Damson Plum Pinwheels Recipes

Steps:

• Put the vinegar, cinnamon, allspice berries, and orange juice and zest into a pan and bring to a boil. Boil for 4 to 5 minutes, then strain and allow to cool.
• Prick each plum with a needle or skewer (this will prevent them from splitting). Add the fruit to the cool spiced vinegar in a clean pan. Bring slowly to a simmer, then simmer very, very gently for 10 to 15 minutes, until the plums are just tender. Using a slotted spoon, lift out the plums and pack them into warm, sterilized jars (see p. 21).
• Return the spiced vinegar to the heat, add the sugar, and stir until dissolved. Boil for several minutes to reduce and thicken. Pour this hot spiced syrup over the plums and seal immediately with vinegar-proof lids (see p. 22). Store in a cool, dark place. These pickled damsons are best kept for 6 to 8 weeks before eating. Use within 1 year.
• You can use the same method to pickle firm cherries or green gooseberries. Rhubarb, cut into 2-inch chunks, can also be dealt with in this way - but add the sugar with the rhubarb, as it will help keep it whole.

Steps:

• In a sink full of cool water, rinse and de-stem the plums. Place them in a thick-bottomed pan suitable for slow cooking and deep enough to allow frothing when the plums begin to boil. Add the water and cardamom pods and bring the mixture to a low boil over medium heat. Turn heat to low for a slow simmer and allow the fruit to cook down uncovered for 1 1/2 hours. Allow the plums to cool.
• To pit the plums, strain the cooled plums with a colander, pressing the juice out with your hands and collecting it in a large bowl. Pick up the pit-and-fruit slurry in the colander by small handfuls and squeeze the plum pulp and skins gently into the bowl with the syrup, retaining the pits in the palm of your hand and then discarding them.
• Put the plums back into the original pot with the sugar and butter. Cook at a very low simmer until the mixture begins to thicken, about 4 hours. To test for adequate development of pectin, drop a spoonful of the jam on a plate and put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes: the mixture should be soft-set and no longer syrupy.
• Ladle the hot jam into hot, sterile jars, wipe the rims clean, place sterile lids on, and tighten the screw caps. Allow the jars to cool to room temperature and check to be sure that each jar has sealed.

Steps:

• Wash the fruit, then tip into a preserving pan with the lemon juice and 300ml/1⁄2 pint water. Bring slowly to the boil, and simmer for 30-40 minutes until the fruit is soft.
• Carefully pour the contents of the pan into a scalded jelly bag with a large bowl set underneath to catch the juice (see the Step-by-step photo). Leave for several hours.
• Measure the juice back into the pan, then add 500g of sugar to every 500ml of juice or 1lb sugar for every pint of juice. Stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved, then raise the heat and rapidly boil until setting point is reached. Test this by spooning a little on to a chilled saucer. Cool slightly then push with your finger - if it wrinkles it is ready. If not return to the heat, boil for 5 more minutes and test again.
• Pot into warm sterilised jars and cool before sealing. Can be eaten straight away, but keeps for up to a year.

Steps:

• Wash and pick over the plums.
• Combine the plums and the water.
• Bring to a boil and cook 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Allow to cool enough to handle - or completely, if you like - and fish out the pits (I put them through a food mill, and then removed the pits from the remaining pulp).
• Return the pulp to the rest of the jam once the pits are out.
• Meanwhile, put the jars into a canning kettle and cover with water to one inch above the tops of the jars.
• Bring to a boil, boil 10 minutes to sterilize.
• Return the plums to the jam kettle, and bring them back to the boil. Add the sugar to the plums, stirring to dissolve.
• Boil to jam stage, about 20 minutes. Test for the gelling point with one of the following methods: Temperature test - Use a jelly or candy thermometer, and boil until mixture reaches the following temperatures at altitudes of: Sea level to 1,000 feet - 104°C/220°F; 1,001 feet to 2,000 feet - 103°C/218°F
• Sheet or spoon test - Dip a cool metal spoon into the boiling jelly mixture. Raise the spoon out of the steam, about 12 inches above the pan. Turn the spoon so the liquid runs off the side. The jelly is done when the syrup forms two drops that flow together and sheet or hang off the edge of the spoon.
• I like the"sheet" test.
• As the jam cooks, remove any pits you may have missed.
• Remove from the heat and stir and skim 5 minutes.
• Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal with lids sterilized according to the manufacturers directions.
• (Generally, boiled for 5 minutes.) Place jars of jam back in boiling water bath and boil for 5 minutes.
• Let cool, and store when the jars have sealed.