Strawberry Jam is one of life's delights - a little bit of summer in a jar! This Roasted Strawberry & Vanilla Conserve takes it to the next level. Roasting the strawberries softens the fruit and releases their juices and the vanilla beans add a bit of a lift. Using 'jam setting sugar' simplifies the recipe so you don't have to slave over a hot stove for too long in the heat of summer. You can of course use frozen strawberries and make the recipe later if you prefer. 1kg strawberries 1 … [Read more...]
Rhubarb & Strawberry Crumble Recipe
This Rhubarb & Strawberry Crumble Recipe is perfect for using fresh season's strawberries and abundant rhubarb. Take it along to your pre-Christmas get-togethers for a tasty dessert. Fruit Fill a deep oven-proof dish half to two thirds full with fruit. I used 2 large stems of rhubarb, cut into 1-2cm pieces, and sliced strawberries. I don't add any sugar to the fruit because I like the tartness contrasting with the sweetness in the crumble, but add some if you prefer it … [Read more...]
Rhubarb & Strawberry Curd Recipe
This rhubarb & strawberry curd recipe is a great way to enjoy these wonderful flavours throughout the year. You can use frozen strawberries and you can freeze the curd to enjoy later in the year. See my serving suggestion layering the curd with baked rhubarb and gingernut biscuits. ½ cup strawberries 4 medium stalks rhubarb, sliced ½ cm thick 2/3 cup caster sugar 90g butter 2 eggs 2 egg yolks 1/3 cup lemon juice Put all ingredients into a food processor and blitz until well … [Read more...]
Rhubarb & Strawberry Jam
Rhubarb & Strawberry Jam is such a great combination - the tang of the rhubarb balances out the sweetness of the strawberries. I have made the recipe twice this year: once in spring with fresh strawberries and again later once the rhubarb had regrown, with frozen strawberries. The jam goes wonderfully with scones and cream. 500g strawberries (can use fresh or frozen) 500g rhubarb 1kg Jam Setting Sugar Knob of butter (about 10g) Hull the strawberries and chop the rhubarb into 1cm … [Read more...]
Orange & Strawberry Jam with Vanilla & Mint Recipe
I am a fan of classic strawberry jam but I may never look back after enjoying the layers of flavours in this amazing Orange & Strawberry Jam with Vanilla & Mint. Orange really brings out the fruity flavours of the strawberries and then the vanilla and mint lift it to a whole new level. 1kg strawberries (I used frozen) 4 oranges 2 lemons 2 vanilla pods 1kg jam setting sugar A dozen or so mint leaves Hull the strawberries, cut them in halves or quarters, and put … [Read more...]
Strawberry & Banana Jam Recipe
My Lady Finger bananas are now producing well but this means that you have to do something with 100 or so bananas all ripening at once. I decided to try making Strawberry & Banana Jam. I regularly use Jam Setting Sugar that has pectin in it to make quick and easy fruit jams - you just need 1kg of whatever fruit or fruit combination you happen to have available. 500g hulled strawberries (I used frozen) 500g peeled bananas 1kg jam setting sugar ~10g knob of butter Mash strawberries … [Read more...]
Balsamic Strawberry Syrup Recipe
Strawberries and balsamic vinegar together are an amazing taste experience, with sweet and tart flavours kicking up the sensations. Strawberry Balsamic Syrup - delicious! It adds a touch of style to pancakes and waffles, your ice cream sundaes will never be the same. You can also drizzle it over pork chops and chicken for a flavour burst. 3 cups strawberries, hulled - I used frozen 1/2 cup water ~3 cups sugar (equal amount to pureed strawberries) 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar Mash … [Read more...]
The Birds and My Berries
I have a love-hate relationship with the birds in my garden and have written previously about feeding the birds and stopping the birds from eating all the plums. This year I have been fighting a losing battle between the birds and my berries, particularly my blueberries. There must be something special about blueberries or maybe it is that blackbirds really like a challenge. I'm tending towards the challenge explanation and have evidence that they keep learning new tricks to get to the netted … [Read more...]
Strawberry & Fig Jam Recipe
I love new twists on my 'old favourite' recipes for preserving fruits and vegetables, and Strawberry & Fig Jam is now firmly on my list of new favourites. My strawberries are producing copiously this year and, now that I've figured out where the birds were getting in, I'm harvesting a good supply. Any that are surplus to requirements at the time, I just hull them and freeze them whole (see also Freezing Fruit). Also in my freezer were some figs that really needed to be used before the … [Read more...]
Four Berry Jam Recipe
I grow as many different berries as I can in my garden because they are so easy to grow, freeze really well, and are great for cooking right throughout the year. Sometimes I end up with only a small amount of each of the different types of berries left in the freezer, not enough to make anything specific with any of them. This year I tried making a Four Berry Jam recipe with strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. The amount of each doesn't really matter and the end result is … [Read more...]