Such a thing as too many Bramleys?

[sleepyowl]

I've seen a lot of references to 'apple butter' & 'apple butter making days' on American sites.
Found lots of recipes but what do you use it for once it's made?

My mum makes apple butter so I shall find out what recipe she uses & passes it on too you

[sleepyowl]

You could make bramley apple pies or a tinners pasty (a Cornish pasty with fruit in the one end) oh & pork with apple sauce & topped with cheese mmmmmmm

[prison break fan]

Hi Ina, can you tell ys more about bottling with ordinary screw top jars! many thanks. pbf

[ina]

As usual with me, I don't have a proper recipe...

I just filled my bottles with fruit - in case of rhubarb and red currants raw, apples stewed; topped up with hot water or juice (if you are adding sugar, dissolve in hot water) to just 1cm under lid; screw on lid tight. Stick in pan with water coming up to about 1cm below lid, and bring to boil. I think I boiled the smaller jars about 30 minutes to 45 minutes, the larger ones about 1 hour (less if the contents are cooked already).

Sorry, this is a bit vague. You can maybe find better cooking times on a bottling website - they should be the same for using "proper" bottles and screw top jars.

I bottled red currants two years ago in juice (made up from concentrate to double strength for added sweetness); no added sugar, and they are still fine. My rhubarb has been in the cupboard for a couple of years, too; this time with sugar, and the last jar I have is looking just as good as it did two years ago. No apples left; both the last two years I couldn't get a lot of apples...

I should add I find using screw top jars particularly good because I can bottle single portions for my small household.

[prison break fan]

Hi Ina, Many thanks for bottling hints. Will definitely try this as Kilner jars are so expensive! and I can always scrounge "ordinary" jars. Have always been too busy working to do much in the way of preserving etc, but now I'm retired, anything could happen. thanks again. pbf

[Merry]

This has been a really useful thread as I`m going to have a bumper crop of bramleys this year. I try to give away allotment gluts to friends and neighbours but I find that things that have to be cooked are not so welcome. "Yes please" to strawberries or plums. "No thanks, I don`t bake." to cooking fruit etc. Better than accepting them and wasting them I suppose.

[ina]

This has been a really useful thread as I`m going to have a bumper crop of bramleys this year. I try to give away allotment gluts to friends and neighbours but I find that things that have to be cooked are not so welcome. "Yes please" to strawberries or plums. "No thanks, I don`t bake." to cooking fruit etc. Better than accepting them and wasting them I suppose.

I you were nearer to me - you'd never hear a no thanks to things that need to be cooked!