TexasMadness
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Roselle jam
While hubby was out of town last week, I got to play housewife and not worry about work (I told them I couldn't do anything and so had the mental relief of not being expected to do it). I had a blast!
One of the first things I did was make roselle jam. I've been wanting to do it since we first grew roselle last year but never got around to it. My mom grew a HUGE crop of it this year and we have way to much to simply dry for tea.
Roselle is a plant whose calyx is harvested usually for tea (hibiscus tea) but other countries use it like a sour fruit. Here's the plant (I posted this in Homestead too):
I couldn't find a real exact recipe (1 cup of this, 3 cups of that) but I found general directions...starting with a "bucket" of roselle! So, unlike my usual fussiness when I first try something and want to do it EXACTLY the way a recipe says, I just dove in to experiment.
I separated the calyx (the cool red things) from the seedpod (green things) and boiled the seedpods in water just enough to cover for 10 minutes. Drained them and tossed the seedpods. This extracted pectin needed to set the jam.
I then put the calyxes into the pot with the water and boiled them down to a mash. I measured that (7 cups) and added 5 cups of sugar and 1 cup of honey. (it looked like weird sea creature stew at this stage)
I brought it to a boil and cooked for about 15 minutes before packing into hot sterilized jars.
IT'S DELICIOUS!!! Tastes a lot like cranberry sauce but with a floral undertone. I'm put it on everything lately and I can't wait to serve it at Thanksgiving instead of the usual cranberry. It's going to be a big hit!
On scones with cream cheese:
In kolaches...with my little kolache making helper!
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10/22/2012, 10:14 pm
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Saijen SilverWolf1
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Re: Roselle jam
That looks really good, and it's such a pretty color!!
Not sure I'd like the floral hint...I don't do well with floral tastes for the most part.
Sometimes just 'doing it' turns out better than following so strictly a recipe. I never measure when I make cornbread or some other things.
It's nice that Willa enjoys helping you in the kitchen. I hope that never changes, but I can almost see the eye rolls in about 10 more years! LOL.. take advantage while you can,and maybe she'll truly learn to love not only cooking, but cleaning up afterwards.
It's really good to see you posting, by the way!!!!!
--- "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
~~@Saijen@~~
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10/23/2012, 3:21 am
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Firlefanz
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Re: Roselle jam
Wow, what a color! Glad you found the time for some experiments, I'm sure you missed that.
And like Saijen said: Glad to see you!
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10/23/2012, 7:49 am
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TexasMadness
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Re: Roselle jam
The "floral" part isn't really like perfumy flowers. I don't know how to describe it - it's basically what the hibiscus tea tastes like!
Willa loves to help cook. She can almost make breakfast herself at two and a half! She gets the eggs from the fridge, cracks them in a bowl and pours them in the pan. I'm just responsible for flipping the eggs.
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10/23/2012, 2:37 pm
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Outslider4
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Re: Roselle jam
Wow; I had never heard of roselles before you mentioned them. I wonder if they taste like rose hips? A bit tart, but flowery, as you said. Everything looks soooo good!
---
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10/23/2012, 3:54 pm
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Queenyforever
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Re: Roselle jam
GREAT! Now I'm hungry!
That sounds and looks fabulous!
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“Freedom and democracy are dreams you never give up.”
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10/23/2012, 8:03 pm
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Outslider4
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Re: Roselle jam
I googled it. No wonder it tastes like hibiscus. It IS hibiscus.
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10/24/2012, 12:36 pm
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Saijen SilverWolf1
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Re: Roselle jam
If it tastes a bit like hibiscus tea, I know I'd not care much for it...lol. Sorry.
I guess I'm more a fruit/spice type person. I don't much care for anything that has even a hint of floral taste.
I would try it, just because I'm not so rigid that I won't try some new things..especially if they look good (do NOT try to give me fish eye soup or some such, though... )
--- "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
~~@Saijen@~~
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10/24/2012, 4:37 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Roselle jam
Yes, it is hibiscus. When it's used as a 'food' its always called roselle. When it's used as a tea its called hibiscus. And when referring to the plant, it's called roselle even though it's a hibiscus plant. And that's not even including flor de Jamaica, which is what I grew up calling it!
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10/24/2012, 8:09 pm
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Outslider4
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Re: Roselle jam
I drink Red Zinger tea all the time and am very fond of cranberry, so I'm pretty sure I would love it. What a gorgeous color!
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10/25/2012, 12:24 pm
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