Wednesday 25 July 2012

My Mum's Strawberry Jam


I just love using my Granny's old brass jam pan when I make jams and chutneys - there is nothing quite like it! It's over 100 years old and will have seen some concoctions in it's time. Here's my favourite recipe for Strawberry Jam.


Ingredients

2lbs strawberries - slightly underripe is fine
1 1/2lbs preserving sugar
Juice of 2 large lemons
Knob of butter
(Liquid pectin if you feel the need)

Method

  • Wipe and hull strawberries using the Core 'n More.
  • Cut the strawberries on the Cutting Board using the Utility Knife and layer with sugar in jam pan.
  • Squeeze juice using the Citrus Press and add lemon juice.
  • Cover with tea towel and leave overnight so sugar draws the juice from the fruit and dissolves.
  • Next day, slowly heat until sugar fully dissolves.
  • Add a knob of butter as this will disperse some of the scum.
  • Bring to rolling boil for 5 - 10 minutes or until, when tested on a cold saucer, the jam wrinkles.
  • Skim off the scum if necessary.
  • If you need to add additional pectin, remove from heat for a few minutes and stir in prescribed quantity.
  • Let stand for 15 minutes so the fruit doesn't sink when you bottle it.
  • Whilst the jam is standing, heat the clean jars in the oven to sterilise them.
  • Ladle the hot jam into the hot jars. (Using a jam funnel makes transferring the hot jam safer and cleaner!)
  • Top the jam with a waxed disc (you can dip it in brandy first if you feel the need - personally I would drink the brandy and just use the wax disc, but each to their own!!!)
  • Put the lid on and leave to cool - the shelf life is 2 years but I bet it doesn't stay there that long.....

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Mad Hatties (Local and Lovely)

Isn't it great when you stumble across a gem - you know, that unexpected sparkle on a grey day which brings the smile back to your face and reinstates any lost serenity!

The other day I had the pleasure of lunching at Mad Hatties and it truly is a gem!  A traditional tea shop with the "ooh" factor.  As soon as you step inside you step into a glittery world of gifts galore.  Trinkets, boxes, mirrors, metal wall art and more made me "ooh and aah" many times!  Carol was in Wonderland for sure...

At the rear of the gift shop are the tearooms, two rooms inside and outdoor seating in an airy courtyard
which is adjacent to the car park.  A simple menu but good food which was thoughtfully and creatively presented.  Soup of the day was Cauliflower Cheese, arrived in a mug and was, as they say at Mad Hatties, scrum-diddly-umptious!  Served together with toasted sandwich, crisps and sweet little cup of coleslaw and an attractive side salad, it was great value.   My only "picky" comment would be that the Hot Chocolate - despite being delicious and full to the brim with naughty calories, could have been warmer!

The friendly service made for a very happy treat - soon to be repeated.  Thank you for brightening my day.




Contact Mad Hatties:
01723 364 884

Email:

Address:
Mad Hatties
445b Scalby Road
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
YO12 6UA