Apple and Kiwi Fruit Jam ( home canning preserves )

650g Kiwi Fruit (peeled and diced)

350g Apple (peeled and diced)

1 Tble Spn Lemon Juice

800g White Sugar

Warm sugar in the oven

Place Kiwi Fruit, Apple and Lemon Juice in a large pan.

Simmer on low heat until soft.

Remove from heat and add warmed sugar to kiwi fruit mix stirring quickly until sugar is dissolved

Return to pan heat, bring to boil and cook until setting point is reach 220 deg (approx 20 mins)

Spoon into hot, sterilised jars and seal.

I made up this recipe based on the quantity of ingredients that I had available.

Preserving - Sterilising and Sealing Jars

When making preserves, cleanliness in the kitchen is very important to prevent contamination of the mixture by airborne bacteria or fungi.

JARS : I use a mixture of old jars I have laying about and some I have purchased specifically for preserving.

First wash jars and their lids in hot soapy water or you can put them in the dishwasher.

Then place them in a cold oven, bring temperature to 120°C and leave for approximately 30 minutes.

OR

Place them in a large saucepan, cover them with cold water, bring to boil and simmer for approximately 20 minutes (top up with boiling water from time to time if required)

I tend to use this method and use a cheap, large soup pot I picked up from Woolworths for about $15.00.

Fill jars with hot preserves while they are still hot making sure you don't touch any of the inside surfaces to avoid contamination. Usually fill to about 1/4 inch from the top.

Once jars are filled, wipe around the top of any jars with a clean (sterilised) cloth to clean up any spillages.

Put lids on jars and place into a saucepan of boiling water to seal.

Jams, Jellies, Marmalades and Fruits for approximately 15mins

Tomatoes for approximately 40mins

NOTES TAKEN FROM COUNTRY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION PRESERVES COOKERY BOOK

Preserving - Testing For Setting Point

To be sure that your jam, jelly or marmalade is going to set properly, you need to know when it reaches its setting point. This may take up to 20 minutes of boiling but to avoid over cooking its best to start testing after five minutes or so.

There are three easy ways to test for setting -

• Test temperature of the mixture with a sugar thermometer, setting point is 105°C

• Chill a saucer in the freezer. Place a teaspoon full of the hot mixture on the cold saucer and place back in freezer for 30 seconds or leave for 2-3 minutes on your bench. Then push with your finger and if ready it will wrinkle and feel firm.

• Stir mixture with a wooden spoon, lift spoon and turn to cool the mixture on it, then hold the spoon horizontally. The mixture should form a firm drop on the edge of the spoon if ready.

I usually do a combination of the first two points to be sure :o)

NOTES TAKEN FROM THE COUNTRY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION, PRESERVES COOKERY BOOK

Strawberry Jam

3kg strawberries
3kg white sugar
Juice from 1/2 a lemon

** see below

Hull and half strawberries

Stir sugar through strawberries and leave for 1-2 hour while sugar softens the fruit

Add lemon juice then cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until fruit is soft.
Remove 1/3 of fruit. Set aside.

Cook remaining mixture until fruit is mostly dissolved and jam coats the back of a spoon.

Divide reserved fruit between the steralised jars then fill with jam.

**Update

After a bit more experience I have changed how I make jam now :D

I use almost equal parts of sugar to strawberries but with slightly less sugar

Hull and half strawberries

On low heat in the oven warm the sugar through in a shallow tray

Place strawberries in saucepan on the stove with a couple of table spoons of water to stop them sticking and cook until the strawberries start to break down and soften.

Add lemon juice and sugar and continue to cook until setting point is reached.

Setting point is reach when temperature hits 220 on a candy thermometer, this is the easiest method and it's well worth the $10 to buy a candy thermometer.

or

You can place two saucers in the freezer before you start making the jam and to test for setting point place a teaspoon of the mixture onto a chilled saucer, return to freezer for 30 or so seconds, then if the surface 'wrinkles' when you push it with your finger your jam is ready.

Notes : I used 1.85kg strawberries and 1.85kg sugar

Tomato Chutney

2 large red onions, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 x 800g cans chopped Italian
Roma tomatoes
2 cups white sugar
2 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons curry powder
1 teaspoon chilli powder
1 cup sultanas
1 tablespoon salt


Place all ingredients, and freshly ground black pepper, into a large saucepan over medium-low heat.
Cook, stirring, for 10 minutes or until sugar has dissolved.
Bring to the boil.
Reduce heat to low.
Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour or until mixture thickens.
Spoon hot chutney into hot sterilised jars.
Cover jars with a clean tea towel.
Cool completely.
Top with lids and label.

Notes
Makes 10 x 1-cup capacity jars
Slightly less curry powder, chilli powder and vinegar

I used 1200grams fresh tomatoes, halved everything and ended up with 4 x 8oz jars

* Have since used 2.4kg tomatoes and the full ingredients*

Preserved Oranges

4 (about 800g) medium navel oranges, washed, dried
200g (2/3 cup) salt
250ml (1 cup) fresh lemon juice
250ml (1 cup) fresh orange juice

Cut oranges in half.
Cut each half into 3 equal wedges.
Place in a plastic bag in the freezer overnight.

Remove from freezer and place in the fridge for 4 hours to thaw slightly.
Wash a 1L (4-cup) capacity glass preserving jar with plastic lid in warm, soapy water.
Rinse well.
Drain on a rack.

Place orange in a bowl.
Add salt and stir until orange is coated.
Place orange and any salt from bowl into the glass jar.
Add lemon and orange juice.
Seal and date jar.
Shake to combine.
Store in a cool place out of direct sunlight for 4 weeks, then use as required.

Notes
Preserved oranges are great in salads and desserts. Simply rinse under cold water and pat dry with paper towel. Cut the flesh and pith from rind and discard. Thinly slice rind and use as desired.

TASTE.COM.AU

MUMS TOMATO SAUCE

two cloves of garlic
2 tbsp whole cloves
3.6kg whole juicy tomatoes, choped
1 onion, peeled and chipped
1kg sugar
2 tbsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 cups malt vinegar

tie whole cloves into a small piece of muslin

into a large preserving pan put the cloves, tomatoes, onion, garlic, sugar, salt, cayenne pepper and vinegar, and stir well to mix. bring slowly to the boil stirring regularly until sugar dissolves and then bring to the boil <---this line makes me go, wtf, isn't is already boiling? boil rapidly for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours, stirring occasinally until mixture is thick and pulpy. remove from heat, remove any scum that has formed on top and allow the sauce to cool for about 20 mins. put the sauce through a mouli to remove any pips and skins or puree in a blender and sieve. return to a clean preserving pan and boil. if the sauce is thin, boil, stirring regularly until it is the thickness you desire. bottle the hot sauce into hot, dry, sterile bottles and then seal when cold. makes 6 200ml bottles.

EBB again....Thanks teacup!

LEMON BUTTER

I doubled this recipe

4 Lemons

125gms Butter
2 Cups Sugar
4 Eggs Beaten

Squeeze lemons and strain the juice
Melt butter in a double boiler
Stir in sugar and lemon juice until sugar is dissolved
Add eggs, whisking quickly

Place over boiling water and cook, stirring until mixture thickens
Pour into sterilised jars

I did not use a double boiler

recipe from EDMONDS COOKERY BOOK