Tuesday 14 August 2012

Ta-dah! Tuesday - The fruits of my (child) labour

Hi, sorry I've been awol this last week, been keeping kids entertained and attempting to sort a laundry mountain prior to heading to the Lake District this week. Added to my pre-holiday stress woes was the fact that all the wild plums have just ripened, and if we didn't pick and use them now, we'd have no plum jelly for the rest of the year. I know, how traumatic? So I enlisted the help of the kids and we collected these yesterday:



The above 4kg of small squishy fruit also managed to escape into the boot of the car on the way home, working their way commando style under the children's feet and to the front under my accelerator. Note to self: ensure carrier bags are properly tied up next time. I fear the husband's wrath if we break down on some remote country road as a result of plums in the engine.

I then spent yesterday evening washing, boiling and draining the juice of most of them:



before reboiling the juice with sugar to make 6 jars of this:

Ta-dah!

We mainly eat this with roast dinners - it is delicious - but it would also works with cheese, in sandwiches and as a base for sauces. There is no reason why you couldn't have it on toast too. The recipe is from The Cottage Smallholder and can be found here. I made sure there was enough fruit left to start another batch of plum vodka, which I posted about last year, and for those who missed it, is AMAZING and tastes like Christmas.

I now need to sort all our stuff for the Lakes, plus leave the house in some semblance of order for the house sitter. I hope to post at least once while I'm away, but if it doesn't happen I'll see you all when we get back.

Link up any ta-dah worthy posts below - my favourite last week was the paint by numbers drawers make-over by Kylie, but there are always loads of good ideas.



Lakota x

52 comments:

  1. Your plum jelly looks gorgeous, I made plum jam a few years ago and that was yummy too!

    Bee happy x

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  2. I have damsons in my freezer from last year and no space for all the blackberries I've been spying in the local hedgerows, might have to give something like this a go and make space for more fruit.

    I live in fear of something rolling under my brake pedal!!!!

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  3. I always make plum jam so am def going to give this a go as I prefer savoury anyway!! :D have a fab holiday! Fingers crossed for sunshine for you! xoxo

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  4. I have absolutely NO idea how on earth you managed to find the time to make such delicious-looking plum jelly with school holidays and planning an impending trip; without stylists, nannies, a film crew, make-up artist etc to make it look so easy! Nigella, go fuck yourself;)). Have a glorious holiday love!! xoxo

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  5. Fab. Homemade jam is the best and I will be having a go at the plum vodka too.
    Have a great holiday.xxx

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  6. Oh gee! Thanks for that little mention Lakota. Have a lovely time at 'the Lakes' x

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  7. Ooh I do like plums! Have a lovely trip!
    Victoria xx

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  8. Bloody arsebiscuit, you're amazing! Today I made a vegemite sandwich and thought I was Jamie fucking Oliver... you have children and make jelly and pick fruit and go on proper holidays... it's almost like you're a grown up Wonderwoman... in fact, I'm pretty sure I've just discovered your super power!!! Maybe tomorrow I'll make a vegemite sandwich AND a decision. HUMOUR! Sarah xxx

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  9. Have a wonderful trip! I'm just finding you but I'll be back! Your jelly looks soooo good and must be delicious with a roast. I agree with Misfits Vintage who says you must be Wonderwoman, although I'm curious to know what vegemite is?!

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  10. I'll just take the alcoholic version please, lol!!!

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  11. Plum vodka sounds amazing. I fancy making some plum gin this year. I've never done it before but will follow your recipe and let you now the results! Em ♥ *hic*

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  12. Hi again Lakota, I've linked (and the linky thing says I have) but it hasn't shown up...

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  13. Plum jelly sounds good; I've made plum jam but never jelly. Its been a crap year for the plum tree in our garden as its usually laden down with fruit, but none this year :-(

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  14. I can't say I really like the saound of that as I'm not a mad fruit lover BUT I DO love your lovely enamel pot thing! :D

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  15. Looks fantastic. The cottage smallholder got me onto raspberry vodka, which i've been making for years now. Lovely blog. Plum vodka sounds good.

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  16. I have a jar of homemade blackcurrant jam on the go at the moment, made by my step dad. It's great.

    Caroline
    xxx

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  17. And then I click to your front page to catch up and there is another recipe! I might actually love you :) x

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  18. Looks great! I need to be as productive. (But I guess I'd have to find the fruit first!) Have fun at the Lake District. Would love to see that place!

    xx
    Lynn a.k.a. Dylan

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  19. Enjoy your holiday.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  20. Oh man I was just craving jam with American fluffy biscuits (scones.
    Your a life saver!gonna try this when I go back to Cali. my sisters will love it.
    Have fun amor! your supermama totally deserve a holiday.
    besotes

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  21. You are superwoman. It takes me all week to get the house fit for the cat sitter and pack my rucksack, never mind create culinary masterpieces! Have a fab time! x

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  22. Looks delicious! I will have to try that recipe - especially for the vodka! Have a lovely holiday! xx

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  23. Yum! My mum made me partake in this style of child labour when I was a teenager. Except, it involved the mortifying stopping on roads to pick elderflowers for elderflower cordial because I was taller than her. Or WORSE, as a child, when we would collect horse/cow manure in sacks for the allotment! Mortified doesn't even come near it!

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  24. Oh and like Chris and teacakes, I STILL have plums in my freezer from last summer that I haven't done anything with!

