Sloe jelly (jam)

[Two_Sheds]

posted for Chris Marks

Sloe jelly (jam)

1 kg sloes
2 kg crab or Bramley apples, roughly chopped, cored but skins on
grated zest and juice of 1 lemon (I'm leaving this out because I forgot to buy some)
sugar (see below for amount)



Put the sloes & apples (& lemon stuff if you bought one) in a pan with 1 litre of boiled water. Simmer, with a lid on, for 30 mins or so until soft and pulpy (you don't get much juice out of sloes & apples, so do keep that lid on).

Strain the fruit in a jelly bag overnight (don't squeeze the bag).

Measure the juice, allowing 450g sugar per 600ml. Bring the juice to the boil, then dissolve the sugar in it over a low heat.

Turn up the heat to a rolling boil (too vigorous a boil will trap lots of air bubbles and spoil the clarity) and keep testing for setting point (I keep 2 plates in the fridge, and test every 2-3 mins).

Skim off any scum (I got quite a lot). Pour into sterilised jars

edit: this was really nice. I then made a 50/50 jelly and it was even better

[chris]

Thank you

[ginger ninger]

Do you mind me pinching it as well chris, we have lot's of sloe bush/trees round these parts...saves making alcofrolic things

[chris]

Anything to give your liver a rest, love

[chris]

I retract that statement. My supply has been 'nipped in the bud' so to speak. I may have to call around for a jar of that jelly now

[Mikey]

Who's got sloes at this time of year, or crabs for that matter?

Mine were harvested back in October, and made gin. mmmm... well the sloes did.

[Two_Sheds]

Who's got sloes at this time of year, or crabs for that matter?

Chris has just ID'd one of his bushes as a sloe, that's why I posted the recipe

[Mikey]

Goes to find Chris for a cutting.

[chris]

Dude, if you want a cutting and it'll root - you're welcome. Some dope cut the bush down mind, so if it's still viable I'll take a load! (how do you get em to root? just bung em in moist compost?)

[Mikey]

I think it's easier to do with the tips but will work with the saplings also. Shove them into the ground and see what happens. If I were you I'd go and find some quiet areas along footpaths you travel and shove them into the ground. You will normally find saplings under the main bush which can be dug up if you want one in your garden, or you can collect some berrries later in the autumn and save the seeds.

Don't worry about me dude, I have a number of local haunts to collect mine from, one of which is in a graveyard, they are the juiciest berries.

Thanks for the offer though.

[Hilary B]

There are loads around here, and more blossom than ever this year. We did once made 'sloe-flavoured crab apple jelly' and it was nice (a handful of sloes got in with the crab apples, because we picked them on the same foraging session).

[chris]

Well, I took 10 cuttings. Doubt they'll root - but we'll see. I told the drunk chap to stay away from my plot.. wonder if he'll listen.

[Mikey]

Tell the secretary what happened Chris, that way if it happens again they will have a course of redress for previous actions.

[chris]

I know, i'm umming and arring about telling him, he's already been told off for taking some rhubarb from a disused plot.. which is why I'm kind of against telling him (the sec). I don't want him to get in trouble again, but on the flip side of the coin... ARRRRRGHHHHHH !

Wifey tells me to tell the sec if he comes on the plot again - so may well do that.. I just feel a bit bad, he's got nowt, spends all day there like, ya know? Plus I don't want to make enemies, esp of people like that

[Two_Sheds]

Did anyone make this? I'm going to have a go this week, but feel a bit daunted at the large amount of sloes in it - M.Patten only puts 100g (4oz?) in hers (with 2lb apples).