It’s that time of year again — the Seville oranges are in so as soon as I returned from a fabulous visit with my son (best son in the whole world) and grand daughters, I got the canning supplies out, bought some oranges, and spent hours making marmalade. Marmalade is one of those things that you do only because you love the result so much you’re willing to give up oh say 5 or 6 hours. I must be slow though because I don’t think it takes others that long (or does it?). I can do jam in a jiffy but marmalade is very labour intensive. Anyway, I got it done!
It’s also that time of year outside our window — the herring season has begun so there is a parade of fishing boats sliding past with hundreds of gulls and a scattering of eagles eagerly awaiting a meal.
While I’m doing all the washing, peeling, slicing, juicing, sterilizing, boiling, stirring, testing for doneness, etc. I actually really do enjoy the contemplative time. I watch the goings on through the window, daydream a bit, consider the world’s problems, ponder my next creative task, make a list of some hostess gifts I could make, all the while being intoxicated by the springy citrus aroma of oranges. What a beautiful way to spend a day.
You’ll see that my marmalade is much darker than the batch I made last year. That’s because last year I made marmalade with navel oranges and this year it was with the Seville oranges (with a few navels thrown in to complete the batch). Seville oranges do result in a darker and more tart marmalade. If interested, I used this Seville Orange Marmalade recipe from Simply Recipes. After spending the day making my citrusy delight, I learned today is actually the first day of National Marmalade Week (March 2-9) — who would have thought there was a week dedicated to marmalade!? Tomorrow morning I plan on having a biscuit with some cream cheese and my homemade marmalade — I can hardly wait.
So while I’ve been busy living life and visiting my amazing son, what have you been up to? Any irons in the fire? Have you made some marmalade — do you enjoy the process?
PS: I have also signed up at Pinterest. As most of you know I choose not to participate and spend time on Facebook or Twitter but Pinterest seems like a good way to save some ideas or recipes. I’ll see how it goes — if I end up spending a bunch of time with it, then it too will be down the road. I’m one of those weird people who actually prefers living life and doing my social networking in person :~)
Marmalade and jams make great hostess or neighbour gifts too!
Those photos are so attractive.
After living in England, where marmalade was an annual ritual, we moved to Texas. Not a Seville orange in sight, ever. Now I think of it, marmalade wasn’t a big item either. I think I had to go to a specialty store to purchase it. Qualicum sounds like a very civilised place. What other wonders can be purchased there?
My goodness, this looks delicious!
I can imagine how citrusy-good your kitchen must smell while you’re making marmalade 🙂
My grandma used to make all sorts of jams and jellies. Unfortunately, I was never really interested in learning how to make it myself, and now that she’s gone, I have to rely on store-bought jam. I did make a batch of red pepper jelly a couple of years ago, but it came out liquidy and never set properly.
Happy Marmalade Week! I’ve missed your posts, but I’m so happy to hear you had a great week visiting your loved ones. I haven’t made any marmalade – no – but I did buy some homemade Meyer lemon marmalade at a farmer’s market. Haven’t tried it yet. I did make some blueberry conserves to serve for dessert to a guest as blueberry shortcake and they worked out very well. That’s as fancy as I can get on a boat with one burner! I wish I could taste your marmalade; my mouth is watering at the thought. And I really enjoy the pics of you making it.
Oh Diane, this looks fabulous! I have my Bonne Maman orange marmalade on an English muffin for breakfast every morning. I can’t imagine how good your homemade is!
But, if we didn’t find you here once in a while we wouldn’t know you exist. Your marmalade looks wonderous. I spent a week with my son and granddaughters as well. It is a blessing to have good sons.