Apple and plum


I've been dying some clothes for Isla and me. The colours remind me of apple and plum.

Apples from our fruit box delivery today.
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I'm trialing buying a weekly organic fruit box from here. I was pleased with the amount and quality of fruit. Isla approves too.
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Plums from mum's tree.
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Being stewed and bottled for later.

And being turned into tart and delicious plum butter.
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Mary Beth - I'll answer your question here in case others want to know. It really is so easy to preserve fruit :)
- For stewed plums I boil the plums up with a little bit of sugar, just to taste, until they are pipping hot. Then pour them into sterilised jars* and seal immediately. Leave them to cool and then check they are sealed properly before storing them away (The lids will kind of be sucked in and inverted if they are sealed properly). We heard some strange noises coming from the shelf a couple of days ago, Aaron suspected there was a mouse, but it turned out it was one of these jars that had not sealed properly and was starting to ferment and bubble!
- To do whole plums I squish them tightly into jars then pour hot sugar syrup over (1 part water to 3 parts sugar brought to the boil) leaving a 1-2 cm gap at the top. Put lids on and screw down tight then put the jars into a big pot of hot water on the stove top (fill with enough water to come about two-thirds of the way up the jars) and bring to the boil. Boil for about 20-35 mins. Remove and let cool. Remember to check they are sealed before storing them away.
* To sterilise my jars - I wash them with hot soapy water then put them upside down in the oven, just on the oven racks and turn the oven on to 150c. Once it reaches temperature the jars can come out, carefully, and make sure you don't put them onto a really cold surface as they may crack - a wooden chopping board is good. For the lids, boil them in a pot of water for a bit.

11 comments

Lise said...

Mmmm...that plum butter looks wonderful! It's so funny to see you canning fruit while we're freezing here in the depths of winter. The plum clothing looks beautiful, too!

Christina said...

Looks so yum! I've been thinking of getting the fruit and veg box from Eco Organics too, so good to hear you're happy with it. Will have to get my act together and give it a go. :)

Jessicah said...

Yum! How delicious looking, the fruit, the plums, the clothing! How do you get such an even dye over the clothing?

Mary Beth said...

We get tons of plums here in the summer--sometimes too many. Would love to learn more about how you can them. All we know how to do is make jam . . .

melissa said...

yum, yum, yum...
both clothes (i must do some dyeing of all keira's stained kindy clothes soon..) and preserves!
we have a lot of plums here too... my mum has been making a LOT of jam.

Jessica said...

I can't wait to make up plum jam!

Heart Felt said...

Your dying looks delicious! Loving plums big time at the moment. xx

gardenmama said...

yum! this sounds so good!
i love your idea on how to sterilize the bottles!

Unknown said...

Mmmmyum. I also love the color plum!
Such a good maker of things you.
-Lies

Hannah said...

That's how I do my jar sterilising too :o)
The colour of the plum juice on your spoon and ladel is wonderful! What a treat to have in store for another day.

Mary Beth said...

Thank you, Hanna!