Friday 24 January 2014

That time of year

I thought my marmalade hadn't worked. It took ages before it would set. I think I added too much water for the amount of oranges. Eventually at around midnight, after the rest of the house (Niels) had gone to bed, a tiny little hint of a wrinkle appeared on the saucer when I tested for a set.  Hurrah, we shall have marmalade for another year. It tastes delicious, even if I do say so myself! And, for those marmalade makers among you, the oranges I used were left over from last year. I put them  into the freezer whole and they did their marmalade thing perfectly -  if a little slowly, and I  think that was because my measuring wasn't quite right.

10 comments:

Lucille said...

I've just finished my 2014 batch, made by a different method, but I spotted something in the picture I had completely forgotten. Is that a Spong mincer by any chance? My mother had one. Aren't Bonne Maman jars the best?

ADRIAN said...

Annie just buy a sachet of or whatever the setting agent in Seville oranges is called. I have used frozen ones and adding a few fresh unwaxed lemons speeds up the set. It also makes a much better brew.
Marmalade is better runny than thick. Thick marmalade can be piled high and doesn't last long. If it sets too quickly pop a red onion in.
You can't taste it.
Nothing worse than Marmalade setting as you fill the jars.

Mac n' Janet said...

I love orange marmalade, but it wouldn't set for me, it remained orange juice. Yours looks delicious.

annie hoff said...

Adrian, thank you for that. I did add lemons as well. I just think I got the measurement wrong when it came to adding the water. Never in a million years would I have though to add a red onion to stop it setting too quickly!

annie hoff said...

Lucille, yes, it is a Spong mincer. It's a brilliant bit of marmalade making equipment! A friend gave it to me. It belonged to her mother. I did a bit about it on my blog a year or so ago 'Marmalade Making Contraption' I think I called the post

rachel said...

Oh no - another marmalade maker, to add to my years of accumulated guilt at never having got myself organised enough to make my own!

Looks lovely; I didn't know you could freeze oranges.

annie hoff said...

Rachel, I've just spent an hour sitting, sifting through blogs showing amazing and talented creative home making, cooking pickling and preserving bloggers! I don't do much if any of that. Just once a year boil up a few oranges! You've no need to feel guilty!

Anonymous said...

I have tried so many times to make marmalade, and failed so many times, that I've just decided this isn't one of my talents, and that I will buy marmalade and use my energies otherwise. That said, I always make a beeline for any homemade marmalade I find at church fairs and the like! Nothing beats it. Good for you.

annie hoff said...

Christine, I wish I could knit as well as you - making marmalade is easy by comparison!

Noelle the dreamer said...

Ex-RAF flyboy is breathing heavily behind me...homemade marmalade just like his Mum's!
I noticed the mention of whole oranges frozen...Must try!
Thanks for sharing and loved to check out older posts!

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