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  25. Since I have scones for breakfast every day, I go through a jar of jam every few weeks. I'd love to have your yummy-looking homemade plum jam.

    I hope the packing for your trip goes smoothly. Have a great time!

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  26. Oooh it looks divine! I hope you get everything sorted and have a wonderful time at the Lakes.

    Nikki x

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  27. Yummy!!! I love homemade jam and jelly. That plumb vodka sounded divine:) My friend just made some peach and apricot jam and it is to die for!!! Are you heading to The Lake District? If so I want all the details we have a place booked there in Sept. :)
    XXOO
    Krista

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  28. plum jelly??? *MMMMMM* I bet it's rather delicious.

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  29. Looks lush. I haven't made any jams or jellies for many a year, I should give it a try again!

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  30. Sean brought loads of these home from the farm last year, and they became jam and vodka (c/o Fiona's blog and your recipe) and very delicious they were too. Time to make some more Methinks....

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  31. I forgot to wish you a fab holiday, never been to the Lakes but on my wish list.

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  32. Look at you, you are the Plum Jelly Queen! I am so impressed, it sounds delicious.
    Have a great holiday, fingers crossed for sunshine! xxxx

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  33. That stuff looks delicious! I'm very impressed by your industry and how cute to have the boys helping pick plums - like a story from Just William! xx

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  34. Nearby, on the edge of a housing estate is a "nature reserve". On this patch of trees, we noticed the remnants of a plum orchard which must have been part of a big ornate garden at some point. There are about 8 trees with different small plums, mostly mirabelles. I went down a few years ago and picked 60lb by just shaking the trees over a tarp. I made 1bout ten gallons of wine and Mrs E made jam by the wheelbarrowfull. Whilst I was there harvesting, a woman of about 65 came by and asked what the fruit were. I told her plums and she replied "Oh! I thought they were poisonous!" What has the world come to when people cannot recognise FOOD hanging on trees!
    Well, this year, there aren't any. Poor weather i think during pollination time. You did very well to find those. I wish I had some plums. The pictures of the jam in jars has me fair salivating!

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  35. oooh The Lakes (hopefully nothing like that 90s tv drama) - please got to Beatrix Potter's house for me - oooh and buy me a load of brown kendal mint cake - oooh and you can't forget the pencil museum. I haven't been for 20 years but remember it fondly. mmmm plum jam, must make some jam or wine or gin or something this year - look gorgeous!

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  36. After that, anything less than a post detailing your entirely home made picnic(down to the hand woven rug)consumed with all children on the top (of course they've all walked there themselves) of Great Gable en route to Skiddaw will be a disappointment. Failing that I'll settle for a report on the horrors of Beatrix Potter World. Have fun! If you'll be there on Saturday and it's not peeing it down, the Rusland Games is worth a visit - traditional Cumbrian sports day with wrestling, 2 fell races, track races (for children and adults, handicapped to make it more competitive), and hound trailing. Plus beer. Cash prizes!

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  37. YUMMY! Looks so sweet and charming and makes my mouth water. I like that in things I don't have to make myself!

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  38. Well done for picking your fruit in the nick of time. We were waiting for a dry spell (ha!) in order to gather our elderflowers and by the time the sun reappeared this summer all of the flowers had died - sigh!

    Your jam looks lovely. Good luck with the pre-holiday prep and have a great time (we are off to the Lakes in a couple of weeks too).

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  39. I tried this lasy year with crab apples. The first lot didn't set so was reboiled the next day and turned into fruit cement. Jelly is harder than it looks! Well done!

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  40. ooh! yum! have a great holiday! x

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  41. Oh my god I've never seen so many plums! It looks and sounds yummy, feel free to send some my way! Thanks for commenting on my blog, sorry for thee late reply! I hope you continue to enjoy it and enjoy the jam! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk

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  42. Hello, me again! You must have inspired me into jamming. It was only when i went to link up that i remembered that your ta-dah was a jammy one. Hope you don't mind!
    Copying...flattery...and all that.

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  43. I am afraid with children home from school, I haven't done anything I am proud of, just work washing and the add teddy bears picnic, will definitely have to try for a ta-dah when I get back from hols.

    The plum jam looks delicious and the plum vodka sounds amazing.

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  44. oooh, that looks lovely - have never tried making jam/preserving, but is something that I definitely mean to one day. Have a great trip away. x

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  45. Nom nom nom :)

    Have a great time at the Lake District! I've never been but people keep telling me it's beautiful!

    xx

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  46. How wonderful! I've never made plum jelly, but yours look delicious! I forgot about your Ta-dah Tueday, so perhaps I will link up next time. Enjoy your week! -xo /Madison

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  47. Mr FD has demanded I make more jam as we only have very runny greengage jam left in the cupboard...I've got some mirabelle plums, so I may well be following your example today.

    I hope you will pop over to see me at Fat Dormouse getting Thinner (dormouse.blogspot.com) and join in my Giveaway.

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  48. Wow, I've never made jam before so I'm in awe here... Hope you're having a nice, relaxing, non-wild-plums-stress time now in the Lake District! x

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  49. Oh my this looks delicious but now I am off to find out more about plum vodka. I love Christmas!

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  50. Yum! This is such a fabulous post! Looks totally great :))


    Lots of love,
    Sabina
    xxx

    Enter my studded corset giveaway in collaboration with Kat Valdez!

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