I didn’t get to enjoy this treat much when I was a kid. Once I got a home with a yard large enough, I planted a sour cherry tree just so I could have it when I wanted. That took care of that!
Continue reading Greek Sour Cherry “Spoon Sweet” (Vissino Glyko tou Koutaliou)
It is amazing how many tasty treats can be made with things most of us would just toss away. That they were made in the first place tells us that the genius behind them was a frugal person not wanting to waste what could be otherwise useful.
Continue reading Greek Candied Lemon “Spoon Sweet”
If there is ever a global shortage on sugar or honey, I’m not sure what most Greeks are going to do. Greeks really love their sweets.
Continue reading Greek Kumquat “Spoon Sweet”
I think it is a law that we’re supposed to have cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. And pumpkin pie. Somehow if word got out that these weren’t served, you might be hauled into the public square to be lashed with a wet noodle. It’s serious.
Continue reading Whole Citrus-Cranberry Sauce
I have three varieties of plum trees in my yard. The earliest to ripen is the Santa Rosa. They look and smell so luscious, and then you bite into one. PUCKER!!!
Continue reading Plum Jam (No Added Pectin)
One of my fondest childhood memories is going into my grandparents’ back yard looking for ripe blackberries on their vine. In December. Kind of didn’t understand plants back then. Continue reading Old-Fashioned Seedless Blackberry Jam (No Pectin Added)
I have come to embrace the fact that so much of what I make is often in response to having food on the verge of giving up on the world. The thought of wasting food becomes a great motivator to get off my behind and go do something about it.
Continue reading Orange Marmalade
Nothing quite compares to the stunning beauty of pomegranate seeds. It is no wonder that Persephone was tempted to eat those offered to her by Hades in the Greek mythological story. Sadly, just like in the story, pomegranate is only available during a short time of the year. Hrumph!
Continue reading Pomegranate Jelly
When was the last time you saw something like basil jelly in the grocery store? I never have, but I know it exists because my mom would make it from scratch. That’s the wonderful thing about making your own goodies is that you get to have so many options available to you.
Really, sometimes there’s no school like old school. I’m pretty darned sure the settlers didn’t have a box of pectin in the back of the wagon. They just used fruit, water, and sugar. That’s it. They relied on natural sources of pectin and just a slight bit of patience. No food colors, no gelling enhancers.
Continue reading Apple Pectin Jams & Jellies
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