| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| bramble |
Posted - Sep 04 2005 : 8:38:55 PM
In past years I have used the Sure Jell or Ball brand pectin packets for jams and such but this year I found something called "Pomona Universal Pectin" and it swears you use less sugar with great results. It's new to me, has anyone else tried it? I have also used recipes that were pectin free ( you used fruit juice) that sort of turn out thick and like a Sorrel Ridge or Polaner All Fruit type spread. I am going to be making Brandied Spiced peaches this week and what doesn't turn into that will be my next batch of jam. Peaches are bountiful this year and positively awesome!
with a happy heart |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 18 2005 : 10:51:55 AM
yep...pretty normal. First snow is usually about the first of Oct. last year was a little later.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| bramble |
Posted - Sep 17 2005 : 11:48:41 PM
Jenny is that normal for your part of the world to have a killing frost in Sept.? I know when dh lived in Colorado he always said something was wrong if you didn't have the first snowfall before the end of September. I somehow thought of you as more desert than mountain, was I wrong? (And yes, pick the rose hips before they turn to mush!)Swiss chard is better after frost too, do you grow any of that?
The Pomona pectin has been working out nicely so far and with much less sugar!
with a happy heart |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 14 2005 : 9:57:38 PM
all my wild roses out in the front yard..love them...are covered with beautiful rose hips right now..we have been having frost at night and I think I will pick them tomorrow..we have had frost enough to kill the pumpkin plants..that counts as a freeze, right???
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| Tatiana |
Posted - Sep 14 2005 : 10:00:52 AM
I have had a lot of failures with liquid pectin. I use MCP (available in the west) over Surejell. Tried both this year and Surejell was very thick and almost not spreadable. Sometimes MCP may look a bit runny with certain fruits like apricots but will thicken over time.
Tania in Boise |
| Julia |
Posted - Sep 09 2005 : 4:23:39 PM
I have used Surejell, MCp and Pomona. I have never had any problem with any of them, or have noticed a difference. I don't like the liquid pectin. The last couple years some friends and I have bought bulk pectin from Pacific Pectin, Inc. out of Oakhrust Ca.
www.pacificpectin.com. They have regular, low-sugar,and no sugar. We get 50 lbs and divie it up. It comes out to be much cheaper than the box pection at the store. I think about 85 cents. If you make alot of jam and jelly, it is worth it.
I have read that with rose hips, you need to wait and pick them after the first freeze.
"The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our reach is joy. Take joy!" Fr.Giovanni |
| bramble |
Posted - Sep 07 2005 : 6:22:42 PM
We have collected beach plums at Island Beach State Park (with permission) and also at Barnegat Lighthouse which is Long Beach Island . Barnegat Bay is between them but it is a very tricky passage so you usually go to one or the other by car. We used to sail up and pick but haven't done that in a while. The inlet is the site of more boating disasters than any other spot along this part of the NJ coast. Something about shifting sandbars and a narrow inlet, so since kids, we skip that adventure! Cape Cod has beach plums also if you ever get up that way! They are worth a try if you come across a jar.
I still haven't figured out the roses, as long as I have gone to the beach they have been there a big, white open flower with exposed centers and the fragrance is something between salt spray and honeysuckle with a little cinnamon thrown in. They smell so good you wish they were food! Collected the rose hips one year but they were nothing special.
with a happy heart |
| quiltedess |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 11:20:44 AM
Hmmm . . . beach plums and beach roses. Which beach would that be!?! I've never heard of them and now I'm intrigued. :-)
Nancy |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 10:35:32 AM
MCP is made by Sure Jell but is cheaper for some reason. They will have Sure Jell on the shelf right next to it and have it be 30 cents more..I never have figured out why. My grandma swore by sure jell and would never use another brand.
Our plums are small and good. I have given myself a stomach ache several times since they started getting ripe already. I tend to like fruit just a little on the green side.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| bramble |
Posted - Sep 04 2005 : 9:16:48 PM
We are fortunate that there are places within 5 minutes of us to pick peaches, apples, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. I just round up the troops (my son's friends, sometimes their parent too!) and off we go. Their payment is that they each get a jar of whatever I'm making. They haven't caught on that they are working just as hard as I am! I've used the Certo brand too but have never seen the MCP brand. Is there anything special about it?
Lucky you to have plums, they are all like hard bullets here right now! Have you ever made "Sugar Plums"? They are a nice treat for the holidays but yes, very sweet! We go to a place at the shore every year to pick beach plums and they are small but oh so sweet and that intense plum flavor, they are almost intoxicating!That and the beach roses are enough to make you not want to come home!
with a happy heart |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 04 2005 : 8:54:50 PM
I use either Ball or MCP pectin the most..sometimes Certo if a recipe calls for that..but it usually costs quite alot more. I will have to look for the Pomona Universal..havn't seen it.
I have more plums to make jam from, and will do at least one more batch of pepper jelly and probably some apple and some peach jam for sure. I have done more jam than anything this year..but then once the tomatoes and apples are ripe..any day now..I will be hip deep in those..and the peaches will be here soon..a big truck brings them down in boxes from Idaho and we all go stand in line..we actually get numbers!! in a gals yard to buy these peaches..they are that good!! each year. I buy at least 3 lugs. Last year I was lucky and was given a bunch of peaches from a neighbor's tree too, but they don't have many on that tree this year. I love this time of the year!!!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
