Have you ever ever had ‘Pork Jam’? – Comfortable Gourmand

Earlier this week, I made fruit crisp with plums.

I’ve made Plum Torte for teatime (recipe hyperlink: https://happygourmand.wordpress.com/recipe-archives/plum-torte/ ). I’ve dehydrated roughly ten kilos of various plums from our bushes. And I’ve hardly made a distinction in what nonetheless hangs on our bushes.

We’ve got three plum bushes in our yard, every one completely different and all of them scrumptious. The Italian plums are candy and engaging, and the damson plums are great as prunes. The opposite tree bears greengage plums, or as my Hubbie is aware of them in French, “Reine Claudes”. They make incredible jam for cheese, and likewise a particular chutney we name “Pork Jam”.

The greengage plum is an previous selection that was developed in France, and apparently taken to England within the 1700s by a Rev. John Gage, who discovered them on the Chartreuse Monastery. Maybe that helped of their English identify. These plums are really midway between inexperienced and yellow in color, the definition of chartreuse.

Greengages discovered their solution to the colonies in America shortly after arriving in England and had been within the gardens of American presidents Washington and Jefferson, however then their reputation declined.

They do develop true from seed nevertheless, making them a bit like an heirloom plant. Maybe that’s a part of why they’ve by no means disappeared.

After all, right here at Rabbit Hole, their distinctive historical past and lack of recognition simply makes them much more endearing. We love serving to individuals uncover new flavours by sharing what we make.

Greengages are identified for being top-of-the-line dessert plums, and they also make scrumptious jams and compotes, in addition to crisps, crumbles and the like. I’ve dried them and used them in Christmas pudding, too. However the true inspiration was when my husband Martin determined to create “Pork Jam” as an accompaniment for smoked and grilled meats.

It’s the season of the harvest. When Mom Nature provides you a lot to play with, it appears solely becoming to get inventive to make use of all of it. Combining fruits with peppers, onions, spices and herbs can encourage new combos of dishes for a meal. And preserves make an amazing hostess reward, too.

I like the thought of getting a type of security deposit field within the pantry, filled with every kind of flavours that may be pulled out within the lifeless of winter to deliver again the sunshine and heat of summer season.

If you happen to aren’t the kind to make your personal preserves, look ahead to these glowing jars on the farmers’ markets and convey one dwelling to get pleasure from.

I bear in mind as soon as discovering a jar of “Toe Jam” at a small market in Salmon Arm. It tasted quite a bit like raspberry, however significantly better. It tasted like inspiration.

This text is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and doesn’t essentially replicate the views of Castanet.