Tag Archives: fruit

Brined Cherries, for a Change

Posted on June 23, 2014 by

Pickled fruit? People often ask me that two-word question with a look of mixed astonishment and horror. But in the Anglo-American tradition fruits have commonly been preserved in strong vinegar, along with plenty of sugar, to make sour, sweet, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Fermented foods, Fruits, Pickles | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Oregon Grape Jam

Posted on July 21, 2013 by

Jelly isn’t much in style these days, I’ve noticed. Many people consider it too sweet, otherwise bland, and nearly devoid of nutritional value. I feel that way about many kinds of jelly myself. Who would choose strawberry jelly over strawberry … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits, Sweet preserves, Wild foods | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Citron Melon Again, for Dessert

Posted on February 11, 2013 by

Every day this winter I’ve eyed my citron melons in the entry hall, admiring their summery beauty and wondering how long they would keep. Some people say they store well for a whole year, but I’m guessing that’s true only … Continue reading →

Posted in Food history, Fruits, Wild foods | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Quince Jelly Candy

Posted on December 3, 2011 by

Here’s another, rather extravagant way to use the last of the season’s quinces. I devised this recipe because I wanted something similar to quince paste but prettier and more delicate. Quince jelly candy makes a lovely addition to a holiday … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits, Sweet preserves | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

How to Core a Quince

Posted on November 22, 2011 by

Around the seed cavity of a quince is a hard core of flesh that tends to stay hard after cooking. When a recipe requires coring a quince, you’ll want to remove all of this hard flesh. Doing so can be … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits, Sweet preserves | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Triple Crown Blackberry Jam

Posted on August 17, 2011 by

“Rip out those plants, Mom!” my daughter told me. “They’ll totally take over!” She meant the alien-looking blackberry canes towering over one of my Marionberry rows. The monstrous canes don’t sprawl over the ground like the Marions but stand erect, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits, Sweet preserves | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Maraschino Cherries: The Almost-Real Thing

Posted on July 23, 2011 by

Look what I found in the liquor store in Albany, Oregon, among the flavored vodkas and cheap tequilas! I wasn’t looking for maraschino (pronounced maraSKEEno), but finding it made my day. It’s cherry season in the Willamette Valley, a region … Continue reading →

Posted in Food history, Fruits, Sweet preserves | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Quince in Bloom

Posted on May 27, 2011 by

Before the blossoms have all fallen, I want to share these pictures of my Pineapple quince trees. Like other quince varieties, they grow no more than fifteen feet high, and each forms an umbrella-like canopy. The trees blossom profusely, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits, Sweet preserves | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Honey from a Watermelon

Posted on January 15, 2011 by

I didn’t invent watermelon molasses, Sara Bir informed me. At least I wasn’t the first to invent it. I’d cooked twenty pounds of watermelon into a cup of syrup because I and the rest of the family were tired of … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits, Sweet preserves | Tagged , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

The Oregon Grape

Posted on August 26, 2010 by

Wild Fruit for a Tart and Tasty Jelly In the woods one day, my friend Jocelyn saw me eat an Oregon grape, tried one herself, and screamed. I was unfazed; just after my daughter, not yet two years old, had … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits, Sweet preserves, Wild foods | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments