Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Selfless Spread

I love making chocolate chip cookies. I love eating chocolate chip cookies. My husband knows this, so it's hard to win good wifey points by saying, "Look, honey, I made you cookies!" Especially when I've eaten five of them before he sees them. He might suspect that it was my greedy tummy more than my selfless love which prompted the cookie baking.

There are some things which I make just for him, though, that he knows without a doubt that it's an act of love for me to make. Marmalade is one of those. I think it's nasty. I'd rather have my toast plain than have to eat marmalade. There are a lot of things I'd rather do than have to eat marmalade. But for some reason, my husband appreciates the bitter taste of orange peel and marmalade is like ambrosia to him. Each to his own. But because I love him, I made marmalade.

I'm not very accomplished at making jams. I'm terrified of ending up with syrup, so I usually cook a bit too long, to be on the safe side, and end up with chunky jam. With marmalade, since it's all chunks anyway, that didn't matter. This recipe was easy and made quite a bit of jam - enough to make my husband happy and even give a few jars away as gifts. Plus, even if I don't want to eat it, I always get a little burst of pride when I look in the pantry and see homemade jam jars lined up.



Orange Marmalade
- adapted from Barefoot Contessa At Home by Ina Garten

If you have it available to you, I'd say splurge on organic produce here. Since you're using the whole peel, you'd probably prefer to not have pesticides in your marmalade.

4 large seedless oranges
2 lemons
8 cups water
8 cups of sugar

Cut the oranges and lemons in half crosswise, then into very thin half-moon slices. Discard any seeds. Place the fruit and their juices into a large, stainless steel pot. Add the water and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar till it is dissolved. Cover and allow the mixture to stand overnight at room temperature.

The next day, put the pot back over heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 2 hours. Turn the heat up to medium and boil gently, stirring often, for another 30 minutes. Skim off any foam that forms on the top. Cook the marmalade until it reaches 220 degrees. The marmalade will be golden orange.

Pour the marmalade into clean, hot jam jars. Wipe the rims thoroughly to remove any jam overflow and seal with clean, hot lids. Label and store in the pantry for up to a year.

19 comments:

Sean said...

Ah, the foul and vile concoction. How dad can eat that stuff is an eternal mystery to me. Good for you for toughing it out, though! I'm sure he appreciates it.

Maria said...

Wow, what a fun thing to make! I bet the citrus smell is divine! Perfect for gift giving too!!

Heather said...

personally, i like chunky jam. i'm not a marmalade person either, but it sounds like your hubby is a happy and lucky guy :)

Gretchen Noelle said...

How sweet are you! I have never made jam or marmalade. But, I am a marmalade lover...the more tart, the better. I love a version I bought in Argentina of grapefruit orange marmalade. Mmmm....

Anonymous said...

The pictures are really pretty mom. Good job!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Incredible marmalade, dear Lynn!!

natalia said...

It must be so good ! last summer I made lemon marmalade and really liked it, I should try yours ! (can you please answer the muffin question ?I know it sound silly but I don't know the difference !)

Aimée said...

Good job, Lynn! I want to try marmalade next year for my jam swap. It can't be too hard, so you've shown me.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Everyone is entitled to have the things they love, especially over the holidays:D

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Beautiful on the bread and I really like the orange slice!
Such is the story of love!
Mark this one up for another thing we agree on Lynn. Marmalade will never make it in my book either.

Johanna B said...

I've never tried making jelly, jam, or marmalade. I've just started enjoying new flavors. I might have to try marmalade now that I've seen yours.

Anonymous said...

I love marmalade! I'm with Gretchen Noelle, and love Grapefruit marmalade the very most!
There is a brand here that is dark marmalade and is extra delicious. It's called Frank Cooper's Oxford marmalade
You must make hubby the zucchini and orange marmalade tea cake I made not so long ago. It was from the Tartine Cook book. It was so good!
You are very sweet to make him something you...hate!

BugnLVoe said...

My father-n-law LOVES marmalade.
If I was a good daughter-n-law I would make him some.

Anonymous said...

If you wanted to venture into lime marmalade ... just for the fun and adventure of it ... I know a Brit who would cheerfully sample a jar for you. He knew I loved him when I bought him a jar of Orange Marmalade, so I understand your post intimately!

Peabody said...

Oh I should send this to my mom (she is the jam maker in the family) because my dad love orange marmalade (and never gets any).
Looks lovely.

Susan from Food Blogga said...

With this season's crop of citrus coming in, this is perfect timing. I adore orange marmalade, especially on scones.

alexandra's kitchen said...

I award you 100s of good-wifey points for making this selfless spread. I for one love orange marmalade and have 6 oranges sitting idly on my counter ... hmmm.

LyB said...

I love marmalade but I've never had the homemade kind before. Wish I had someone nice enough to make some for me! :)

Deborah said...

What a great wife you are! I haven't had marmalade in years - I wonder how I'd like it now...