Thursday 23 June 2011

Something different

With this chilly weather I've had the urge to do more baking than normal.  Fortunately I have a house full of willing eaters!

Wanting to re-stock the larder shelves with jam, I thought I'd set to and make some slightly different jams from the usual fruit ones.

The first was Lavender jelly.  I've always been put off making jellies as I can't be bothered with jelly bags and the like.  This one was more of an infusion, whereby you put the lavender flowers in a muslin bag and let it simmer in the liquid.  I've also never used powdered pectin before but obviously in this case I had to use it.



I was alarmed by the lumpy mess initially but that soon dispersed.

The result - a lovely fragrant jelly with the scent being stronger than the taste.  I might infuse it for longer next time.



As I was on a roll and with my new best friend, the powdered pectin I sourced a recipe for some Rose Petal Jam.  This recipe required you to blitz the rose petals and add them to the other ingredients so you actually get the texture and taste of the petals.



I wasn't initially sure about this as I was concerned about having a mouth full of petals, but actually it works really, really well.  The fragrance is lovely and the taste is just right.  Blitzing them really helped.

All in all, a great success.  Next time I'll do bigger quantities.

Onto something completely different - I repainted the downstairs toilet the other day and had a wall which needed filling, I've filled it with these swallows.



I'd seen something similar in the Berry Red catalogue and was drawn to the pastel colours on offer.  Always on a mission to see if I can get something cheaper, I found my ones on Ebay, so was mighty pleased.



I guess they're a modern take on the flying ducks!

11 comments:

Used-to-Bees said...

Love the swallows and the jam and jelly sound intriguing!
x

Lx @ Twelve said...

Oh, Lavender Jelly sounds delish...

I have cheated before & brought rose petal jam, so I am seriously impressed at you!

Lx

charl said...

love those swallows so pretty..
charl
x

Marigold Jam said...

It's good to try new things isn't it? I have used rose petals in rhubarb jam and it was lovely and I also made peach and lavender jam when we had peach trees in the garden in France also good. Certainly beats plain old plum jam eh?

Tabbyroo said...

Love the pastel swallows, I want some! Linda x

Unknown said...

just started following you :) am going to have a go at the rose petal jam, so thanks for the idea :)

sylviesgarden said...

Those swallows are fabulous!
x

Unknown said...

wow those jams sounds delicious and so pretty. Love the flying swallows those are really sweet. Have a lovely weekend, dee x

Pippin Lane said...

Oh the jellies look great, I have also been filling jars this week...tis the season!
Nattie x

...Nina Nixon... said...

Yum - jam!!

I don't think I can expand on that.

Just.........yum, yum, YUM!

Have a lovely weekend,

Nina xxx

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

I've had my eyes on the swallows... I don't think I can resist purchasing them much longer!

Victoria xx