Friday, September 23, 2011

Jamming with the Pluots

So I told you all a while back that I was planning to have some fun with pluots.  Did I ever!  The thought occurs to me that there may be a few of my readers that are not familiar with this delightful fruit.  As seen on a local nursery website, PLUOTS are cross between plums and plumcots developed here in the fabulous fruitful central valley in 1990. A plumcot is 1/2 plum and 1/2 apricot, so a PLUOT is 25% Apricot, 75% Plum, and 100% DELIGHTFUL.  For you locals, I bought Dapple Dandy and Flavor King at Smith Ranch in Modesto.  Their fruit is simply the best around.  FYI, I did some weighing one day and the peaches I bought were < $1/lb.  I call that great!

First I made Peach Pluot Jam.  The ingredients were pretty simple...peaches, pluots, and the usual jam ingredients. Let me know if you want any of these recipes.  
Cooking the pluots and peaches
 Adding the surejell and sugar
Bringing the jam back to a boil...starting to clarify

Washed the jars - always a happy step.
So a little "small jar" canning tip...if you have a taller pressure canner, you can double layer your jars by putting a cookie rack above pint or 1/2 pint jars, and then put the smaller ones on top.  As long as the actual jars aren't touching, everything's good.  I think I canned about 14 jars at once this way...(happy face)
Viola!


When I found some more preserving time....out came the strainer for a batch of pluot jelly.  I don't usually go to the extra work for jelly....and I remembered why.  It is a multi-day operation.

First you cook the processed pluots for a little while.





Then you let the pluot mush strain overnight. 




The instructions said to strain it again with cheesecloth lining the strainer.  When I was finished with that, the pluot juice was cloudy and I hoped that I had strained it completely enough.  I had a hunch that when the juice was cooked, it would clarify...sure enough!

 
This step was pretty easy, bring to boil and add pectin.

 
Next, wash the jars


Fill and skim the foam off the top of the jars


Yabba Dabba Done!


I don't have pictures of the process of making the Pear Pluot Jam, suffice it to say that it was quite similar to making the Peach Pluot Jam.  It is my personal favorite.  The sweet tang of pluots melds wonderfully with the smooth texture of pear jam.




Pear Pluot on the left, Peach Pluot on the right, and the adorable Jelly in the center



I have some extra jars available for sale on my facebook Aria Gardens page.  As always...it's limited edition, first come first sold.

10 comments:

  1. Yes, Kendra - it doesn't matter where you live if you win! =) Although I hadn't thought about International shipping...er...well, we will cross that bridge if it appears =)

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  2. I love to spread it on homemade bread! sounds yummy! :) I made peach and peach/pear this year....love peach!

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  3. Since I don't bake homemade bread, I love to buy the Sister Shubert rolls. I think your jams and jelly would taste amazing on them!

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  4. Hey girl, you've been busy being quite the domestic wondergirl! The jams and jelly look so yummy! Gets me in the mood to make bread. I should make grape jelly. Have fun at the ocean!

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  5. I'll enter...:) I'll try just about any jam, although my family pretty much only loves strawberry.

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  6. Oh yummy! I didn't take the time to preserve any of these delicious fruits into jam/jelly this year! I'm thinking that pear pluot jam on a lightly toasted english muffin sounds pretty good right now!

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  7. We just planted a pluot this year and I still have NEVER tasted one. My bro talked us into planting along w/ other fruit. I would LOVE to buy a jar and try it out if you still have any left. Our all time favorite is still strawberry or apricot. Janette B

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  8. I liked your facebook page :) Your jam is so beautiful as well as delicious looking! Would love to try some...sure wishing I had remembered that Susan was heading this way! :) My favorite is black raspberry slathered on homemade white bread! (I tried to sign in to Google and post but it wouldn't let me, so I'm 'anonymous' ;) Janice K.)

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