The real object of desire so to speak is the collection of jams,savoury marmalades and jelly which has been amassed on the kitchen table.
No, I haven't had a Mary Berry epiphany and gone all "preserve like".
I have been sort of adopted as an unofficial produce "tester" by village jam champions Rosemary and Bernard.
Now Rosemary and Bernard always make me chuckle for they are constantly "on the go".Keen cooks with a penchant for German cuisine ( Bernard is German and has an accent that could cut a knockwurst sausage in two) the two introduced themselves to me a year or two ago when they realised I sold duck eggs. I conscripted the two of them immediately for a spot of cake baking for my open day ( by using a great deal of genuine flattery over a particularly tasty muffin)and ever since then a consistent dribble of goodies have arrived at Bwthyn-y-llan for us to trial and taste.
yesterday it was a savoury lamb marinade and several clementine jam recipes, a day before some sloe jelly was left by the kitchen door"...........it's just like having a pair of jam fairies living down the lane.
Goodness Alber looks like our Jazz - who would have (quite deliberately) knocked those jams and marmelades to the floor.
ReplyDeleteThey do look marvellous, and having your very own jam fairies would be such a treat.
I think you have posted a photo of jazz have u not?
DeleteThat does it, I am coming to live in your house, put the kettle on!
ReplyDeleteBring your own toast
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOoh lovely. I'm hoping to join the village W.I. (they need youngsters so I'm told) and I'm already dreaming about the chutneys and jam I'm going to be brewing up :)
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget to enter the local flower show
DeleteYou lucky, lucky b*****d (in Pythonesque voice). I think Albert sets the photo off. Black Cat Preserves, has a ring to it.
ReplyDeleteAsk Herr Bernard Von Trelawnyd if he has a sure fire method of fermenting sauerkraut. Every time I try it goes rotten but that may be just the heat here.
I think he will . I will go SNELL and ask him thomas
DeleteHippo, so does my sauerkraut and I live in a far from tropical climate.
DeleteJohn, langsam und ruhig will do! Point out with our deepest respect to the Herr Baron that there are two of us, Judith as well as me, who would be honoured for his Grace's consideration regarding the artisan production of Sauerkraut.
DeleteI could do with a couple of jam fairies here, reading with my slightly smeared glasses I thought your post started with 'Ignore the slightly burned figure of Albert'.
ReplyDeleteFairies are everywhere x
DeleteHow could one possibly ignore Albert, blurred or otherwise, when compared with a few jars of preserves. I am a preserve freak too John, pity I don't live nearer. Last year it has been sloe jelly, raspberry and red currant jam and plum chutney This year - who knows.
ReplyDeleteRight! You are now officially entering the preserve section in the flower show pat
DeleteOh! Oh! *waving hand in air* I want jam fairies, too!
ReplyDeleteBring on the air infested bagels!
ReplyDeleteOh very yummy! I wish we had some jam fairies.
ReplyDeleteOh, you sly ol' fox! (Handsome Albert welcome in any pic.)
ReplyDelete'Jam Fairies' - another brilliant euphemism well-coined.
ReplyDeleteThought I would REPLY and thank you for your praise
DeleteThanks for finding the time (I don't know where from).
DeleteHippo's suggestion of "Black Cat Preserves" is spot on...maybe the three of you can make a go of it and make your village even more famous! I I think the most interesting preserve we made here this past summer was rhubarb-orange butter. We didn't make enough of it either! You and Chris could become international preserve tasters if you put your mailing address up somewhere.....
ReplyDeleteNow rhubarb butter is a first on me
DeleteRight
I am entering
YOU in our domestic class of the Trelawnyd show
I am SO in......remind me when it is time!
DeleteIf there are two things I love ...it's jam and cats. (Preferably not together). Deb
ReplyDeleteJammy devil.
ReplyDeleteJane x
Seeing Albert there, I wonder if Rosemary and Bernard have a little helper like him. It might be what gives their preserves that certain je ne sais quoi.
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, they are doing a radio program right now on the 'ampers and', and how it always comes out as & on computers. This is why it should never be used in a title!
ReplyDeleteBlimey - I've learnt something - if you type in the a m p ; bit, it disappears when you publish!
DeleteHuh?
DeleteBetween Aunt Gladys scones and Rosemary and Bernards jams and jellies you have it made. I'm moving to Wales. I'll be needing a dozen eggs a week.
ReplyDeleteYum! I want some jam fairies!!! I have blueberry bushes, jam fairies would be quite happy here! :)
ReplyDeleteA friend gifted me some Red Pepper Jelly at Christmas, with me having it almost devoured on cheese and crackers. You lucky guys to be someone's Guinea piggie taste testers
ReplyDeleteJams are on my 'verboten' list - but was never a big consumer of them anyway. However Bernard is welcome to snuggle up into my lap anytime.
ReplyDeleteRe Duck eggs. A long time ago I was given a few as a gift but, would you believe it, could never get over an irrational mental block which wouldn't let me dare try to eat them, cooked in any form at all, so gave them away. Many years later the block is still there. Yet 'conventional' hen eggs are one of my very favourite of ALL foods. Very strange!
Ray
DeleteI won't eat them either!
How lucky can one get! What I'm wondering is: What is that behind the bottled goodies?? Appears to be egg yolks or peach halves in a pan or tin. All total it's a very pretty photo cat and all!
ReplyDelete'Just' rewards, I'd say!
ReplyDelete*Jam Fairies*
ReplyDeleteNow there's an image to conjure with......
Albert the photobomber! I used to enjoy making jams and preserves, especially chutney and relish, but now that I am on a sugar free diet I only make them to give away. Well, mostly - sometimes I keep a tiny bit back for myself.
ReplyDeleteAlbert looks like he's put on his winter weight, and looking very handsome I might add.
ReplyDeleteIs there anything finer than toast and jam, especially homemade jam.
You are a lucky one to have the jam fairies shower you with their magic.
~Jo
Now all you need is the cream..
ReplyDeleteUh. Albert got that didn't he.
With apologies to Hilaire Belloc...
ReplyDeleteThere was a Boy whose name was John;
His Friends were very good to him.
They gave him Tea, and Scones, and Jam,
And slices of delicious Ham
Pam Ayres couldn't have put it better heda x
DeleteWish I had a couple of those myself.
ReplyDeleteAlbert is looking good!
Rhubarb Orange Butter. I am swinging over to Spinners End Farm.
ReplyDeleteI'll trade maple syrups for jams and jellies! Serious offer here!
ReplyDeleteAlbert probably wanted to know if they had left anything for him in all of that. ;o)
ReplyDeleteSounds yummy!
Lucky you! I'd love to taste test jams.
ReplyDeleteCould you suggest that they relocate to S W France?
ReplyDeleteI sure you deserve them...
ReplyDeleteI think everyone's taken all the jammy puns and comments. so I'll just leave it at that.
PS yesterday I took what I always think of as a "Going Gently Chicken Face' photo. But of an alpaca. Ha.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a jam fairy. I have a rhubarb one but her visits are a bit seasonal. Albert is the reincarnation of Wiggy. The less explanation of his name the better....
ReplyDeletePerhaps Albert was a trifle curious.
ReplyDeleteHe also added a bit of symmetry to the sheep/goat cover in the background.