Le jour de gloire est arrive!
I like to think that Bastille Day commemorates the occasion when the sans culottes decided once and for all to ignore Marie Antoinette's advice and go gluten-free. And what better way to honor their heroism than with some fine fruit conserve courtesy of Madame Ferber, fiere guerriere of the grande armee of anti commercial-pectin bataillons?
Ironically, Madame is a true member of the Ancien Regime when it comes to her preserving methods. Quel outrage! Quels transports il doit exciter! ... when she beholds boxes of Sure-Jell (or the French equivalent) at a supermarche Marseillais.
Although I suppose one could conclude that, as a true enfant de la Patrie she views Ball Fruit Jell Pectin as a blasphemous symbol of American imperialism: des cohortes etrangeres feraient la loi dans nos foyers!
Grand Dieu!
Whatever her motivations might be, in honor the great patriotic holiday de la France I have decided to indulge Madame's idiosyncrasies and present one of her recipes with no editorializing, complaining, or whining.
Marchons, marchons! On a day such as today, we must all cast off our ignobles entraves and be les maitres de nos destinees.
At least where pectin is concerned.
Christine Ferber's Apricot and Raspberry with Citrus Zest
1 lb 2 oz quartered apricots, stones removed
1 lb 2 oz raspberries
2 cups sugar plus 2 cups
juice of one small lemon
finely grated zest of 1/4 lemon
finely grated zest of 1/4 orange
In a bowl, combine the apricots, 2 cups of sugar, the lemon juice, and the citrus zest. In another bowl, combine the raspberries and 2 cups of sugar. Cover each bowl with a sheet of parchment paper and let the fruit macerate for one hour.
Pour each preparation into a separate preserving pan and bring to a simmer. Pour back into the bowls and cover each mixture with a sheet of parchment paper. Refrigerate overnight.
Next day, bring each mixture to a boil separately in preserving pans and continue cooking over high heat about 5 minutes, stirring gently. Combine the two mixtures in one preserving pan. Return to a boil, skimming again, if need be. Check the set and put the jam into jars and seal. Yield a chez Fractured Amy: five 0.2 litre jars.
Ah, Madame - Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire!
2 comments:
I think it singular brave of you to use the familiar "ton" to a queen.
My earnest hope my dear is that you can keep your head - or otherwise that you leave your litre of preserves a moi.
Didn't you learn the words to 'La Marseillaise' in French class when you were in school?
Post a Comment