Plums

[woolybanana]

This year, the plum tree which is quite small is breaking its branches with fruit which is just about to go over, I think. They are not the very big ones, are only just semi-soft and have a bitter sweet taste, and are almost al dente. Not unpleasant.

Obviously I do not wish to waste this bounty but do not wanna make jam, so, could I simply boil up the fruit, destone it and then put loads bagged up in the freezer as compote? Would it keep for the winter?

Would it be best to pick a couple of bucket fulls and spread them out for a couple of days to ripen further, then cook them?

Advice much appreciated.

[Chancer]

Why freeze it?

You could put it straight into bocals after boiling.

I wish I had access to fresh fruit, I have to buy the catering tins of peaches or pears etc to make my compôte.

[Nell]

I used this recipe this week for spiced plum chutney. The only changes were red wine vinegar rather than cider vinegar and a heavier hand with the chilli flakes [:)]

http://localfoods.about.com/od/summer/r/PlumChutney.htm

[Swissie]

I'd do exactly what your described Woolie - great for crumbles, pies etc. Must say the plum chutney sounds good too - so maybe a bit of both.

What about plum and banana chutney?[:P]

Here I am trying not to bottle up sour grapes.[:D]

[Gemonimo]

I freeze plums and cherries raw and then make them up into jam or crumbles or whatever when I need them. That way they don't get cooked twice.

[Patf]

We do what you're suggesting, Woollie. We make it in the microwave.

Did the same last year and it worked fine.

[woolybanana]

Thank you guys, I shall start picking tomorrow I think, and keep the mouldy ones for my nasty neighbour and give the nice ones to the pretty one!!

[LEO]

[quote user="woolybanana"]Thank you guys, I shall start picking tomorrow I think, and keep the mouldy ones for my nasty neighbour and give the nice ones to the pretty one!![/quote]

Hi Wooly,

you have started picking already, favouring the pretty one!

[Russethouse]

 Just a word of warning -  a friend in Normandy was picking plums and failed to notice a wasp gorging itself on the fruit - she was stung and has had a nasty allergic reaction, arm swollen up, painful procedure to get off her rings etc.....

Take care ! [:)]

[woolybanana]

Aah, RH, ever solicitious for our well-being, thank you. I will get the lady wasps to remove their rings before cooking!

[5-element]

[quote user="Gemonimo"]I freeze plums and cherries raw and then make them up into jam or crumbles or whatever when I need them. That way they don't get cooked twice.[/quote]

Question: do you then remove the stone once you have defrosted them, and is it easy to do so?

 I will do what you do, Gem, at least with some of the plums I was just given (YEAH!!! At last!) - they are also on the slightly unripe side.

Should I try to ripen them further by doing what Wooly does: spreading them - on newspaper, presumably, and then freezing them whole, stone and all?

[Gemonimo]

Yes, 5-e, I take the stones out when they have defrosted and it's a doddle.

 Right now I have a tomato problem.  Last year I had too many and couldn't give them away but as I don't like waste I made futures in tomato puree and tomato sauce and it's still in the garage (I bottled it) and now the problem has returned.  However, I have found a brilliant way of using this years crop.  I have been cutting them in half, baking them in the oven for 6hours at 100 degrees and when they are sort of dried out and syrupy I freeze them still in halves. They make great tomato tarts (they don't get all waterlogged), and I'll be eating them all winter.  

 

 

[woolybanana]

No you won't, you will be still stuck on your forever walk to Paradise!!

[Gemonimo]

[quote user="woolybanana"]No you won't, you will be still stuck on your forever walk to Paradise!![/quote]

[:D][:D][:D]