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Monday, August 30, 2010

Lime Marmalade - Blue Monday



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...We are going green this week and will be featuring recipes that are environmentally friendly or use ingredients that are green in color. This has been a difficult growing season for small farmers and gardeners in the Pacific Northwest. A late spring delayed planting. Heavy and persistent rain, accompanied by hail and high winds, damaged crops once they were in the ground. As a result berries, fruits and vegetables were late to market and their quality is poor. I normally do a lot of preserving at this time of year. Truth be told, there's not much worth putting by this season. The flavor of the blueberries is marginal and blackberries are not sweet enough for my purposes. Local corn and tomatoes are just now starting to come to market and colder nights have pretty much assured that my tomato plants are going to have gorgeous foliage but set no fruit. All of that means I have time to play and experiment in the kitchen. Today's recipe is a playful experiment that turned out well. The original recipe came from the Los Angeles Times nearly two decades ago. I held on to it because it seemed easy and required so few ingredients. As it turns out, it's a great recipe and I recommend it to those of you who like marmalade. Limes, thanks to our local warehouse stores, are abundant and inexpensive, and, for that reason, I decided to use them in this recipe. You can of course use lemons or grapefruit, as long as they can be very thinly sliced. Since no pectin is added to this recipe, a candy thermometer would be most helpful in determining if the fruit has cooked long enough to set. Even then, it is best to use your "eye" to conduct a sheeting test before pouring the mixture into sterilized jars.



This diagram might help. Sheeting syrup looks like this when it drops off a spoon.


I hope you'll give this recipe a try. The lime marmalade is wonderful with crumpets, muffins and scones. It can also be use to make a great marinade and sauce for chicken. Here's the recipe.


Lime Marmalade
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of the Los Angeles Times 1992

Ingredients:
3 cups thinly-sliced unpeeled limes
1 cup thinly-sliced lemons, unpeeled, seeded
3 quarts water
9 cups granulated sugar

Directions:
1) Combine lime and lemon slices and water in large kettle. Bring to boil and boil 20 minutes, or until peels are tender.
2) Drain, reserving liquid. Measure liquid, adding enough water to make three quarts. Return liquid to kettle with fruit and sugar. Bring to boil and cook rapidly until mixture sheets off spoon or to 221 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Pour boiling hot into hot sterilized jars and seal. Yield: 6 to 8 half-pints.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Orange Fennel Marmalade - My Man's Belly
Golden Marmalade - Drick's Rambling Cafe
Rhubarb, Tangelo and Cardamom Marmellata - Luna Cafe
Kumquat Marmalade - Recipe Girl
Fig Marmalade - Gourmet Recipes
Seville Orange Marmalade - David Lebovitz
Meyer Lemon Marmalade - Simply Recipes
Balsamic Onion Marmalade - One Perfect Bite

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

69 comments:

  1. I love homemade jam. They taste so much fresher!
    The only problem I have with the homemade jam is that I just can't finish them before they are due. Our neighbours are mostly seniors, so they are so alert to sugar consumption.

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  2. Great idea and it is always good to remember about the environment and the footprints that we are leaving behind.

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  3. That looks delicious. Thanks for the recipe. :)

    My Blue Monday.

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  4. Fabulous looking marmalade..yumm..

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  5. This must be tried! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Wow, really impressive marmalade, they look so professionally done...thanks for sharing:D

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  7. This one is gorgeous recipe..sure a keeper...bookmarked..!

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  8. I love marmalade's. This looks good.
    Happy Blue Monday, the Kind of Blue that I like! My Blue Monday Link for you

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  9. We really enjoy marmalade. I also make it each Christmas for friends and family. I think we'll all be happy to have a lime marmalade to add to the orange this year. Thanks so much!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  10. That really is terrible about the crops this season. But at least it allows for more craziness in the kitchen (glass half full. Always.). I love anything that has anything to do with limes! This marmalade sounds fantastic.

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  11. My husband loves marmalades and eats them for breakfast almost everyday. I will keep this recipe in my pile. Thanks Mary!

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  12. I love citrus fruits. This sounds like it would be delightful on scones!!!

    Happy Monday!!

    Becky K.
    Hospitality Lane

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  13. I've had other citrus marmalades but never lime -- this looks like a winner! And you are right -- those big bags of limes are cheap!

