Victoria plums?!


Question:

Victoria plums?

our trees covered in them again this year,and we usually bag some up and give them to friends and relatives? 2 questions really any one know a good spray to keep of the wasps...and any one got a good receipe for plum jam,thought it would be nice to make a few jars this year? nothing too complicated though, im not jamie oliver...cheers?


Answers:
Not sure about the wasps.Wasps and plums go together dont they.Right the jam. It is lovely,better than the jam you buy.Select nice ripe plums.,not bruised or damaged ones( YOU can make a pie or crumble with these)take off any stalks, wash and dry with kitchen paper,Cut the plums in half and remove the stones( Some recipies leave the stones in and remove from the boiling jam with a slotted spoon)Weigh the fruit and use the same weight of granulated sugar.The total volume will determine the size of pan you need to use for cooking(It should not be more than half full)Place the plums and sugar and a small amount of water in the ran and turn the hotplate on.Boil for about half an hour, stirring with a wooden spoon constantly.You will need to ckeck when the jam has reached it's setting point.Get a small plate or saucer and place a small portion of the jam mixture on it.Not much more than a smear.Leave to cool for a few moments.Push the edge of the sample,if it gets a wrinkled surface the jam is ready. Turn off the heat.You should have prepared previously some jars,enough to be able to accomodate the amount of jam you have made.The jars should be warm,by placing in the oven,. Usind a small jug or similar fill the jars with the jam. Fill the jars almost right to the top,it will shrink a bit as it cools.Leave to stand and cool for about an hour and then cover the jars.Plum jam is one of the easiest as it usually sets well, Other fruits are more difficult.The plums not used in the jam can be lmade into pies.stewed with custard or cream,or just eaten raw.Victoria plums are one of the nicest to have.

Why is your avatar naked?

A fun thing to do with the plums is to poach them in brandy and preserve them. They can be used for cooking with a roast pork, sliced onto vanilla ice cream, and many things. So far as the wasps, go to gardenSupply.com and get a few wasp traps.

As I remember my Mother's recipe for Victoria Plum jam:
4lb Plums, 3lb Sugar, 1/2pt water and (optional) 1/2 teaspoon ginger. This was rather sweet so you may have to reduce the sugar.

A problem with VP jam is that it will not set. I like runny jam and although it is not every body's choice, the flavour more than compensates.

I've never had plums growing in the yard so I've never tried plum jam but here's a couple of recipes I found on the Net:

http://www.blunham.demon.co.uk/yorksgen/...

http://homecooking.about.com/od/condimen...

As for repelling wasps, maybe these sites will help:
http://www.realmama.org/archives-spring-...

http://www.safeinsecticide.com/testimoni...

http://www.theenvironmentsite.org/forum/...

I know nothing about sprays for wasps. But, you really wanted answers. :oD

Check out www.cooks.com and www.epicurious.com for recipes. I've found those sites to be the best. epicurious is a bit...different, but still some really good recipes.

Good luck!

I want some of those plums...and the VP jam. yummm....
I have no idea as to how to answer your questions. I do know that this website helps me with my recipe questiosn each time I feel like cooking something:
www.allrecipe.com
just type in victoria plum jam

Yes, Victoria plums are the only self -seeding plum , and for those that don't know, they are an old English variety named after Queen Victoria.
The problem with plums or any soft fruit is that as soon as they ripen the wasps attack them. I spray mine with soapy water. That is all, as anything else is absorbed into the fruit. Also try and pick them before fully ripe. As to recipes, have a look on the web for fruit on Google.




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