Jamming

Blackcurrant 'No Bits' Jam

I have been busy working my way through my list of recipes to make with Fresh Blackcurrants.

Five-recipes-to-make-with-fresh Blackcurrants

I made the Cheesecake.

Blackcurrant-Marbled-Cheesecake

Now I have made the 'No Bits Jam'.  Again I adapted the recipe.  I only used two ingredients.

Ingredients
Fresh Blackcurrants
Sugar

Method
I used the same amount of sugar to Blackcurrants.  I didn't add any water.  I simmered the blackcurrants and pressed them through a sieve.  Then I added the sugar and boiled until the jam reached the setting point.  This has made a firm set Jam.  It is important to my youngest son that his jam has 'no bits'!

Today I picked fruit in the garden again.  The sun was shining and almost ripening them faster than I could pick them!  This year there seems to be a bumper harvest.

and ................

I have already turned the Raspberries into five jars of Raspberry 'No Bits' Jam.  The Raspberries are ripening and want picking everyday.  I have a 'Creative Spinning Workshop' to go to tomorrow evening and again on Saturday, I am going to bake 'Raspberry Buns' and 'Blackcurrant Muffins' to help me keep my strength up!

My son had an English Literature Exam yesterday he had to write an Essay on 'Of Mice and Men'.  I had to do that when I was at school!   I can remember one quote from the whole book!  The character Lenny used to repeat to himself;
'Live of the fat of the land'.  It gave him hope and comfort to dream of a day when he could own his own land and become self sufficient!  I wonder if he liked jam and turnips?

Blackcurrant Marbled Cheesecake

I think the colour 'Palette' here is beautiful.  (It would be a good design focus for spinning a Yarn).

In true 'Lucy In The Sky' fashion I find a recipe and make it my own depending on what is available in my store cupboards.  This is the recipe I devised based on the 'Blackcurrant Swirl Cheesecake' recipe from my
'Five Recipes to Make with Fresh Blackcurrants' post yesterday.

Blackcurrant Marbled Cheesecake
Ingredients
For the Base
300g of crushed Chocolate Digestive Biscuits
125g of melted butter
(If you have never used Chocolate Digestives for a biscuit base before Oooo, give it a try!)
For the Cheesecake Mix
450g of Curd Cheese (Lower in fat than cream cheese, see who says I am not health conscious!)
1tsp of Vanilla Essence
50g sugar
2 Beaten eggs
2 tbls of Natural Yogurt
For the Blackcurrant Puree
400g of Blackcurrants
100g of Sugar

Method
First make the Blackcurrant Puree.  Place the blackcurrants in a saucepan and simmer gently until they are all soft and broken down.  Rub them through a metal sieve.  This is easier when they have cooled.  Stir in the sugar.
For the base mix the crushed Chocolate Digestives with the melted butter and press in to an 8 inch Flan dish.  Put it into the fridge to cool.
For the Cheescake, mix the Curd Cheese, Natural Yogurt, Sugar, Eggs and Vanilla Essence.
Place the Cheesecake mix on top of the flan base.  Drizzle the Blackcurrant Puree over the top and use a  skewer to swirl a 'Marbled' effect.

Bake the Cheesecake in the oven on Gas mark 1, (140C, 270F) for 1 hour.

Does this count as one of my five pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables a day?  Bring on the Blackcurrants.  

Thank you for all your lovely comments yesterday, I feel like I am having my own

 'Blackcurrant - Food Festival' in celebration of these little Black Juicy Gems.  You can read more about the Blackcurrant here at:

 The Blackcurrant Foundation.  Blackcurrants have climbed the ranks in scientific studies to earn the title of 'The Number One Super food'.  They contain three times more Vitamin C than an Orange and are extremely rich in disease fighting antioxidants.  They have health benefits for Cardiovascular, Aging and Brain function, Eyes and Vision, Asthma and Urinary Tract health to name but a few.  They have been grown and used by herbalists in the UK since The Middle Ages.  The British Isles produces 13,000 tonnes each year.  I think they need to be re-named, 'The Wonder Berry'.

Dig for Victory

Today there was some long awaited sunshine.  I have been thinking about the garden a great deal, but the time is not right to do anything about it yet.  This week I have been buying vegetable seeds in anticipation to start the growing year again but the ground has been frozen solid.  I did manage to get out and mooch about and see what is going on out there.  It looks sorry for itself but already there are signs of life and rejuvenation.  The first plant to bud each year is my big old blackcurrant bush, I only have one and it grows enough currants for at least 5lbs of jam each year.  I wait for optimum ripeness then I have to race the Blackbird to get them all picked.


Big Old Blackcurrant Bush - Always the first plant to bud

 I also have Raspberry canes, they are rather intrusive and love my garden so now my neighbour has lots too, wether he wants them or not!


Somewhat invasive Raspberry canes

 Last Year for my Birthday I had three large raised beds put in to the garden, they do not look great at this time of year but there is still plenty going on in there and in the summer when they a brimming with fresh green peas, courgettes, tomatoes, broad beans, turnips, beetroot, lettuce, chillis, rocket, herbs, spinach, onions, potatoes and runner beans they look alot more inviting. 
Please note Percy Pigeon observing the goings on.  We rescued a baby pigeon last year and nursed him for about a week until he left.  We worried about him like you would a pet.  We kept releasing him and then finding him wondering down the path at night in the dark, looking little and vulnerable.  He would bed down in a wicker basket with a Digestive biscuit soaked in  milk for supper, then go about his business again during the day.  One day he was strong enough to leave the garden and now four regularly feed here.  I am sure one is Percy, he has that look about him.

On closer inspection today there are still small tasty offerings to be had, that have proven their resilience against the extreme winter weather.

Kohl Rabi

Lovely Leeks

Curly Kale

Jerusalem Artichokes

Parsnips

Amazing Sage will soon be covered in flowers and Bumble Bees

'Greensleeves' Apple Tree and Percy Plum Tree

I will find it interesting to Blog the garden and its produce as the year evolves, It doesn't look much now but in the Spring and Summer it is my favourite place.