primitives discuss conserves

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x74875

Oh my.

The empressof all   (1000+ posts)        Mon Feb-08-10 12:38 PM
NON-DONOR TO SKINS'S ISLAND
THE IMPERIOUS PRIMITIVE
Original message

Does anyone make Conserves?

I had my first experience with conserves this past weekend and I'm getting some fantastic hits on the google for recipes.

Like this English Cucumber/Ginger

http://recipeland.com/recipe/v/English-Cucumber-and-Gin...

The one I had this past weekend was a Marion berry conserve made with Marionberries, oranges, strawberries, sugar, walnuts and pectin. It wasn't too sweet and was far chunkier than preserves or even chutney.

I don't have canning equipment. I suspect I'd be fine in making some of this stuff and keeping it in freezer bags. I'm going to be trying some blueberry lemon conserve as I have a few bags of frozen berries. I also think an Apricot almond conserve would be fabulous! I wonder if you can do it with dried apricots?

I can't believe I've lived this long without making this!

spinbaby  (1000+ posts)        Mon Feb-08-10 01:33 PM
NON-DONOR TO SKINS'S ISLAND
Response to Original message

1. What's a conserve?

And how is it different from a preserve or a jam?

The empressof all   (1000+ posts)        Mon Feb-08-10 02:02 PM
NON-DONOR TO SKINS'S ISLAND
THE IMPERIOUS PRIMITIVE
Response to Reply #1

2. You know I had never had one before either

What I had did contain Pectin but looking at some other recipes it's not always an ingredient. The conserve I had was thick with whole pieces of fruit and contained far more fruit than the "glue" holding it together. It wasn't sweet but had a deep rich fruity taste. The berries exploded in my mouth so they weren't soggy or laden down with sugar. It contained Orange and Walnuts along with Strawberries. The walnuts were not pronounced but my husband tasted them more than I did.

It seemed like something you could serve on french toast. (Which is how I ate it). Definitely not something I'd make a PB & J with. I could see it being good in a coffee cake and I was thinking it would be good in Rugehlah. It was not sweet like preserves....Far more fruity tasting.

Duer 157099  (1000+ posts)        Mon Feb-08-10 06:44 PM
NON-DONOR TO SKINS'S ISLAND
Response to Reply #1

4. A jam for conservatives?

hippywife  (1000+ posts)        Mon Feb-08-10 07:22 PM
NON-DONOR TO SKINS'S ISLAND
MRS. ALFRED PACKER
Response to Reply #1
 
5. I found these definitions:

Jams, marmalades, preserves, and conserves are fruit products which are preserved by sugar. These products differ in the degree of gel attained, manner of preparation of fruit, and ingredient composition. They are easily made at home.

* Jams are made from crushed or ground, whole fruit and usually have a thick consistency due to high pectin content.

* Marmalade is a jelly with pieces of fruit suspended in it. Citrus peel and juice are frequently the basis of marmalade.

* Conserves are jams made from a mixture of fruits. They usually contain citrus fruit, nuts, and raisins.

japple  (1000+ posts)       Tue Feb-09-10 10:32 AM
Response to Reply #5
 
7. That's what the Ball Glass canning book says, too. "A true conserve contains nuts and raisins..." I always thought it was two or more fruits left whole or in large chunks, cooked with sugar until it jelled. These are some of the recipes in the Blue Book: Apple-Blueberry Conserve (has raisins), Apple-Cherry-Pineapple Conserve (has walnuts), Apple-Pineapple-Coconut Conserve.

These sound very similar to chutneys except for the lack of spices. I've never made conserves before, but might try some if our blueberry bushes produce enough fruit this year.

kestrel91316  (1000+ posts)        Mon Feb-08-10 03:30 PM
NON-DONOR TO SKINS'S ISLAND
Response to Original message

3. I LOVE conserves. I made some apple-cranberry conserve with almonds a few years ago that made great Christmas gifts.

Stinky The Clown  (1000+ posts)        Tue Feb-09-10 12:12 AM
NON-DONOR TO SKINS'S ISLAND
THE SPARKLING HUSBAND PRIMITIVE, #05 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Original message

6. I made it with a conservative once .....

I'm SO sorry. I just can't help myself sometimes.

clear eye  (1000+ posts)         Tue Feb-09-10 12:24 PM
Response to Original message

8. You reminded me of something I haven't thought about in a long time.

When I was a starving student, the student house I rented a room in had miniature Japanese quinces as a border around the yard. My landlord never sprayed so I picked them (they only grow about 1-1/2" in diam.) quartered and cored them and cooked them up w/ a lot of sugar b/c they're very sour. It's important to leave the skin on b/c it has a wonderful, spicy aroma. They are full of natural pectin, so there's no need for any additional. It was the first time I learned to sterilize mason jars (which I borrowed from a friend). It was a lot of work, but so worth it.

I guess you could add some nuts and maybe ginger, use a little less sugar than you would for ordinary preserves and use it as a chutney, but the natural flavor of the skin--sort of clovey and allspicey--shouldn't be drowned out, IMHO.

The empressof all   (1000+ posts)        Tue Feb-09-10 12:52 PM
NON-DONOR TO SKINS'S ISLAND
THE IMPERIOUS PRIMITIVE
Response to Reply #8

9. I think quince is terribly under rated

One of my favorite places around here serves a quince chutney on occasion. It's delicious! I've always wanted to replicate it. Now I'm wondering about quince conserve with oranges pecans and cardamom

clear eye  (1000+ posts)         Tue Feb-09-10 02:34 PM
Response to Reply #9
 
10. Hmm. Sounds y***y.

You may have to wait until next fall to get hold of some, though.

[GOBUCKS]

Now I'm wondering about quince conserve with oranges pecans and cardamom

Now that's a moonbat!! I'd have to look up "quince", "conserve", and "cardamom" to have any idea what that sentence means. One of the rules I live by is to never eat anything I have to look up in a dictionary.

[IassaFTots]

Now that's a moonbat!! I'd have to look up "quince", "conserve", and "cardamom" to have any idea what that sentence means. One of the rules I live by is to never eat anything I have to look up in a dictionary.

A quince is a fruit, I use it when I need to win a scrabble game.

A conserve is a fruity word for preserve.

Cardamom is a pretty good smelly spice, kinda like nutmeg, but not really.

[Traveshamockery]

The DUmmies are so fancy with their jams and conserves.   

[USA4ME]

One of the rules I live by is to never eat anything I have to look up in a dictionary.

Good rule.  I have a good friend who won't eat Chinese food based upon his desire not to eat anything he wouldn't be willing to step in first.

.

[GOBUCKS]

Good rule.  I have a good friend who won't eat Chinese food based upon his desire not to eat anything he wouldn't be willing to step in first.

Well, I don't apply the rule to food overseas. In a lot of places you'd starve, and you'd also miss out on some outstanding chow. I've had some great meals in Asia without understanding what it was, even after they tried to explain.

[delilahmused]

I don't know, something about wet nuts being suspended in a jelly doesn't sound very good.

Cindie

[DumbAss Tanker]

I've had some great meals in Asia without understanding what it was, even after they tried to explain.

Probably better that way.  There are some things man was not meant to know.