A wake-up call in a jar

    "I like my marmalade to shine in the morning sun. A bright, jewel-like mixture with thin strands of peel ... the point of this golden jam is its bittersweet quality. It's a wake-up call in a jar."



    That's Nigel Slater (The Kitchen Diaries II again), and it was his recipe I used for marmalade-making over the weekend. On Saturday I peeled all the fruit* and shredded it quite finely, added the juice, pulp, seeds in a muslin bag, and water and left it to stand overnight. Yesterday the mixture was simmered until the peel was soft and translucent, then the sugar was added and the boiling commenced, and the fragrance alone was worth the effort. The taste is vibrant without being bitter, and the balance of tart to sweet is just right.

 

I am pleased with my "pots of bright, shining happiness", as NS calls them.

*1.3kg. Seville oranges, 2 sweet oranges, 2 lemons, a few pieces of stem ginger.