I've gone plum crazy. I can't stop thinking about those plums I "saved" from the neighbor's tree a few weeks ago. They were falling off the tree onto the sidewalks and making a mess out of things, so I did some community service by picking them. And stuffing my face with them. Well, actually the kids inhaled them before I ate much of the 20 or so I rescued. But I wish I had saved enough to make at least one batch of jam since they were the sweetest plums I have ever eaten in my life. They had a hint of pineapple or something I can't quite put my finger on. (I did manage to make a great plum and port wine reduction from some of the leftovers so all was not lost.)
But now. Tons of local, organic plums are available on sale at my local grocery store. And I can't stop thinking about them.
Do I have time to squeeze in at least one batch of plum jam? Should I attempt drying some for my signature Crunchy Chicken Marbella (new recipe posted on my Food Blog)? Do I need a dehydrator? The sun has been non-existent around here this summer, so sun dried plums are out of the question.
How about plum wine? Have any of you had success in making plum wine? Oh, the misery - the choices are endless!
9 comments:
I vote for plum jam. That sounds so good. In fact, I think I still have one jar around here somewhere.
Have you ever tried apple-plum sauce? Oh, it is to-die-for delicious.
Kim
thats so funny because just yesterday i was making plum baby food for the first time. i had previously had a stigma against them, thinking they were for old folks with poo problems but they are delicious! my toddler stalks the fridge for them now!
MMMMM, Yummy!! Plum wine sounds so good! I too just made some baby food from prunes. My little one loves them. We have a plum tree in the yard... look forward to reading about your plum cooking adventures!
I planted plum trees this year because I love plum jam and sauce, and prunes too :)
I'm voting for the plum jam. Mmmmmm, I'm hungry just thinking about it.
I'd put in a vote for the jam, too. It can be made as soft as apple or peach butter.
Reading your chicken and plum recipe made my mouth water. I'm going to have to try that. Do store-bought dried plums count? In fact, almost everything store-bought, except chicken and garlic from the tiny farmer's market?
I don't have plum trees. But, your post has made me want to get a couple of them.
My husband and I have a peach and apple tree and are working on an orchard.
In the meantime, many of our neighbors have stands and there is a good orchard closeby.
Update us, please. What did you decide?
Kim
No need for a dehydrator! Honest, if you have a box fan (anyone who watches good eats will recognise this idea) and are willing to buy a few furnace filters you can be drying in no time. If you want to keep the filters and not have to replace them each time you dry, look online for a few of the dehydrator plastic screens used for making fruit "leathers". Layer a filter -non fiberglass please- sheet, then sliced fruit, another sheet, then a filter.Repeat for up to 4 filters high then bungee cord to the box fan. Set in on high and let it cool the house while it drys the fruit. Takes about 2 days but costs far less then a dehydrator (which is essentially a hairdryer kept running for a day - big electricity drain) and gives you perfect - Fruit, Herbs, Veggies, and even jerky. With the fruit and herb cycles you have the added bonus of some wonderful smelling cool air being forced through the house as well! At the moment our home smells of plums, pineapple, and basil. Yummy.
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