Apples and Things

Over the past week, our apple tree has been shedding some of the smaller fruit. I can't tell whether it is the wind, or some sort of self-pruning mechanism.

Then, this past weekend we had friends over with their 7 month-old baby, and then more friends with two more kids. These kids are tall enough to reach the apples, and so they did. "I was just caressing them", the oldest said. Hmmm... the bite mark in one of the three picked apples says that perhaps some sort of fairy tale fantasy of "picking fruits in the forest" was running through their minds...

So now we have 7 small green apples... and someone suggested CHUTNEY. What a great idea! Now that I've begun making preserves.

I have found two recipes. One that is more "English". The other more "Indian". I haven't decided which one I'll make yet. Any votes?

Champagne Currant-Raspberry Jam

Champagne currants (as opposed to black- or red currants) look like perfect pale pink transparent spherical jewels, but they are sour and seedy, even when at their ripest. So, this week, we picked them all and today began the great experiment. My first attempt at making jam.

I added a handful of raspberries, mushed them all together. Bring to a boil, add lots of sugar, cook some more... and my first pot of jam!

Only one pot. But, I'm so proud! Hopefully, it will still be around when my friends from Switzerland come by at the end of the month.

I ma-ade ja-am! I ma-ade ja-am! And it looks beautiful.