4 December 2013

J is for JAM

It suddenly sneaks up every year. The orchard and stores are filled with juicy ripe berries, quickly followed by stone fruit. Even though this is a particularly busy time a surfeit of fruit means jam making.

I cannot decide if my favourite jam is raspberry or Doris plum. Both have that little touch of tartness that makes for perfect jam. Strawberry jam comes a close third and even my 90 year old mother has already made a couple of batches with this season's pickings.

In the pic above the deliciously flavoured jam Zambia Neely made for her entry in the Whangaripo Wild Food and Forage Festival was mulberry. The perfect jam to go to her wild fennel scones with cream and jam. I loved the combination so much Zambia is coming to our next Listener photo shoot to share her recipe with the world. A budding food writer or chef? Great to see kids who are enthusiastic about getting into the kitchen..