How to make Greengage Jam - Charlotte Style

STEP 1: Find yourself a greengage tree

Thankfully my sister has one laden with fruit! (Cheers Sister! X)


STEP 2: Get picking (a picking buddy always helps)

STEP 3: Taste the fruit as you go to make sure it is OK (my helper here is trying out some plums which I was also picking...)

STEP 4: Pick desired amount

STEP 5: Have a restorative cup of tea and consult preserving bible

This is another good opportunity to make sure that the fruit is indeed up to scratch.  (Yes, OK, and have a bit of chockie too...).

I personally usually tweak Sally's recipes just a bit.  I often find that I don't need to put in as much water as she says and I prefer to put less sugar in so you get more flavour of the fruit.

STEP 6: Prepare the greengages

I find some music helps with this (Today I was enjoying Madeleine Peyroux)

STEP 7: Bring to the boil and then simmer fruit (plus I thought I would muslin up some of the stones for some pectin assistance)

STEP 8: Add the sugar.  Even though I usually put in less than the recipe says I am always staggered by just how much goes in!

STEP 9: Stir until sugar dissolves and then bring back to the boil and bubble away until you get setting point (or as near as darn it!).  

STEP 10: Pour into sterilised jars! 

As you can see I have made rather a large batch... If anyone out there has any surplus pantry or garden produce they would like to trade for some jam please let me know!

Spring Cleaning

I'm having a gradual spring clean of the house.  Emphasis here is on gradual.  Since having the little man I have slowly started to accept (well, sort of) that things just take a hell of a lot longer to achieve than they used to.  Mess and clutter also seem to breed at an alarmingly speedier rate.

Over the past week I have been making progress on the kitchen.  I have recently stopped baking for a cafe from home and have turned it into a proper business, moving the operation to an outside kitchen (complete with delegation to chef husband to do said baking and cooking - nice).  It was lovely to clear out bulk flour, sugar etc out of the pantry and to reclaim the space as my own.

Today I managed very slowly to sort out the tupperware cupboard and hit the "white drawers".  I only purchased these drawers a couple of weeks ago, a nice $20 find at a second hand shop.  Already they have become full with items that "I have no idea where to put so lets just shove them in there and forget about them".

 Little people also seem to appear in them...

Time to dust the walking boots off...

After a very lovely morning cuppa and chat with a new friend and her little ones I found myself in the region of Kingston beach with a boy in need of a nap, a few hours to spare and my trusty ergo carrier. Being a lovely sunny day and having been reminded of the Alum cliffs walk during a recent conversation, I thought I would go for a wonder.

I don't know why, but I always forget about how many lovely spots there are in such close proximity to the "CBD" of Hobart.  Every time I venture out, I always vow to "reconnect with nature", "walk more often", "get more exercise", "take the good camera with me next time" etc.  But for some reason a cloud of amnesia floats over, everyday life takes over and my token stroll through nature remains just that.

I am hoping that by blog pledging to go for at least a 1 hour walk through nature once a week I shall stick to it!  I really hope I do, as with a views like this to gaze out upon out there it shall be good for the soul and bad for the cobwebs!

Any suggestions for lovely short walks in Southern Tasmania (do-able whilst carrying a small person) would be very welcome!

To read the book or be the book.

I am so very much looking forward to the day when I can snuggle up and read with my little man.  I try to make reading a part of every day but he much prefers more active play.  When we do sit down with a book he likes to be in control.  He'll flick, throw, tear, point and sometimes, heartwarmingly, laugh.  He is too young, or maybe it is not in his nature to sit still long enough for me to turn more than one page or read aloud a line or two.

Yesterday I found us at a bit of a loose end in town.  I had intended to get a few errands done but silly me had left my wallet at home.  In search of something free to do out of the rain, Seb and I investigated the library for a couple of hours.  He was having a great time chasing after bigger kids and trying to distract them from their own reading.

He was also enjoying getting in amongst the books.  When my back was turned he cleared himself a spot and made himself comfortable.  I only wish I had managed to get my phone camera out quick enough to capture the cheeky grin on his face!