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  14. It's ashame Mother Nature hasn't been so kind this summer. I love your posts Mary, you are an expert at this - I learn something every time I visit your blog, it's just so well done. Thanks!

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  15. Heavenly, heavenly marmalade! One of my earliest food memories is Roses Lime Marmalade on white toast. I would have been about 3. This looks much better.

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  16. I've never had a lime marmalade before, but I do love limes and I bet this would be wonderful!

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  17. I've never heard of lime marmalade, but since I love orange, I'm sure I'd like it.

    That spoon illustration is a nice touch of blue.

    Happy Blue Monday, Mary! Check out my book giveaway.

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  18. Hello:) thank you for stopping by at my humble blog:) , I am not really a big fan of marmalade but husband loves it. Looks lovely :) have a nice day

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  19. Oh that would be great on toast!

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  20. I love marmalades mixed into sauces or over goat cheese! Yum.

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  21. Oh Mary, another lime recipe - my favorite! I'll have to search for some cheap limes. They're 2/$1 at the grocery store. Thanks
    Martha in KS

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  22. Oh, I love marmalade, and this recipe looks wonderful.

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  23. That photo just sings of summer. Our produce has been outstanding - go figure. I love marmalades in the winter when they herald you back to summer.

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  24. This marmalade sounds especially delicious. Wish I had some for my toast this morning.

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  25. This looks divine. I'm not a fan of orange marmalade, but my Gent likes it so I'm looking forward to a compromise. Ahh, the things we do for love...

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  26. I hear you on the cruddy crops. I have beautiful leafy plants and ONE tomato!!! We're an hour north of Seattle...

    Have a wonderful day! Be sure to visit my blog for a great giveaway!

    Sarah
    ***Visit my blog for a GIVEAWAY and new linking party!***
    http://bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-wednesday-party-link-up-giveway-too.html

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  27. It looks so yummy mary, never done this before, thanks for sharing...

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  28. Looks great, I love orange marmalade but have never tried the lime version! I have a couple of lime trees in my backyard that are full of fruit starting to ripen so I'll have to bookmark this recipe :o)

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  29. I adore orange marmalade but lime sounds fantastic. I've been dying to try some preserving to hand out as gifts to family and friends. I will definitely be using this recipe. I think I'll try it with some lemon scones. :)

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  30. This sounds gorgeous although I am sorry to hear that the growing season there has been less than optimal. I wonder if the Pacific Northwest grapes for wine have also been suffering. :-/

    That said, I am glad you were still able to find something to make. I've become recently addicted to canning and this looks like a lovely recipe.

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  31. Sounds tart and delicious! Looking forward to more green items this week!

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  32. I haven't had the courage to try homemade jam...but I sure love marmalade, so this one is going on my short list!

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  33. Canning is one of few things in the kitchen that I am apprehensive about. This marmalade looks so good!

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  34. I have not been to the store lately, so I am having lunch with you. As always, you suggest the best sounding recipes. Trust you are well.

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  35. Great idea. I love limes so I'm keen to try this recipe out.

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  36. Ooo... this is truly mouthwatering! Just as good as the lemon marmalade. Thank you for sharing & enjoy your day.
    Cheers, kristy

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  37. We love lime so I can't wait to try this recipe!

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  38. Thanks for the recipe and you are really resourseful

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  39. I've never had lime marmalade... I bet it's so delicious.

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  40. My husband is a lime fanatic. He'd love this! I'm seeing it on homemade biscuits...

    You're doing a great job for not having such a great harvest!

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  41. Hello ~ I'm thrilled you found me so that in turn I can now enjoy your delights. I'll be following along and looking forward to all the goodies!

    This sounds wonderful. I'll have to give it a try.

    Jo

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  42. I have never tried making jam at home and that looks heavenly!
    thanks for the recipe..have a nice day!

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  43. This looks so fabulous. I've only recently tried my hand at tomato jam (w/o pectin) for the first time- this lime marmalade looks similar. Can't wait to try it out!

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  44. This is a lovely vision! I just read in the paper today that more people are putting up food and preserving because of so many food poisoning scares in the news recently.

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  45. It's so true what you said about the produce being slow and not as good this season here in the west. I keep praying that the days will warm up enough to ripen my tomatoes and squash. I've not made lime marmalade, but it sounds very inviting, so glad you held on to that recipe for so long.

