It’s not something I do often – once in a blue moon, or more especially as an antidote to four months without much sunshine. But then the Seville oranges had arrived at Entertaining Elephants, sister Jo’s scrumptious shop. So it had to be done – a spot of marmalade making.
There’s no doubting it’s a faff – all that separating of orange innards into a muslin bag. (I found a desert spoon speeded up operations). Then the fine chopping and slow simmer of peel. But oh, the scent of warm orange that filled the cottage, and then the satisfying row of glowing jars. So then I thought I’d take a photo, and as I was cropping and squaring it, it occurred to me that it had a Rothko-esque quality had that fine artist ever thought to pursue the diagonal or ponder on the joys of marmalade making.
By the way, it tastes delicious too. But in the absence of a tasting, may the marmalade light be with you.
copyright 2020 Tish Farrell
Tish Farrell 
Ooh, marmalade making is such a faff – years since I have made any! Love your marmalade-light, Tish!
Happy to share it 🙂
😊
Looks delectably, deloverly.
I must have a go again. Haven’t made marmalade in a while and there are still a few bitter oranges on the tree.
Have you tried using your lemons for marmalade? I made some once from Kenyan lemons – delish!
Yes, I also did a mix and match a year or so ago.
We eat very little marmalade or jam so the motivation to make it is somewhat …. ”I’ll do it next week”. And you know how that goes, right?
🙂
We’re not a jammy lot either. But with our wet and soggy weather, toast with a little something seems endlessly tempting. And then the neighbours will be getting some too so we don’t have to eat all of it.
I’ve never made marmalade, but I’ll bet it is a wonderful thing
It made the kitchen very golden!
MrB would love some . . unfortunately whilst i love the colour and the thought of eating sunlight it is one of those jams I just get can’t my head around. Guess I am missing out!
It’s only a once in a while treat here on Sheinton Street, thinking of teeth and tums etc. So now you mention it, the glistening jars are possibly the best bit.
😀
Love the sentiment Tish, the Rothko reference, and sensory image there in your cottage…lovely.
Ah, well. You’ve sat there in my kitchen, pretty much on a gloomy old day like today. And so now that you’ve dropped by, it makes this post all the better. Marmalade light AND Bill.
Exactly! My thinking too. Though that day was sunny as I recall. Must be really pretty with the light coming through those jars.
I like that you remember sunshine!
It’s the patina of memory that gives it the glow 🤩
🙂 🙂
Do you know about the famous Orange Marmalde cake from the Mitford series books by Jan Karon It is pretty good.?
No, I don’t. It sounds enticing. But I do know marmalade additions can do magical things to cakes.
The cake plays a big part of the series. Jan Karon was the’ writer in residence’ for Victoria Mag. years ago and every one kept asking for the recipe. There wasn’t one …until Victoria ask Edna Lewis and one other to come up with a recipe for Orange Marmalade cake. The rest is history.
I’ve found it here. It sounds outrageous:
http://www.homecomingmagazine.com/article/orangecake/
Do give it a try…You will love it
Faff is exactly the right word, but homemade marmalade is such a treat. We’ve just run out of my last batch, but there’s no fruit on our citrus trees at the moment so plum jam will have to do for a few months. Flavoured with a little cardamom, and much less fiddly to make.
Watching baby flamingos by the score, courtesy of David Dimbleby. I’d love to be eating toast with your marmalade while I do so, Tish. Bottled sunshine! What could be finer? 🙂 🙂
Well some real sunshine might help 🙂 We’re actually having some – this very minute. Will it last…
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you 🙂 :). And Jude!
I have made jam, lemon and lime curd, and green grape jelly, but never marmalade. I always wanted to try it.
Lemon curd is wonderful too. I’ve never tried it with lime. Nor green grape jelly – which instantly makes me think of summer and light and airy pastries to go with it.
Mmm, that does look rather tasty. I made marmalade many years ago, but decided that it was just easier to buy it! The only other thing I have mad is bramble (blackberry) jelly using my mother’s recipe. My mother made the best ever bramble jelly and I was pleased when mine came a close second to it. 🙂
Ah, bramble jelly. There’s nothing quite like it.
It is my absolute favourite jam. In the absence of my mum’s homemade (or mine at a pinch) the best shop bought one I can find is Bonne Maman, but it seems only to be readily available in France. I can get other Bonne Maman varieties here, but not bramble.
Bonne Maman – definitely make some of the best preserves if you can’t make your own. I love their jars and lids too which get endlessly recycled.
Ah yes, they have the added bonus of such lovely jars. I have a collection of them too. 🙂
Home-made marmalade – YUMMMM! 😀
It truly is!
Oh my! I love that image and tastes it evokes: sunlight on toast! I have participated in jam-making previously and found all that fine-chopping extremely taxing – more power to you! You have sunlight to enjoy for months now!
The chopping is truly very boring, but you’re right, Ju-Lyn, a do have a shelf full of sunlight as a reward 🙂