Unlike Alice, to whom the Queen offers jam tomorrow (1), the Big T will have jam today. Apricot jam to be precise.
In a rather reckless moment you see, I bought 10 kilos (20lbs) of apricots.
Well, At $1.59 per kilo (admittedly, based on buying the whole 10kg box), it would have been wrong not to.
So I am going to make jam. Jam today. Jam for us, and jam to enter into the preserves competition of some upcoming A&P shows (think County Fairs).
I like making jam. It’s fairly easy and generally rewarding; a good way to preserve excess fruit. The notion of competitive jam-making however, is both new to me, and daunting.
And that’s kind of the point. I’m easily distracted and a hopeless procrastinator. Last year when I discovered a townie friend regularly enters her garden produce and preserves in A&P competitions, I thought “how cool, I should do that.”
So I am. I’ve downloaded the entry forms, diarised the delivery dates and bought the fruit.
The phrase “jam tomorrow” expresses an unfulfilled promise (2); we are definitely going to have jam today.
(1) From Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There
… “The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday – but never jam to-day.”
“It must come sometimes to ‘jam to-day’,” Alice objected.
“No, it can’t,” said the Queen. “It’s jam every other day: to-day isn’t any other day, you know.”
(2) Since Carroll’s use, the phrase has also been employed by CS Lewis, John Maynard Keynes and singer/song-writer Billy Bragg.
best of luck, i’m sure it will be delicous )
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Thanks 🙂
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That jam is one of my all-time favourite: not too sweet, very tasty but delicate… a delicious promise to keep… 😉
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Thank you 🙂
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Happy jam making! I love it too. 😊 Never thought about competing though but there aren’t many A&P’s around here 😉 The apricots look really yummy, hope you will pop some fresh ones into your mouth as well as into the pot! 😄 xxxxxxx
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Hehe. I can imagine. I was surprised at how many shows still exist here, even around Auckland which is very urban. The apricots are good; I suspect more than a few will be hijacked on the way to the pot. xxxxxx 🙂
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I used to love apricot jam! Have thought about making marmalade as the Seville oranges are in store at the moment, but then I’d have to eat it all and I’m currently trying to avoid bread. Can’t have marmalade (or apricot jam) without fresh crusty bread or toast. Good luck with the competition, if you manage to complete the forms 🙂
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I love marmalade, and made lots from our last big crop of grapefruit. Luckily T likes it too, and it keeps pretty well. I can manage one (or two thin) slices of sourdough without feeling bloated, but shop-bought bread is definitely not my friend.
The forms are not too daunting; but there’s nowhere that tells me what size the jam jars are meant to be!! I normally use quite small jars since I give lots of preserve away and find a small amount is a better gift, but I’m not sure if that will be ok I’d hate to be disqualified for looking mean with quantity!
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Better make several different sizes then! Then you will be ready and armed for all eventualities. 😀 And yes, sour dough is more agreeable. I must get around to trying out your recipe.
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Let me know how you get on 😀
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Apricot jam! One of my favourites. Hope it turns out great, and hope you have fun! There are so many cool jams you can make. Beats store-bought anytime. A couple of years ago I made a peach jam with spiced rum. It was fantastic!!!
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Peach and rum. That sounds soooooo good!!!! I’ve made peach and vanilla, and plum with cardamon — both pretty nice, but spiced rum really trumps both of them. 🙂
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It will be so good, Su.
Leslie
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Hope so. Thanks Leslie. 🙂
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🙂
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I laughed at your comment about “it would have been wrong not to”. I’ve used that comment about a purchase more than a few times 😆
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It was pretty much the first thing I said to T when I walked in. That, and an appeal to his love of apricot jam 🙂
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Beautiful still life of the apricots! They look so appetizing.
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Thanks Peter. They are very tasty — I can vouch for that!
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Have fun, and feel free to send some across the seas. 🙂
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Thanks Amy. Freeze dried of course 🙂
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In any form you can get it here, I will take it!
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Yummy, and good for you for taking up the challenge.
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Thanks Sally. 🙂
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Ooh yum! Love apricot jam. And jam making. And boxes of apricots for only $1.59 a kilo. But I do not like competitions so I will just wish you the best of luck on that one. Go for it!
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🙂 cheapest I’ve seen them for years, and they’re in good condition. I suspect more than a few won’t make it into the jam.
I’m not expecting to be “a contender” competitively, but I really like having a deadline, and also being part of a tradition that celebrates what are basically life-skills. Of course, it may be a totally cut-throat world in which the unscrupulous secretly sabotage the competition for the irresistible adrenal rush of a blue rosette and the $10 prize voucher. I guess I’ll find out.
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I love making jam, which I learned how to do from my Gram Bette. I do admit to experiencing a sinking feeling when I get home from the market with my haul, sort already tired, and then realize I still have hours of work yet to go. Usually the second wind hits once I smell the fruit cooking, and then I’m glad I started. Eager to hear how it goes for you.
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Thank you. I know exactly what you mean. A 10kg box of apricots is really heavy and when I saw it sitting on the worktop, I did wonder what I was letting myself in for! 🙂
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Good luck with the jam. I’ve never made it myself – it’s too intimidating for me.
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Thanks. I wonder why so many people feel intimidated by it. It was such a common thing for women to do when I was growing up, I accept it as a normal part of summer. I’m not much of a baker, but preserves seem within my capabilities. 🙂
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I always enjoy apricot jam. I am hesitant to try making it though. Is it difficult to do?
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I think of it as easy, but I’ll let you know when I’ve got this batch made 🙂
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I’m so envious of your jam making skills. Every spring I vow that this year I will attempt jam making but as yet have yet to find the courage to do so. This year… maybe…
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Thanks Joanne. Maybe it’s because I grew up around women who made preserves every year without even thinking about it, but jam-making especially seems manageable (chutneys are another matter — I’m not good at the sweet-sour balance).
I figure, unless you actually burn the stuff, it’s always pretty edible and the one time some plum jam didn’t set properly I told everyone it was sauce, and we put it on ice-cream. 🙂
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You’ve convinced me Su, this year is going to the year… possibly!
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That what I like to see; determination with a healthy pinch of vacillation. 😉
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How exciting – best of luck to you in your first competition! That is a beautiful photo of those apricots.
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Thank you. 🙂
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My sister used to watch a TV movie version of Alice which was something of a musical. These lines were part of a song in it: https://youtu.be/g-jpV025fWo
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Oh NZ apricots I drool at the thought of them, so sweet and yummy and what a great price. From Otago? well I won’t buy apricots over here they are always tough, leathery, paltry little things. Good luck at the show. Let us know how you get on.
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Yes; From Otago. I don’t often buy apricots either, for exactly the same reason. The first batch of jam tastes good, but has over-set. Will try again tomorrow.
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Practice makes perfect 👌
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And in this case, an awful lot of jam!! 😀
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Hubble says he wished he lived closer-he would help you and would also be a very handy taste tester 😉 Love that image too Su! It always suggests to me the promise (and hope in my case) that the latest baking or cooking endeavor will end well-
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Thanks Meg. Tell Hubble I’ll love to have his help, and I’m sure he’d be a great taste tester😉
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Right now I am loving that I am behind, because I am hoping to see a photo of some beautiful jam in your little mason jars in a few minutes! 😉
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