Naturally Curly Food - Farmhouse Marmalade

FARMHOUSE MARMALADE
2 kg grapefruit
4 litres cold water
4 70g packets pectin (may not be necessary if using slightly green, seeded fruit. We use seedless red grapefruit)
4 ½ kg sugar
Cellophane lids
Enough jars for 10-11 kg of marmalade

The recipe can easily be halved.

Wash grapefruit and chop in half. If fruit has pips, remove and place in muslin bag for later. With a sharp, large knife, chop the fruit as finely as you can. This takes a while but is critical. Place in a large pot and pour in the water. Cover and leave over night.

The next morning add the bag of pips, bring to the boil, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon. This takes about 20 or more minutes. Reduce heat, and cook steadily until the rind is tender, about an hour. Stir occasionally.

Wash jars and put in oven, 90ºC.

Add pectin, stirring constantly. Then pour in the sugar. Continue stirring, and bring to a fast boil. This takes around half an hour.

Test after 10 minutes from when it starts boiling. Remove some liquid with a teaspoon and place on a saucer. Push it along the saucer -- if it wrinkles, it's ready. If not, keep boiling and test every five minutes.

Let rest about 15 minutes then pour into jars using a jug. Seal with cellophane lids immediately. Wipe jars when they have cooled.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• marmalade
• naturally curly food
• ukulele
• serious ukulele ensemble
• waikato times
• food
• recipe
• preserves
• farmhouse
• cooking
• grapefruit
• funny dog
• home cooking
• country kitchen
• annette taylor
• iris riddell

[NaturallyCurlyFood]

Not sure what country you're living in, but cellophane covers have been used for sealing jam for generations, at least in New Zealand and the UK. It's perfectly safe and really easy. The pot I use is stainless steel, but I've used aluminium in the past with no problems. My mother-in-law always made brilliant marmalade with her old aluminium pot. And she used cellophane.

[NaturallyCurlyFood]

Yes, chop up everything in one hit, except for pips, if your grapefruit has any.

[NaturallyCurlyFood]

Aw, thanks again! That made our day! Cheers to Gaga and her wisdom.

[Psyclinz]

Just like my grandmother-in-law used to make! (known affectionately as Gaga, bless her heart.) And I could never understand why I couldn't get mine to taste like hers. Then, not long before she died, (at 99 years) she let me into her secret and I still have the handwritten scrap of paper she scrawled the simple details on. BUT I GUESS IT'S NO SECRET ANYMORE!

It's so easy huh. Thank you for exposing the truth.

Cheers.

[NaturallyCurlyFood]

@Psyclinz

Thanks - but what was Gaga's secret?

[bullpenz08]

Yum. That looks scrumptious. I lurve marmalade. Toast optional. Tess the Wonder dog is a very tidy eater - many kids could take note. Btw, were the hens looking at the eggs that marmalade?

[NaturallyCurlyFood]

@bullpenz08

Paddington was right about the stuff, for sure. Hens a jammy lot and refused to act properly. Something about preserving their dignity.

[cyborgdale]

Sealing with cellophane is not a safe way to preserve unless they are put in the fridge afterwards. Best to use mason jars & seal in a water bath-preheating the jars in a water bath, not oven, or they break. An alternative is to use recycled jars or even drinking glasses & seal with wax. It is best to use recycled jars as the lid can be added after the wax seals to prevent bugs & dust from collecting on the wax seal & also to prevent mice from chewing thru the wax seal & eating the marmalade.

[cyborgdale]

It should be mentioned that an aluminum pot or bowl should not be used due to the acid and it may impart an off taste especially if it is allowed to stay in contact with the pot overnight. A good tip to prevent clumps from forming when you add the pectin is to mix the dry pectin well with the dry sugar and then add it to the pot.

I assume that you allow it to soak overnight to remove any bitterness due to the peel which may not happen otherwise upon aging once it jells, correct?

[jomar1309]

do the grapefruits get cut up along with the peel ?

[Psyclinz]

Chop it small, boil it up, etc etc, etc, and do it all with light-ness, good intention, and a big dose of lerv.

Actually, I think that was her 'secret' ingredient for everything.

And I think both your videos demonstrate those 3 key extras. Goodonya.