Are you familiar with the Oregon Grape shrub and its berries? I've often seen them growing and hanging full of berries which I thought were just for the birds. I was wrong. Youngest son picked some last week, found a recipe and made the most tasty jelly. Not to be outdone I tried his recipe
( but we all know I don't actually follow any recipe), and ended up with my own Oregon Grape jelly which is less sweet that his but more clear. When he put his through a colander he mashed them with more force so that some pulp also was squished through. The texture was better than mine I think).
The less sweet part is because I thought the recipe called for way too much sugar.
Donna asked if these jars sealed and if not how was the jam/jelly preserved. I used to put melted paraffin on top of the jam but these days I make small batches of jam and just keep them in the fridge. We're great jam lovers so we go through a jar fairly quickly.
An Oregon Grape in bloom....
...and one full of berries.
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Another question I wanted to answer was about my Bean Soup. It is really just a vegetable soup with the predominant veg being the green beans. The important difference is that the soup is flavoured with Summer Savory. Without this herb it's just veg soup. Oh yes, and cream is added just before serving.
Mary, over at Hill Top Post, asked about our Hummingbirds. We have both Rufous and Anna's.
The Ruby-throated are found in most of the provinces east of us.
I hope I've answered any questions. I'm never sure whether to answer them in the comments or if anyone actually goes back to check.
Thanks for visiting, G.M.
I wondered what the Oregon Grape was, till I saw the photo and realised it is our Mahonia. I had no idea the berries were edible.
ReplyDeleteI make jelly (Crabapple) in those little jars, place a circle of waxed paper on the jelly and then screw the lid on tightly. It lasts in a cupboard for a year at least.
What a beautiful shrub (or is it a tree?) Do you have some growing on your yard or do you have a U-pick close by? The leaves look just like holly leaves....are they just as prickly? I made grape jelly exactly once and I boiled it too long so that the jelly was so thick when it set that you could stand a knife up in the middle of the jar, lol. My kids called it "Oobleck Jelly". In regards to the Bonne Maman jars - when I use mine, I process them so that they seal so that can be kept in the pantry. I agree, the lids are so cheery!
ReplyDeleteEllabie
Never heard of Oregon Grapes. I think the leaves look like holly leaves!
ReplyDeleteYour grape jam looks great. I like jam alot too, so I guess I'd fit right in, in your house! Thanks for the answer to the green bean soup, although I'm not sure what Summer Savory is.
ReplyDeleteWe have Oregon Grape shrubs in our yard, but we have never used the berries to make jam/jelly. We eat so little jam and jelly here that there are much better things to use.
ReplyDeleteThanks for answering questions in your post. You're right, I never remember to go back and check comments for answers.
Your Oregon grape jelly sounds delicious. I've never made anything with them, although there are quite a few growing wild around here. Summer savory in bean soup brings back memories of my childhood.
ReplyDeleteI like how you answered the questions in the post. It's easier to find your answers that way and then everyone can see them too. I threw my hummingbird feeder away today and ordered a new one. I hadn't seen a hummingbird actually eat from it in a long time. I think it was just old and not working correctly.
ReplyDeleteYour Oregon Grape jelly looks wonderful. I haven't made jelly in quite awhile but I love to eat it!
Blessings
Betsy
Yum, the jelly sounds delicious. Thanks for the tips about the bean soup.
ReplyDeleteI learn something new every day! I had no idea you could eat Oregon Grape and now I regret all those I have seen over the years that have gone to waste. I use repurposed jars with resealable lids and the jam seems to last okay for up to 12 months.
ReplyDeleteIf I have asked a question in the comments I always go back to check for an answer.
Thanks, GM, your posts are always so interesting :)
Hi Granny Marigold,
ReplyDeleteOn sealing Jars: My Mum use to cover the top of the open jar with a piece of 'grease proof paper' and fix the paper with a rubber band around the neck of the Jar- then Mum would put the Lid on to seal the jar - it'd last months on end with this method- the Preserve Jars would be kept in a Kitchen Cupboard. Best Wishes. KEV. (Sydney- Australia).
I've never even heard of Oregon Grapes before, but we do make lots of other jams here.
ReplyDeleteOh, those little jars are so beautiful...there is just something about looking at jars you have filled yourself. I had never heard of Oregon grapes. I hope I remember to look that up later. I wonder if they grow here...I never remember seeing them.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a LOT of grapes on the bush! So beautiful! I've never made jelly or jam, too much work for my liking lol. Although I do make just a few small jars of my own tomato paste every couple of months. I don't go through the rigamarole of what other people do in the whole canning process. I took a class (through the state) many years ago in small batch canning and found out a lot of that extra work is unnecessary when you know you're using it within just a handful of weeks. // We used to have a ton of hummingbird feeders when we had a house. We sure miss watching them. I used to plant lots of red cannas and those always brought in many hummingbirds. They's sooooo cute and fun to watch and listen to!!
ReplyDeleteYou do compel us to ask so many questions, GM!! I've never seen those berries before - so interesting. I'm impressed with the industry in your home - two batches! The jars are so pretty. WE do that too - refrigerate the jam so we don't have to bother with all the preserving, etc. We eat it every morning for breakfast, so it doesn't last long.
ReplyDeleteThose bushes are beautiful hanging with fruit! Good for you making Jelly and jam:)
ReplyDeleteGM, try this for Kate's videos. go into your design page of your blog.upper right hand corner, This is how I found mine. Look for the row of dots 3 rows of 3, click on that and it will bring up what you subscribe to, Click on Kates videos. It will bring them all up,you will see " sort by " ,click on that it gives you options how you watch her videos.Hope that helps you out. Love watching Kate...
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