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Pine-apple
Jelly.—The syrup from a preserved pine, should the
pine-apple itself be used for mixing with other fruits, or
for ornamental purposes, can be utilised by being made into
a mould of jelly and by being thickened with corn-flour. It
will bear the addition of a little water.
Apricot Jelly.—The
juice from tinned apricots can be treated like that of
pine-apple. When a mixture of fruits is served in a large
bowl, the syrup from tinned fruits should not be added, but
at the same time, of course, should be used in some other
way.
Mulberry
Jelly.—Mullberries, of course, would not be bought
for the purpose, but those who possess a mulberry tree in
their garden will do well to utilise what are called
windfalls by making mulberry jelly. The juice can be
extracted by placing the fruit in a jar and putting it in
the oven; sugar must be added, and the juice thickened with
corn-flour. There are few other ways of using unripe
mulberries.
Jams.—Home-made jam is not so
common now as it was some years back. As a rule, it does not
answer from an economical point of view to
buy fruit to make jam. On the other hand,
those who possess a garden will find home-made jam a great
saving. Those who have attempted to sell their fruit
probably know this to their cost. In making every kind of
jam it is essential the fruit should be picked dry. It is
also a time-honoured tradition that the fruit is best picked
when basking in the morning sun. It is also necessary that
the fruit should be free from dust, and that all decayed or
rotten fruit should be carefully picked out.
Jam is made by boiling the fruit with sugar,
and it is false economy to get common sugar; cheap sugar throws
up a quantity of scum. Years back many persons used brown
sugar, but in the present day the difference in the price of
brown and white sugar is so trifling that the latter should
always be used for the purpose. The sugar should not be
crushed. It is best to boil the fruit before adding the sugar.
The scum should be removed, and a wooden spoon used for the
purpose. A large enamel stew-pan can be used, but tradition is
in favour of a brass preserving-pan. It will be found best to
boil the fruit as rapidly as possible. The quantity of sugar
varies slightly with the fruit used. Supposing we have a pound
of fruit, the following list gives what is generally considered
about the proper quantity of sugar
APRICOT JAM.—Three-quarters of a
pound.
BLACKBERRY JAM.—Half a pound; if apple
is mixed, rather more.
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