Strawberry Jam.

Isn't it marvelous when you go to the supermarket & they have just want you want on special? I had a hankering for some homemade strawberry jam, & there they were, tubs & tubs of gorgeous strawberries, all on sale, just for me. The house smells divine at the moment, there is no smell like fresh strawberry jam. The problem will be keeping it away from the other people who live in this house, so I don't think that it will last for long.

Strawberry Jam

Ingredients:

• 1.5kg hulled strawberries (I do chop them up into big pieces)
• 0.5 cup lemon juice (I only use the fresh stuff)
• 5 cups sugar

Method:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan.
2. Stir over heat, without boiling, until all the sugar has dissolved.
3. Bring to the boil, & then simmer, uncovered,  without stirring, for 20 minutes or until the jam jells when tested.
4. Pour the jam into hot & sterilised jars & seal.
5. This recipe makes about 5 cups of jam.

Lemon Marmalade

A friend of mine has the most magnificent lemon tree, which is heavily weighed down with an abundance of delicious juicy lemons & I love lemon marmalade. So today I made some. This is a very easy recipe & you will love the lemony smell wafting through your house, I promise.

 

Lemon Marmalade

Ingredients:

• 1 kg lemons
• 1 kg sugar
• 7 cups water

Method

1. Halve/quarter the lemons length way.
2. Cut into thin slices (I use a food processor, much quicker).
3. Soak the cut lemons overnight with the water, keep them covered.
4. Transfer the mixture into a large pan.
5. Bring to the boil & then simmer, covered, for about 40 minutes, or until the rind is soft.
6. Add the sugar: stir over heat until the sugar is dissolved.
7. Bring to the boil & then boil, uncovered, for about 30 minutes, or until the marmalade jells when tested.
8. Pour into hot sterilised jars & seal.
9. Makes about 6 cups. 

Golden Syrup Dumplings

This is one of my all time favourite desserts, but one that I rarely make. Why? I don't know. It is just so very easy to whip up a batch of these dumplings & then lie back to enjoy the yummy food baby. For Father's Day I cooked a rather superb lamb roast (with all the trimmings) & then I made these dumplings for dessert. And yes, it was awesome! 

Give them a go, you'll be glad you did. And then go on a diet the next day.

Golden Syrup Dumplings.

 

Ingredients:

• 1½ cup SR flour 
•  2 tbsp caster sugar
•  60gm butter, melted
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
•  ¼ cup  milk
• 325ml water
• ½ cup golden syrup
• ½ cup brown sugar 
• ½ tsp lemon juice
• 60gm extra butter

Method:

1. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl.Add the caster sugar & stir until well combined
2. Make a well in the centre. 
3.  Combine the melted butter, eggs & milk & add this mixture to the dry ingredients
4. Using a knife, stir until it is all just combined.
5. Combine the water, syrup, brown sugar, juice & extra butter in a large pan.
6. Stir over high heat until the sugar has dissolved: bring to the boil.
7. Carefully drop heaped teaspoons of the flour mixture into the syrup.
8. Reduce the heat to low & cover the pan: cook for 10 minutes, or until the dumplings have risen & have cooked through.
9. Ladle the syrup over the dumplings occasionally during cooking.
10. Serve with ice-cream.