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  46. I know what you mean about the lack of produce this year, Mary! The only things that seem to be flourishing are kale and mint. Ah well. :-) Your lime marmalade is wonderful!! I love lime curd on my scones so I know this would be splendid too. :-)

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  47. Sounds delicious. I would love to give your recipe a try one day.

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  48. This marmalade recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing.

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  49. I love homemade jam but this is the first time I see the lime marmalade! I like orange marmalade, then I guess that a jam recipe with others agrumes, it's wonderful!

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  50. OH...YUM!! I am definitely going to give this recipe a try!! Thank you for sharing.

    :)

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  51. Mary, someone gave me this recipe when I was in LA years ago on business. I didn't make any last year, but absolutely will this season. So sorry to hear of your tomatoes- it was brutally hot here, but we lost many to the deer :(
    xoxo Pattie

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  52. There is just something about doing your own preserving that is so fulfilling. This marmalade sounds delicious! I can't wait to see more of your green features!

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  53. I love your green theme! This looks so pretty- like the perfect gift! :)

    Sues

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  54. So beautiful, and such a lovely thought. I love lime and love marmalade, and cannot wait to combine my two love!

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  55. Mary, I thank you so much for stopping by today so that I could find my way here to your blog. The recipes look devine and your photographs are gorgeous. My most favorite thing is your "about me". I love everything you said! A big amen! Blessings to you! Tanna

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  56. Wow Mary, I still have to try to make any marmalade...the lime one sure sounds and looks fabulous :-) Have a great week ahead!

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  57. Great post- I will gather some more limes and try my hand at this!

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  58. The marmalade looks very tasty. When we go apple picking in the fall we always pick up several varities of preserves. Happy Blue Monday.

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  59. Such sweet looking jam! So kind of you to share!

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  60. I'm in Utah, and the growing season has been a lot the same. I'm just barely getting tomatoes turning red! This marmalade looks delicious - I've never seen lime marmalade before.

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  61. love lime marmalade and great that you placed the pic of spoon, that step always scared me hen first cooking

    sweetlife

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  62. How did I miss it, Mary, that you were from the Pacific Northwest? Such a beautiful area. We are in a suburb of Seattle.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  63. Hi Mary,

    Thanks for linking to my orange fennel marmalade.

    I love your recipe for lime marmalade. I've got a lime tree that's definitely going to be my source for limes. That is, if I can keep some from my husband and his margarita making. ;)

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  64. I came to this Website looking for a use for Lime Marmalade, having acquired a jar of Wilkins of Tiptree's, Lime Marmalade in a discount box of 12 varied jars for us locals, I live half a mile from Wilkin's factory.

    Having spread a thick covering on my Ryvitta crispbread, for a first effort and finding it, sharper than our usuaul Wilkin's Tawney (orange) I wondered about alternative uses.

    I see the following here "It can also be use to make a great marinade and sauce for chicken."

    I now seek advice/experience(s) of using it as a marinade or sauce and does it go with anything apart from chicken?

    I like a lot of fish and we often have a white parsley sauce with that, maybe I'll try splodging a spoon of lime marmalade in that sauce, what do you think?

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  65. Whoops, I missed ticking the please email box, but have done now.

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  66. Tolkny, I have used it as a glaze for chicken, and in salad dressing. It obviously is a great toast topper. Marmalade can vary in bitterness so I would be very careful about using it as a glaze for fish.I hope this helps. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  67. Uhmm. 'Glaze is too sophisticated a technique for me as far as food, that is what one does with windows!

    However, wife having gotten some frozen chicken breasts out for lunch, I chose to prepare them.

    Left overs from tin of tomatoes and juice in bottom of casserole dish, followed by lentils (2 desert spoonfuls), half chopped onion, chopped carrot, small portion of chopped swede, chopped celery (Three thinnish chops across a head) small sprinkle of curry powder and mixed herbs and chicken stock cube, the chicken breasts, spread with lime marmalade, added water enogh for gravy about half a pint.

    Just under two hours, in pre heated oven, gas mark 6. Checked very carefully chicken cooked right through. Served with boiled cabbage, and left over reheated small portion of each of mashed potato and two boiled potatoes.

    Tasted very good but I do not recommend cooking chicken portions from frozen!

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