I was unsure whether or not to go to the trouble of making marmalade this year. I have been trying to cut down on the amount of bread I eat, would need to go out of my way to buy Seville oranges and it can be a messy and time consuming business after all, for me anyway 😆. And yet, there is something about the whole process I find enjoyable, the finished product is absolutely delicious, and at least some of the jars could be gifted.
Last Saturday I had every intention of going out for a snowdrop walk but by mid-morning it was clear the wind and rain had set in for the day. It was then that I decided my initial plans would be best kept for another time. A quick trip out to the supermarket and I was soon in the kitchen slicing, juicing and shredding to my heart's content. As I lay the halved oranges on the chopping board I couldn't resist taking a photograph. The vibrant orange colour was in sharp contrast to the grey gloomy view from the window.
After juicing the oranges and scraping out the pith, the peel was shredded and added to the pan. The gently simmering mixture now filling the house with the most delicious aroma. Even Lily commented how nice it was, although you'd never catch her eating marmalade!
At the end of the process I added some brandy to the pan before ladling into eight sterilised jars to cool. The link to the recipe I use is here.
Am I glad I changed my mind and made some marmalade? Definitely. One of the jars has already been given away and I have enjoyed some of it myself, spread thickly on buttered toast. I also used some to bake this marmalade cake which is sooo good. It's deliciously light and sticky, and VERY moreish.
For this I used :
120g Butter
100g Caster Sugar
2 Eggs
120g Plain Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
3 Tablespoons Marmalade
2 Tablespoons Milk
Beat together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring in flour and baking powder with each, finally adding the marmalade and milk. Mix well, then pour into a lined loaf tin.
Bake at 150° for around twenty minutes, then cover with foil and return to the oven for a further 30 minutes.
Allow to cool in the tin, then drizzle with a mixture of 60g icing sugar, 1 tablespoon of water and 1 tablespoon of marmalade.
J. X
the photographs conjour up the aroma. Fresh,Vibrant & Cheerful. We are in are 6th day with no sunshine. So this is welcome to the eyes. Looks scrumptious, and what a pretty need some coffee or tea and sit down have a slice or three.
ReplyDeleteThe gloomy weather was one of the reasons I felt like taking these photographs. The days continue to be dark and wet. I'm looking forward to spring. X
DeleteMmm, we love marmalade and yours looks delicious as does the cake - definitely need to give that a go very soon. Mum uses the Ma Made tins and they're really tasty but not half as good a photo opportunity lol. We had a fluttering of snow here yesterday but it didn't last long. Can't decide whether I'm glad about that or not to be honest. Have a lovely week. xx
ReplyDeleteI've never used Ma Made, in fact I had to look it up to see how it is used :) It sounds very useful to keep in the cupboard to be able to make marmalade at any time of the year but I must admit, even with the mess, there is something I enjoy about the process of making it from scratch.
DeleteI would love to get some snow (there's some on the higher ground but that doesn't count), I'm just so fed up of these dark days now. X
A friend of mine loves making marmalade every year - I like eating it ...... !
ReplyDeleteA good friend. :)
DeleteOhhhhhhhhhhhhh... -happppy sighhhhhh- Ohhhhhhhhhhh.... -smile-
ReplyDeleteFirst, your photos are magnificent! Do you use a special camera?
The closeups are so, so, so clear. So hard for me to do. So I appreciate them, all the more.
The colors are so welcome, at this time of the year.
The aroma in the house, during making... The beauty of the finished jars...
The glorious cake!!!!!!
I think I am swooning!!!!!!! -giggggles- And I am not even that enamoured by marmalade.
💖 💖 💖
Thank you, WoW. No, I don't have a special camera, in fact I don't have any camera :D I just use my phone. Any photographs I take automatically back up to my google cloud so I can post them straight to the blog hassle free.
DeleteI'm glad you like the photographs. It was the fabulous colour that encouraged me to take them. X
"Marmalade: the perfect gift for the friend who has everything" (Letter in last week's Guardian about why make more marmalade when you probably still have some left from last year).
ReplyDeleteIt could always be used to make cake :) X
DeleteYum, it looks delicious. I love marmalade but it's something I've never made myself.
ReplyDeleteIt's very simple to make. Give it a try! X
DeleteYour marmalade looks delicious, Jules, and I'm sure the whole house smelled wonderful, too. Thank you for sharing the recipe for the cake. I still have a couple of jars of my lemon marmalade that I made some time ago, which needs to be used up. I think I might adapt your cake recipe to a lemon marmalade one.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bless, yes, that's a great idea. You could easily substitute lemon marmalade. Please let me know if you try it. X
DeleteGreat post :)
ReplyDeleteA big cheer for Marmalade.
