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madrobinsOn Saturday I bought five pounds of huge, ripe, gorgeous peaches; three pounds of strawberries, almost two pounds of blueberries, a flat of raspberries (I think it's a flat...six little boxes), and a three pound box of cherries. I love summer fruit. And while I could not eat all this richness myself (and the spouse seems weirdly unmoved by fruit, except for raspberries) I glory in the having of it.
Then I make preserves.
Why? It is doubtless simpler to buy my jam at Safeway, with all the guesswork taken out. Probably cheaper too, at least if I go for Smuckers rather than Bonne Maman. But there's the process thing, which always cheers me. And the smells in the house. And the sense of riches when I see little ranks of mismatched jars filled with stuff I made.
So yesterday I made mixed-fruit preserves with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cherries. Very good, very sweet; next time I try that mixture I'm going to add some lemonpeel (for pectin) and some lemon juice (for tart). And this afternoon I made ginger-peach preserves (just peaches and ginger and sugar). The house still smells like summertime, and I have a pleasant sense of accomplishment (and am wondering to whom I can gift some of the preserves, since we now have more than I can possibly eat).
Why can? Because I...well, because I'm able to.
Then I make preserves.
Why? It is doubtless simpler to buy my jam at Safeway, with all the guesswork taken out. Probably cheaper too, at least if I go for Smuckers rather than Bonne Maman. But there's the process thing, which always cheers me. And the smells in the house. And the sense of riches when I see little ranks of mismatched jars filled with stuff I made.
So yesterday I made mixed-fruit preserves with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cherries. Very good, very sweet; next time I try that mixture I'm going to add some lemonpeel (for pectin) and some lemon juice (for tart). And this afternoon I made ginger-peach preserves (just peaches and ginger and sugar). The house still smells like summertime, and I have a pleasant sense of accomplishment (and am wondering to whom I can gift some of the preserves, since we now have more than I can possibly eat).
Why can? Because I...well, because I'm able to.