Plum And Mulled Wine Jam Food

PLUM-PORT WINE JELLY

Steps:

• Pit the plums. Tie the pits in a cheesecloth bag. Cut the fruit into quarters. Simmer the plums, pits and water in a covered saucepan over medium heat for one hour, or until the fruit is almost reduced to a pulp. (To hasten the process, mash the fruit coarsely after it has cooked a while.) Discard the pits and force the pulp through a coarse sieve or a food mill. Place the purée in a jelly bag and let it drip overnight. (If you do not have a jelly bag, line a colander with 4 thicknesses of cheesecloth and set over a bowl.) The next day, measure the juice and add enough port wine to make 3 cups of liquid altogether. Combine the liquid and sugar in a large pot and bring to a full rolling boil over high heat. Add pectin and continue to boil hard, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Skim the top and pour into hot, sterilized jelly glasses. Cover with a thin layer of melted paraffin. When the paraffin has hardened, cover the glasses and store.

MULLED WINE & CRANBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Bring the wine, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and orange juice to the boil in a large pan. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 mins until the wine has reduced by half. Remove and discard the aromatics.
• Add the cranberries, both sugars and the orange zest to the pan and cook over a low-medium heat for 10 mins, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer for 15-20 mins more until the cranberries have started to burst and soften, creating a glossy, jam-like consistency. Remove from the heat and stir in the brandy, if using.
• Cool a little jam on a teaspoon, then taste and sweeten with a sprinkle of caster sugar if the cranberries are too tart. Return to the heat for 2 mins, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
• Spoon the jam into two 324ml sterilised jars (see tip, below), seal and cool. Will keep chilled for up to three months. Once opened, use within two weeks.