Sometimes a girl just needs a mother's advice, even when you are all grown up with bosoms all of your own
Now I am not meaning the deep psychological, "let's sit down and talk about it" help here...far from it (my mother was incapable of that anyway)
No, I am talking about those little things when a little piece a motherly bit of advice, is just enough to get you though a minor need of the day.
My mother has been dead perhaps nine years now,and was more or less incapacitated for four years before that, so I have long since gotten out of the habit of ringing her up to ask the odd question of "how to do this? , and "in what way do you that"........but now that I have gone "all country", I find myself more and more in need of some homespun,and dare I say womanly advice!
Mind you, I have been lucky, for I have one of those practical role models living just around the corner.....neighbour Pat (champion pig wrestler, tapestry worker,gardener and senior Womens' Institute guru) has been a mine of information and help to me over the years.....this morning is a case in point....
after I had quizzed her yesterday on the finer points of gooseberry jam making (yes readers Jam making IS interesting) she turned up with two hand written recipes for me to try....and following her guidance I banged out a few jars of impressive gooseberry jam ( in addition to the raspberry jam I cooked last night)
Even through the fag smoke my own mother may have been impressed!
What next? John The Dogs Cookbook?
ReplyDeleteVery impressive Delia! The gooseberry jam sounds excellent.
ReplyDeleteShe would have been impressed indeed. Now bake yourself some bread, cut it in thick slices and smother it with your homemade jam.
ReplyDeleteGooseberries - an under-rated fruit. I love them - my dad used to make Goosberry crumble. Delicious! Good luck with your jam making.
ReplyDeleteMaking your own jam? Now that's impressive speaking as one who hasn't done that in many, many years. Dad had one of the biggest gooseberry bushes in his garden. What I would give for that now.
ReplyDeleteSo proud! It will taste doubly good because it was made with love.
ReplyDeleteJohn, my mother has been gone for years and sometimes, I still head to the phone...
I think you just need wiser, older folk around generally who've forgotten more stuff than I've ever learnt.
ReplyDeleteMy Nana's (Grandmother's to you) old BeRo cook book, covered in ancient pastry, jam and assorted stains, has been passed to me recently by my Mum.
She's probably got sick of me always asking how to make this and that...
The jam looks wonderful. And, I'll admit that, though Mom has been gone for eight years now, I still catch myself thinking, for just that first split instant, "I have to ask Mom."
ReplyDeleteWell done John, I am impressed. I think you make a better domestic goddess than me!! Bet the jam tastes lovely.
ReplyDeleteJo xx
HESTA
ReplyDeleteI look like a dung heap most of the time
Oooo, that does look scrummy! Do please share...
ReplyDeleteI was debating growing gooseberries in my garden. The jam makes it more tempting! Good work!
ReplyDeleteI've just turned up to look at the comic that I didn't have time for this morning (deep breath). What happened to him?
ReplyDeleteYou should taste my Bramble Jelly... to die for!
cro....
ReplyDeleteif you lived nearer I would get you to sell some on our open day
The jam looks great, John! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed, hardly anyone makes jam anymore, much less the more "exotic" ones!
ReplyDeleteI noticed a gooseberry bush at my in-laws the other day... I just might have to borrow some of those berries. Gooseberry crumble, oh yes! I had forgotten about that. And those jams look delish, John! Spot on.
ReplyDeleteI've never had gooseberry, jam or otherwise but once again you make me want to jump ship and move to your village.
ReplyDeleteWe are approaching peach season here in AZ but I'm going to try to refrain this year. I made 19 pints last year and it's just the hubs and me -we're set for a long time.
There's something about jam-making that is good for the soul. Not bad on scones, either.
ReplyDeleteIf yours tastes as good as it looks, it will be lovely.....any chance of passing on the secret recipes?
Oh wow! I'm impressed! Will you be entering it in the show?
ReplyDeleteLove the Faye Dunaway/Joan Crawford picture!
ReplyDeleteThankfully we have a large Amish community nearby and on my recent visit I bought blackberry jam and rhubarb and strawberry jam, all the goodness and none of the mess :)
ReplyDeleteYou have done well, I've not eaten gooseberries in yonks.
~Jo
The jam looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteI made some raspberry jam last year and have plenty left. It's yummy.
My mum's been gone many years now, and i still miss her. Like yourself, i've found that when i really need some motherly advice, someone appears who has the answer. Doesn't fill the void of missing Mom, but it does help in the knowledge department.
Megan
I've always wanted to make my own jam, learn how to pickle things, etc. When I lived near my mum, I had no interest in learning. Bow that I live far away I want to learn. I hate that! I'm sure I could get instructions over the phone or from a book, but I always learn best by watching.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I also miss just calling my Mom for quick advice-But I have never had gooseberry jam, maybe some day I will! We had plenty of wild blackberries this year, and I should have done something wonderful like jam, but instead I ate them on ice cream and put them in a few things I baked--Just delicious!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the last 2 days I have heard something from our Scottie that sounds like the start of an 'aarroo' that right now it sounds a bit like a hoarse rooster--It's cute though! :-)
kim
ReplyDeletearrrooooo
is a normal call of the male scottie!
it will get louder
Pickled 'mother' in jars - now you're talking. A little goes a long way with onions, etc., doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you John on this. Jam making IS interesting. I love making jam. But I don't eat it any more so I give it all away (or barter it for eggs.)
ReplyDeleteHampers the other day and now jam, what next?
ReplyDeleteYes....good for you John!! Thank heaven's for friends and neighbours like yours. Oh yum....never had gooseberry jam before...wish I lived around the corner too so I could taste it. What's next? ;)
ReplyDeleteExcellent, some of the best jam makers I know are blokes.They also dry their own fruit, make cheese and live the good life.The jam looks great!
ReplyDeleteYummy John! You know I am just an email away on anything canning if I can help! :O)
ReplyDeleteOoooooooh could do with a goosegog Jam recipe! I have lbs and lbs of the things in the freezer!
ReplyDeleteJohn -
ReplyDeleteI was always on the icky end of jam day.... stuck deep in the bushes picking berries and battling the bees (of whom I am deathly terrified). I miss being able to call my Nana... she has been gone almost 20 years, and I still catch myself once in a while reaching for the phone! I am lucky that she taught me many, many things: cooking, baking, sausage making (Swedish potato sausage), sewing, needlework, yarnwork, etc.
Cheers!
Katie in MN