by spendlove Moderator 22 Sep 2014

For those interested in preserving. I've just made a batch of jelly from fruit gathered from hedgerows. (Blackberries, elderberries, rosehips, sloes and crab apples with a few grapes and cooking apples from the garden.)

I began with a huge pan full and cooked it all down for about an hour. When this was cool, I used my improvised jelly straining system to let it drip overnight with no interference, squeezing or prodding. This morning I added the sugar (One pound per pint of juice) and boiled it until the temperature reached 105C. What a lot of effort for four small jars! It had better be good. The last picture is my grape jelly and pickled onions from last week with labels by the Jam Labelizer.

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by pennifold 26 Sep 2014

Wow! Sue these look amazing, I can almost taste them from down-under. I love anything with blackberries in them. Used to pick them in the Adelaide Hills when I was a wee lass. Well done, love Chris

P.S. Love the labels too. Steve puts funny labels on things he does too and being British he has a wonderful sense of humour!!!!!

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by lbrow 25 Sep 2014

All in a row and neat as a pin, this is how I think of you Sue. This post has brought to mind an old music teacher I had who use to give me Rose Hip Hot tea. In my adult yrsI have often looked for Rose Hip tea but have never been able to find any that truly smelled of roses like hers did. I have never thought of using rose hips in jelly, do they make the jelly smell like roses? I have some monstrous looking hips on my 1 rose bush and believe I'll try drying them and making some tea. What do you think of this idea? Lillian

1 comment
spendlove by spendlove 25 Sep 2014

I think it is definitely worth a try. These hips weren't very big and didn't cook down as much as I would have liked.

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by Patricia109 24 Sep 2014

As one who hasn't bottled for over 30 years - love your strainer set-up.
I will have to remember that next time I make cheese from yoghurt.

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by marianb 23 Sep 2014

Like your very expensive strainer, as a non bottler what do you do with the leftover fruit can it be used to make other things? Marian

1 comment
spendlove by spendlove 23 Sep 2014

The remains in the strainer go in the compost.

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by airyfairy 23 Sep 2014

It will be absolutely delicious. My mother had a strainer very similar. She was always making jams and jellies not to mention the elderberry wine and sloe gin. Your post has really taken me back.

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by aussiequilter 22 Sep 2014

looks delicious sue ,even though its time consuming it will be well worth the work ,,, enjoy

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by dragonflyer 22 Sep 2014

I am sure it will be scrummy! Don't you just love the labelizer!!!

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by asterixsew Moderator 22 Sep 2014

Looks like you have been busy Sue. I have been out picking in the hedgerows this afternoon but nothing more exotic than blackberries. The boys enjoyed themselves helping. Twm & I then made 2 blackberry and apple crumbles. One went home with him. He I getting good at making crumble. Thanks for the label link I will look later

2 comments
asterixsew by asterixsew 22 Sep 2014

Just looked at the labels and they are brilliant. THANKS

spendlove by spendlove 23 Sep 2014

They are good, aren't they?

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by Leaha 22 Sep 2014

They say necessity is the mother of invention, great job. Looks yummy all the way around. :-)

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by cfidl 22 Sep 2014

In my house it would be called "Kitchen Sink" jelly... as you throw in everything but the kitchen sink! I love that you used your stool as part of your straining apparatus. Clever girl!

1 comment
spendlove by spendlove 23 Sep 2014

Stalks and all!

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by graceandham 22 Sep 2014

After using the magnifier to look at your excellent labels, I was relieved to find that your grape jelly and your onions were two separate items

1 comment
spendlove by spendlove 22 Sep 2014

LOL!

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by 02kar Moderator 22 Sep 2014

Yummy!

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by dailylaundry 22 Sep 2014

Oh, send a jar to my house please!! It looks so yummy! Thank you for the Jam Labelizer site - it is very cool! Hugs to you, Laura*

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by lilylady 22 Sep 2014

looks yummy and don't you love those free labels!

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by mops Moderator 22 Sep 2014

It looks delicious and thanks to the jam labels professional as well. Thanks for that link! I usually use my blender and strain, it means a greater yield, but a cloudy one. I bet yours tastes delicious!

1 comment
spendlove by spendlove 23 Sep 2014

WI rules I'm afraid!

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by sdrise 22 Sep 2014

What a cleaver ides with the stool turned upstide down! Looks wonderful! I have been canning myself to get the rest of the garden done.Enjoy! Suzanne

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by decojo 22 Sep 2014

Looks delicious!

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by jrob Moderator 22 Sep 2014

Quite brilliant to use your inverted stool strainer! Your berries look very interesting and I can't wait to hear the results. Doodles Delectable or Doodles Dud?

5 comments
spendlove by spendlove 22 Sep 2014

LOL

spendlove by spendlove 22 Sep 2014

Actually, I've decided to call this one Doodles Delightful, but I've just potted a batch of apple butter which will be Doodles Delectable!
I have done the hedgerow mixture before. There isn't a particular recipe, just what I can find!

jrob by jrob 22 Sep 2014

Ah, and I was here thinking how adventurous you were. Well I guess you were when you first did them. ;)
I love apple butter on hot biscuits (not cookies, for you Aussies).

spendlove by spendlove 23 Sep 2014

Are biscuits bread?

jrob by jrob 24 Sep 2014

Yes, they are bread.

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