Category Archives: Jam, Jelly & Preserves

I am really hoping you can still find plums somewhere in your part of the world. If not just pop this someplace safe for five or ten months from now when they are back in season, depending where in the world you call home. Italian prune plums are a favourite of mine and always mean fall […]

Fairies have a multi-branched family tree of elemental “spirits”, not always in the ethereal sense. One of the oldest mentions of fairylike creatures was 3,000 years ago in The Illiad by Homer. He wrote about the nymphs answering the call of Zeus for all Immortals to come. It can get confusing as within the legends […]

When forsythia bursts forth in all it’s spring brilliance, it is sign that winter is finally over. Where I live that season is already coming to an end and I wanted to try this process before it was too late. Like any time you are planning on using wild or cultured flowers choose ones, as […]

So now that there are lovely jars of orange slices mellowing in a simple sauce of cardamon, cinnamon and rosewater, I am left with a full chopping board of the peels. Yes, I could compost them but not all and not quite yet. I have chocolate classes coming up and hot cross buns are around […]

A few days ago I posted a recipe for Oranges in Cardamon, Cinnamon & Rosewater Syrup. You can see the full post here. Sometimes the question comes up, what do I do now. I have listed below a half dozen ways to use these tasty orange treats. I hope you find something interesting enough to […]

Since Valentine’s Day is on a weekend this year, this lightly flavoured recipe for oranges might make an interesting option for a lazy breakfast or even a special dessert. Cardamon is used in Asia and Africa as an aphrodisiac, cinnamon is considered a fire herb which stimulates slow burning warmth and need we discuss rose? […]

I like jelly, the clear jewel tones of nature captured in sugar on the breakfast table or melted and brushed as a glaze over a summer fruit tart. One or two jars of homemade goodness are usually tucked away in the back corner of the pantry for “special” experiments. From my never ending bounty of […]

I am one of those people who just likes to know how things are made. It does not mean I want to make everything from scratch but each time I learn something new I either start thinking about what creative trouble I can get myself into or I have lots of gratitude for the fact […]

Welcome Back! I mentioned in my previous post that “first fruits” was one of the symbols of Lammas and in my part of the world that is strawberries. I live in the fruit growing capital of Canada and when the first local berries are available you know summer is finally here. I walked into a […]