The jam trolley

About

Jam making has been my hobby for many years after moving to Essex in the early 1980s. In those days the fruit was sourced from local PYO fruit farms, many of these have now closed down. Where possible fruit is locally sourced and mainly grown in our garden on the Essex Cambridgeshire border. In our small orchard we have a variety of fruit trees and soft fruit bushes. Our harvest depends on weather conditions – early frost will affect the early cherry plums, which are usually the first plums, late frosts the damsons (Merryweather variety). Citrus fruits are too challenging for our climate so understandably have to be sourced in the shops/market.

I love using different fruits, making small batches of jams and creating my own recipes. Jam making does takes patience and a tolerance of heat.

The objective is to use fruit with the minimal of waste and also encourage the re-use of clean jam jars. My range is confined to jams, jellies and marmalades and is available from the trolley at the end of the drive, weather permitting and also at local craft fayres.

Selection for the 2018/19 season include:

Jams Marmalades Jellies

Victoria Plum Seville Orange Quince

Damson Orange Damson

Mixed Plum Blood orange Crab Apple JellyJohn Downie

Melon and ginger Nectarine Crab Apple JellyGolden Hornet

Blackcurrant Lemon

Mixed berries with damson Lime and lemon

QuinceAppleJostaberry and Gooseberry

Production

Small batches are made in six or seven jars at a time, typically 60% fruit to 40% sugar, allowing the fruit to remain the dominant flavour and sugar the preservative. All batches are tasted by me and my husband before being labelled.

With stoned fruit or pips as many as possible are removed.

All jars are hand washed, dishwasher washed and sterilised in the oven. Any re-used lids or jars that are defective or tainted are discarded. All jars are labelled with the date of production. Only the current season’s production is offered for sale.

For single people and those who need to eat less I am producing small sized jams in re-cycled jam jars as opposed to the 340g (12oz) or 450g (1lb) standard jars. Some jars and lids are recycled and others are purchased, especially the hexagonal jars.

FAQs

The difference between jam and jelly

Jam is made with the whole fruit with only the stones or pips being discarded. Jelly is made when the fruit juice is strained from the cooked pulp, prior to the sugar being added. Once straining is complete the juice liquor is brought back up to temperature and the sugar added. This process is more time consuming, since the pulp is discarded and several kilos of fruit are required to make one litre of jelly.

Is marmalade a jam or a jelly?

Marmalade is really a jam, unless it is strained as in jelly making. The peel that would normally be discarded when eating the fruit raw is cooked until it is almost crystallised. It also gives the product an enhanced flavour and also more body.

What is fruit cheese?

Fruit cheese has been made from the middle ages to accompany meats and improve the salty flavour. The fruit pulp is sieved giving it a course texture and added back to the juice and sugar, this is cooked until the cheese can be sliced with a knife. Once achieved this product can then be stored in jars or presentation wrappers for about six weeks, the Spanish are fond of quince cheese (Membrillo) and serve this in thin slices.

How to use the jam, jellies and cheese

Whilst most uses are obvious, jam on toast, porridge or on desserts, jams and jellies can be used with meat platters and also with the cheese board. Suggested flavours, would be damson, quince, gooseberry or red currant. When cooking a roast, jelly can be used as a glaze or marinade. Marmalade is an excellent glaze for ham.

Health considerations

People with diabetes can eat smaller quantities of jam. Any queries please consult your dietician.

Most marmalades can be eaten by people with high blood pressure, however grapefruit can affect your medication. If in doubt please check your prescription notes or ask your nurse.

Buying

Jam, jellies and marmalade can be obtained from the trolley at the end of the drive (weather permitting), local craft fayres or by email/telephone. julia@jamtrolley.co.uk 0781 543 7360

©Julia Goodwin