Bounty

Last night I found myself wandering round the local fields again, collecting blackberries. I love foraging, it gives me a great sense of satisfaction (and I like getting something for free, of course). I'm thrilled that, having missed several years of blackberry harvests, I'm making the most of this year. 

I made a decision this year not to grow anything edible in our own garden (apart from the herbs and soft fruit that grows by itself), so we are incredibly grateful to friends who pass on their surplus produce. Just this week we've had an enormous marrow that has contributed to three meals so far, and these beautiful purple beans. 

Today we popped to a friend's house for a cup of tea, and he confessed that his plums were rotting on the tree, and did we want to take any? Yes please! He's eaten his fill, and many of them were turning bad, so we picked the rest and will take him a jar of jam in return. 

​Of course, all this produce needs processing. 

The blackberries were in most danger of rotting, so tonight I'm making a few jars of this roasted plum and blackberry jam. It's not ready yet, but I can tell you that the roasted plums smelled so delicious that I swiped a few to put in a quick rice pudding I just made to use up the last of a tin of coconut milk. I've not roasted plums before but that won't be the last time. 

Tomorrow I'm planning to turn the rest of the plums into this plum and ginger jam. 

It feels good to be making jam again. I'll definitely be planting a plum tree or two once we move.