Summer Jams

When summer is approaching, I start contemplating visits to local farms to collect some berries and fruits for my jams and preserves. Over the past few years I have cooked many scrumptious jams, but every summer I have developed more unique recipes. Without having some homemade preserves on the shelf any house is not complete.

When we cook breakfasts on a weekend my kids like to pick their favorite jams and syrups for waffles and pancakes. Sometimes we have our breakfast outside on the porch and freshly made berry jams are an important part of it, just like they are part of any summer sweet gatherings.

Whisky-Laced Mince Tarts - Holiday Tradition

Very few cooks make good pie crust. This is unfortunate, because a fine pie is one of the most delicious desserts, while a pie with a tough or soggy crust is one of the worst. The technique for making a perfect crust is comparatively simple, once you have acquired the knack.If you follow the tools, you should achieve good results every time.

• The mixing of the dry ingredients is simple. Just sift them together.
• The mixing a butter and flour, using two knives or a pastry blender. The bowl and knives should be dry to prevent lumping of the flour.
• Add the minimum amount of cold water required to just moisten, not wet, the flour.
• If shell is to be baked and then filled, prick the surface with a fork to release air bubbles.

Melon Jam with Candied Ginger and Lemon Peel

There is something magical about making jam at home with ingredients that you planted and harvested yourself. It brings back memories from my childhood. We did not have the sweets readily available at the store year round. Thus, my mother would preserve the berries for the cold and snowy winter days. It was a bliss to have the fresh berries in syrup over homemade crepes for breakfast. As a mother myself I use different and unique recipes every year for my children. There are always various sweet pleasures in a jar stored in my pantry, such as strawberry with chocolate mint, sour cherry jam, pears with vanilla beans and apricot with lavender among others. In the fall I even make jams from different varieties of pumpkin. 

This summer I wanted to try something new and unique. I had a batch of honey dew melons that gave off a deliciously sweet aroma when you cut them. I wanted to enjoy this taste during the change of seasons and decided to use them in a new jam recipe. When I was making it last night - the house became filled with the sweet honey taste that lingered in the air. I hope that you will try making this and enjoy it with your own family during your mornings or giving it as a holiday gift to your loved ones.



Serves: 3 jars (250ml each)

Ingredients:

• 2 medium honeydew melon, seeds & skin removed, diced to 1/4-inch cubes
• 60% of the melon weight in sugar 
• 1 organic lemon, juice and peel (cut thin slices of lemon rind)
• candied ginger, cut it in thin slices about 2 Tbsp.

Directions:

In a big bowl mix together the melon, lemon juice, lemon peel, ginger and sugar. Stir well. Let them macerate in the fridge for 12 hours.

When ready, drain the pulp and put it in a smaller bowl. Put the juice and sugar (by now they are well mixed) in a large pan (cast iron, heavy stainless steel, or copper), and bring slowly to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes. Then add the pulp and cook 30 more minutes, or until melon cubes become translucent and liquid has thickened.

A good way to check if jam is done: pour a little of the cooking liquid onto a cold plate. If the cooled liquid wrinkles slightly when touched, the jam is ready. Serve jam on scones or toast, or with pâtés and fine cheeses on bread, or over plain yogurt.