Lucky me!!

[Snadger]

Spotted some nice ripe rowanberries in a wooded area close by. Took the dog for a walk in that area with a carrier bag. Hadn't noticed before but there is an apple tree laden with fruit. I pressume it' s a crab apple? but these apples don't look much smaller than Tesco's finest.

Dog will be getting another walk later today!

Crab apple jelly here I come, and maybe some relish and...................

[Polly Fouracre]

Lucky you indeed! I have the rowan berries but will have to use cooking apples instead of crabs.

[singleseeder]

Spotted some nice ripe rowanberries in a wooded area close by.

.................. Right Snadger, I'm getting the map out!!

[Hilary B]

There a quite a lot of 'feral' apple trees, mostly grown from cores dropped/thrown out of cars etc. They aren't quite 'crab apples' but usually can be treated that way.

[Flummery]

We get 'wild' apples here along disused railway line walks - I think they are old cores chucked from train windows! I'm making a batch of bramble and wild apple jelly just now - brambles dripping through jelly bag and apples stewing as I type. I love food for free!

[Snadger]

I now have a question? I've dug out a HFW recipe that calls for equal quantities of rowan berries and crabapples to make a jelly. I've boiled the rowan berries and strained them but only have less than a pint of liquid. I have half a carrier bag of crab apples which should give me a couple of pints of apple liquid at least.

I would like to know if a bias towards the crab apples will make a difference to the completed jelly apart from less colour and more of an 'appley' taste?

[Flummery]

Apart from that - no! I think you can alter the proportions as suits you - I do - the main thing is to make sure your juice to sugar ratio is correct. Good luck - tell us what it's like!

[Snadger]

Apart from that - no! I think you can alter the proportions as suits you - I do - the main thing is to make sure your juice to sugar ratio is correct. Good luck - tell us what it's like!

Thanks flum, by the time I'd boiled up the apples and tried to squeeze as much pulp through the filter as I could I finished up with approximate equal portions of apple juice and rowan berry juice anyway.

Next question............being as I have loads of the blimmin stuff, could I use it as a base for a relish by adding shallots,Jalapenos's and possibly orange? I also have tomatoes drying in my dehydrator which may be useful although tomatoes and apples don't really mix do they

[Flummery]

Last year I had loads of crab aples so I coooked and dripped them through the jelly bag as if I were making apple jelly but then I used that with wild plums, raisins, onions sugar and vinegar - proportions from any chutney recipe - and cooked them all up together. It was a really good way to use the crab apples - you can't peel and core them! You get the flavour and the pectin which gives you a smoother, more set-looking chutney. Occasionally, if I feel that way, I put a chutney through the fruit processor and get a smooth one. If you use all pale coloured ingredients it comes out like smooth mango chutney. I love chutneys and relishes because they are infinitely variable!

[rustylady]

I love chutneys and relishes because they are infinitely variable!

Me too Flummery - and I do vary them - HOWEVER, I really must write down exactly what went into each batch!! I made some wicked plum chutney 2 years ago and can't remember what I added to vary the original recipe!!

[Polly Fouracre]

Spiced crab apples are lovely if you can find the apples.

[Flummery]

Me too Flummery - and I do vary them - HOWEVER, I really must write down exactly what went into each batch!! I made some wicked plum chutney 2 years ago and can't remember what I added to vary the original recipe!!

My problem too! I can't remember what made one stand out from the others!

[Snadger]

Just found a plum tree in a hedge today........at least I think it's some kind of plum? Small yellow fruits with a red blush? Taste ok too, cos I ate a few!
Blckberries are starting to ripen around here so I'm spoilt for choice at the mo!

[Flummery]

I got some of those pink blush yellow plums on Saturday too Snadger. They're in the freezer waiting on a jam session. Made jam with the yellow ones yesterday. It's a gorgeous golden colour like apricot. Don't you love a bargain? And what's better than free? (If you don't count the sugar, oh yes and the fuel to cook them!)