of chutney, later this week.
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| Peaches on the Tree |
There are still plenty of peaches on the tree. You can see where the main top of the tree broke off, two years ago (lower right) and how the side branches sent up branches to give height to the tree! We will have to prune some of that down, I think, because I don't want the tree to grow so tall that we won't be able to harvest the fruit! As it is, M will have to climb up on a ladder to reach those peaches at the top!
I ate a peach and leftover watermelon for brunch while the chutney was simmering and, after the chutney was made, I ate one cheese burek and the last Napoleon pastry, instead of having a cup of tea. Later, I had a little spaghetti and sauce for dinner.
I took it easy, the rest of the evening, as I was tired from making the chutney. I did clean the litter box and chatted with friend R. I want to take her some peaches, tomorrow or on Thursday.
Today, I am grateful for:
- An abundance of peaches from the garden
- Working appliances
- Having plenty of kitchen towels!
- Some sunshine this afternoon!
- Being able to preserve the bounty of peaches
Today's joyful (if tiring) activity was making peach chutney!
Plans for tomorrow include tending to the garden with M, picking more peaches, taking some peaches to friend R, putting gas to the car.
How was your Tuesday? What are your plans for Wednesday? Do you make jams or chutney? If so, will you be making some this summer?
You were busy and no wonder you were tired afterwards. I have never made jams or chutney and not about to start now. However I am very envious of all your peaches and jars of chutney.
ReplyDeleteI told my daughter that making chutney is becoming a two person job, now! But, I'm glad I was able to make today's batch of chutney. I've enough of the ingredients for maybe another smaller batch. After that, I'll probably make some same and preserve the rest in sugar syrup. I haven't room in the freezer to freeze any peaches! I need to sort through the freezer again to see if I can make some room!
DeleteI wish I could share some of the peaches with you! You'll have to order some from the grocery store and pretend that they came from my garden! :D
Preserving food in any form takes a lot of work. Good for you for sticking with it all day and making your peach chutney.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June. If the peaches had been riper and softer, I could have cut them in chunks and used a potato masher to mash them down a bit rather than cutting them in small pieces. But, it was the cooking and stirring that took the longest time. But, now I have some delicious chutney to share with my daughter and others. :)
DeleteI don't know which I like better, the photo of those wonderful peaches or the photo of those jars of delicious chutney! Well done on working so hard to produce them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bushlady. The peaches do look pretty, don't they? But, the chutney will keep longer! :D
DeleteWow, the tree still looks laden! Is this after the fruit was thinned out, or didn't you bother in the end?
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your chutney! I bet it is great! It must be very satisfying to see the finished jars all lined up like that. Yes, I often think that a batch of preserves takes far longer to make than people realise. Because I re-use jars, I also have to factor in the label removal, which can take ages as some companies use such stubborn glue! Then designing, printing and sticking new labels on is another task. I usually spread the tasks over two or three days.
Ella
This is after the fruit was thinned out, not once, but twice! Each time M removed at least 1/3 (if not more) of the fruit! At least no branches broke, this time! We picked the fruit that is shown in the photo, today. I made a batch of jam with some of them and kept the rest to deal with on another day. I still need to make the labels!
DeleteMaking chutney can be quite time consuming, but it is an enjoyable and satisfying process, and I expect the results will be delicious.
ReplyDeleteDo you allow it to mature for a while before you eat any? X
The chutney I make is ready to be eaten right away, Jules. It doesn't need to mature. It is spicy and sweet and we love it!
DeleteWhat an undertaking! I was waiting to read of your hands cramping and was glad there was no mention of it happening. You must've been drinking your water. Or maybe the watermelon has kept you hydrated :)
ReplyDeleteYour peach tree continues to be such a performer. All that chutney will be nice to have for yourself of course but I know you like to give food gifts as well.
It was quite a job! But, no cramping, this time around and I am so happy for that! I am also taking potassium and magnesium supplements on doctor's orders and I think that must be helping with the cramping. That peach tree is a star performer, isn't it?
DeleteWell, yes, about half the jars from this batch of chutney have left the house! :D