All the best Jan
Thanks, Jan. It's delicious. X
DeleteI am afraid I am with Lily I eat marmalade. I remember my mother making it as a child, I love the smell of it cooking. Have you ever been to the marmalade festival at Dalemain?
ReplyDeleteI've heard of it but I've never thought about visiting before. I'm going to look into it now. X
DeleteMy mouth is watering just imagining the smell Jules and the cake looks scrumptious.
ReplyDeleteHugs-x-
It's very tasty, Sheila. I might just cut myself another slice before I go out. X
DeleteI’m rather partial to marmalade cake too. I’ll often put a dollop in my porridge. Delicious. B x
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea, Barbara. I might just try that. X
DeleteYumm! Definitely going to make that cake. Don't think it will be with home made marmalade - as you say, it is a messy and time consuming process.
ReplyDeleteIt will taste just as delicious, Chris, although I would advise you use a fork to eat it with. You'll get rather sticky otherwise. X
DeleteAmazing!
ReplyDeleteI have never done this, but it looks delicious!
I can almost smell it!
It smelt amazing while it was simmering on the stove. X
DeleteThe marmalade cake looks scrumptious. :) X
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shazza. You should try it. X
DeleteI rarely eat jam or marmalade so have never attempted to make them. However the marmalade cake looks yumcious as a pud. I have friends who would definitely enjoy that on a winter night. I'm just imagining it with creamy custard.
ReplyDeleteIt would be delicious as a pudding, Graham. And I love custard :)
DeleteI am a great fan of marmalade cake too, it certainly is very moreish. Marmalade making is on the list to do but the ever increasing hospital appointments means less time in the kitchen or crafting.
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is I never used to like marmalade. For some reason the smell put me off! I hope you and Gerard are keeping as well as can be expected. X
DeleteMarmalade, one of my favourite words. It looks beautiful and no doubt tastes delicious.
ReplyDeleteIt is surprising how often old recipe books have particularly messy 'marmalade recipe' pages! It must be all that zest and juice flying all over the place.
All my recipe books have messy pages! I am a messy cook :) X
DeleteOh that's so mouthwatering! I don't think I'd be able to cut down on bread if I had a jar of marmalade. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's my trouble Nil. It's delicious spread on thickly sliced bread or toast. X
DeleteLooks yummy. I just helped a friend cut the peel for her Marmalade. Thank you for the recipe which I will make with my jar of homemade marmalade
ReplyDeleteJulie xxxxxx
It's quite relaxing to do isn't it. I hope you enjoy the cake. I think I'll be baking some more this weekend. X
DeleteI started a clean page for my blog so its only from 1st January - New beginning.... brand new blog and life!
DeleteIt's good to know. X
DeleteOh, yum! Just the colour alone is enough to make me love marmalade. Meg:)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly brightens up these dark January days. X
DeleteMarmalade .... its even nicer on a toasted teacake (or is that just me?)
ReplyDeleteToasted teacake, bread, toast. I'll happily have marmalade on any of them. 😃
DeleteI like silver shred lemon or lime marmalade, but sadly not the orange stuff...never be any good for Paddington Bear to call in at ours! x
ReplyDeleteIf he ever stops by be sure to send him in my direction. 🍊 X
DeleteLOVE marmalade. You cake looks well and truly delicious. Jo xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jo. I'll be baking another one, once I'm over this rotten cold. X
DeleteYUMMY! I have never made marmalade. It looks scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteIt is delicious! And to think for years I was reluctant to even try it. X
DeleteOoohhh the yumminess, my word. Love marmalade!
ReplyDeleteIt tastes sooo good. I hope you're feeling much better now. X
DeleteYum.
ReplyDeleteVery yum!
DeleteSomehow I missed this post, Jules. That marmalade and the cake both look scrumptious! I'm sure the smell wafting through the house was divine...
ReplyDeleteI need to make another cake, Stephenie. I haven't done any baking this week as I've been full of cold. X
DeleteSomeday I need to get my act together and make marmalade...it looks so great and appetizing!
ReplyDeleteIt is delicious, Angela. I've just this moment enjoyed some spread on a thick slice of toast. 😊
DeleteOh yum, glorious yum. These are the times I miss bread and preserves . . .
ReplyDeleteXx
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