Marmalade time!

[Flosshilde]

ff, the probable reason for it not reducing much was that you had a lid on it - so the water couldn't evaporate. No matter - you probably ended up with about the right proportions of oranges/water.

Anyway, as I said, after a couple of days it may get firmer - & if it stays on your toast & tastes OK then that's all that matters

[french frank]

Looks like ff also has Danish blue and white plates etc.

Furnival's 'Denmark'. Annoyingly I was working at my desktop a couple of weeks ago, with my mouse wandering aimlessly off to the right and I knocked my coffee cup off the table and smashed the saucer in four neat pieces. Hmmm. I see there are a couple going on eBay ...

Floss - thanks for all the help and encouragement - I've left all the jars outside the back door in the hope that next time I remember to look there will be some beautifully set marmalade!

[Don Petter]

I've left all the jars outside the back door in the hope that next time I remember to look there will be some beautifully set marmalade!

Or it will have been eaten by the denizens of the night? Too many foxes and badgers around here to do that!

[Dave2002]

Furnival's 'Denmark'. Annoyingly I was working at my desktop a couple of weeks ago, with my mouse wandering aimlessly off to the right and I knocked my coffee cup off the table and smashed the saucer in four neat pieces. Hmmm. I see there are a couple going on eBay ...

There are, or have been, several manufacturers of that design. We've got loads of it - not that I like it particularly - but it's usually easy to replace an item if one gets broken. I recall that sales after Christmas may be helpful, and also charity shops. There are only a few styles which are more difficult to find I think - maybe soup bowls.

PS: If you have the bits, sometimes it's possible to glue them back together. We have jugs which had the handles fall off, and we glued them back. They've been through the dishwasher hundreds of times since without problems. Depends on the glue you use, though.

[french frank]

I've just bought a cup and saucer on eBay for £3.99 - £6.35 with postage. Seems reasonable.

Am I the only one who has given up on the ubiquitous mug and returned to using (tea)cups and saucers?

PS. The marmalade has set slightly this morning, but is still closer to the consistency of honey than marmalade. I may try reboiling a couple of jars for research purposes to see if it can be improved. Sharp tasting but not bitter, which is okay.

[Curalach]

Am I the only one who has given up on the ubiquitous mug and returned to using (tea)cups and saucers?

I much prefer a cup and saucer.

I think your marmalade probably required a longer boil. I have always found that the times estimated in recipes are well short of the mark. As a rule of thumb, I wait until the froth on top of the boiling marmalade has turned a light caramel colour. Try re-boiling some and see what happens. I have another batch on the go this afternoon.

[vinteuil]

I've just bought a cup and saucer
Am I the only one who has given up on the ubiquitous mug and returned to using cups and saucers?

.

I have never - even as a slovenly undergraduate - used mugs : always cups'n'saucers.
If you use a mug - where do you put the spoon (even without sugar, I want to stir my tea)? - either it makes a puddle on the table surface - or you have to put it on a plate or similar. Why not a saucer... ?

[french frank]

If you use a mug - where do you put the spoon (even without sugar, I want to stir my tea)? - either it makes a puddle on the table surface - or you have to put it on a plate or similar. Why not a saucer... ?

Quite right. I don't take milk or sugar, but the reason I now invariably order an espresso when out is that I dislike those huge mugs they bring you as 'standard' - and you should see the large ones! A cupful is usually enough, though I have been known to pour myself a second one from time to time ... I missed your early contribution here from A Gentleman of Quality - I wonder who?

Have reboiled 2 and a quarter jars which have ended up as 1 and a half. To be inspected for colour, texture and taste tomorrow after a night outside the back door ...

[Eudaimonia]

For those of you interested in culinary history, here's one from the great Escoffier featuring some unusual steps:

[Curalach]

featuring some unusual steps

Life is too short!!

[Ferretfancy]

Monsieur Escoffier sounds like our beloved Heston sans the liquid nitrogen, heaven knows what the end product finished up as, but then the French can't make biscuits either!

[Eudaimonia]

Life is too short!!

Agreed! That's why, when I made some raspberry amaretto jam this weekend, I used the microwave.
Thanks for the inspiration!

[mercia]

love that "throw them in a preserving pan" - like from 10 yards distance?

i'm on a water meter so running the tap for 12 hours is perhaps inadvisable!

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

So, has anyone been marmalade making so far this year? Operation Seville commenced on Sunday - nine golden jars of the stuff - and I shall launch the second wave tomorrow!

[french frank]

I certainly noted the oranges in our local deli/greengrocer a couple of weeks ago. I have half a jar left from last year

Remind me of your quantities again, IGI, for nine jars: oranges v sugar?