For the past few weeks, I have been watching the apples on the trees in my garden turn bright red and I have started to get that itch. The one where I want to do something with them and not let them go to waste for another year.
Normally I say I will do something with them all but it never happens! This year though, with a bumper crop of apples, I was very good and actually did something with them! Besides from freezing loads to use later in the year, I also made some amazing pies. I am though most proud of my apple jam.
After a lot of searching in books and online, I finally combined a few recipes and came up with this fool proof one. It was extremly simple to make and fairly quick to make. It is also great, if like me you have a load of apples that have fallen to the ground and got damaged. You can still use them with this recipe, once you just cut the damaged parts out.
Apple Jam
- 3lb of Apple (quartered and de-cored leave skin on just remove blemishes)
- 1 cup of water
- Grated rind of 1 lemon
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 2 cups sugar
Method
- Prepare apples. Once cut place in bowl of water and lemon juice to stop browning
- In food processor pulse the apple quarters in batches to a fine chop
- Put apples, water, lemon juice in large pot and bring to the boil
- Once boiling reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 mins (Until almost all liquid is gone)
- Bring back to the boil and add the sugar in stages stirring well between each addition and allowing to come back to the boil between additions.
- Once all the sugar is added, add the lemon rind and simmer for 20 mins until thickened
- Place into sterilzed jars and allow to cool
My Name is David Corscadden and I have just finished my degree in horticulture from UCD. I have a keen interest in wildlife friendly gardens or as I like to call them “Wild Gardens”. I have in the last year taken a u-turn in what I thought I would do after college. I have moved more in to the literature side of horticulture and plan to do a masters in journalism next year.
Source: Beyond The Wild Garden – Beyond The Messy Kitchen – Apple Jam – David Corscadden
