Picking your own & Preserving

Your probably wondering why I have written a post about preserving fruit on a baking blog. I like to think that baking and making pots of jam go hand in hand in more ways than one. Firstly, I think that people who bake are generally quite a nice bunch! Isn't baking all about giving and sharing? Making people happy with something thoughtful? I think preserving has the same connotations. I mean, it's a known fact that people who preserve end up giving jars and jars to friends and loved ones, partly because they like to show what they have made and partly, and more importantly because they know it makes the recipient happy.

I will never forget the time a man came to cake club. The only time in our three years that that has happened! The theme was Seven Deadly Sins and he bought a Victoria Sponge with homemade plum jam. He said it was to represent jealousy as he would be jealous of all our cakes because his was so simple. He couldn't have been more wrong. We were all blown away by not only how well baked the sponge was but by how yummy the simple jam filling tasted. The fact he had made the jam himself was even more impressive. Such a simple cake but so lovely to eat. It's another reason I think preserving and baking go hand in hand. Like baking anyone can have a go at preserving. Even if it's not quite right it's will still, on most occasions be edible. With practice it's something you will get better at and I am far from an expert, or even very experienced, but as someone who loves baking I get an enormous satisfaction putting my own jam or curd in a cake.

Homemade lemon curd and marscapone Swiss rolls

 Fresh fruit, particulary berries are very expensive, especially if you need a couple of kilo. This is where pick your own farms come in, so much cheaper and can be a great day out with the children.

       Team effort picking strawberries

When I was little I remember going to one, we spent a lovely afternoon picking strawberries in the hazy sunshine. It was a case of eat one, pick one! The taste was unbelievable, and as someone who grew up in the suburbs of London being in the country was something I savoured. It was one of those memories that made me always know that I would never be a city girl. Once I had children I knew I wanted them to have memories like that.  I'm am now lucky enough to be able to easily give them to them. The children love coming with me, especially Hudson whose seven. He's so inquisitive and wants to know as much as possible. I think I have a budding gardener on my hands! 

     Hudson helping me with the rhubarb

At the moment I have strawberry and black currant jams and raspberry curd, fruit all picked by myself and my little helpers. 

Making preserves this way is obviously seasonal but in my opinion makes it even better. After all, preserves where invented to preserve the glutton of fresh fruit so they didn't go to waste. 

 It's reassuring to know that not only will I always have a last minute gift sitting in my cupboard, but that I will always be able to whip up a simple cake at the last minute and be able to make it a little bit more special.