On My Kitchen Table

Jams and jellies

Classic Seville Orange Marmalade with Cinnamon

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Seville Orange Marmalade with cinnamon

Organic seville oranges

I made my first Seville orange marmalade almost 8 years ago. It was the second week after our son was born and we had just brought him home after a few days in the neonatal unit. Despite no sleep and the stresses of being a first time mum I remember finding the whole process very calming and relaxing. The result was several jars of bright, shining happiness, full of bittersweet flavour and a house that was filled with the delightful scent of orange nectar. I’ve been making marmalade every year since then.

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Rosehip and crab apple jelly

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rosehips, rosehip and crab apple jelly

“Small, misshapen, spotty and scabby, and full of pips, they do not inspire the cook. Nor are they remotely edible raw – they must be cooked. Yet when prepared properly they are a treasure”  – John Wright describing crab apples in Hedgerow (Bloomsbury Publishing 2010).

I coulnd’t agree more. I would also include rosehips in the same category. The combination of those two foraged fruits produces the most wonderful flavour. I pair wild rosehips with crab apples to make jelly. The bad news is you probably won’t find fresh rosehips or crab apples in your local grocery, or even in a gourmet store. The good news though, is that these little gems seem to grow everywhere. Rosehips are one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C, and they are extremely high in antioxidants. The very high pectin content of crab apples means that the jelly always sets well. If you don’t have crab apples, you can replace them with cooking apples….

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