September 18th, 2007

Ricotta. And grapefruit marmalade

It’s been a poor year for our grapefruit tree. We’ve only had about ten fruit so far and I think only another six to go. But it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t make marmalade – so I did that yesterday. Not until I’d been out to the trusty Mitre 10 (equivalent of B&Q) in Henderson and bought myself some nice jars. What does it say about you when your current favourite shop is a giant hardware shop I wonder?

I used the recipe from the Edmonds Cook book. I ran out of sugar though and was a couple of cups short but forged ahead regardless. So this morning I jumped out of bed early to check the marmalade. It was the perfect colour, but just like sweet grapefruit drink! Off to the dairy to buy more sugar. Back home I tipped all the marmalade back in the pot and corrected my sugar levels. This time, perfecto.

Always. Follow. The. Recipe. (At least until you know what you’re doing).

Last night I also made ricotta using Campbell’s recipe.

Ricotta

2 litres of milk
Heat slowly to 93Â° in a thick bottomed pot, scraping the bottom as it heats up
Remove from heat
Add in the juice of one and a half lemons
Stir only twice – as in 1 stir, 2 stirs – that’s it
Leave 15 minutes
Line a small sieve with cheesecloth and scoop the curds into a colander that you’ve also lined with cheesecloth
Leave to drain for twenty minutes
Fini

Gorgeous together on Vogel’s toast or a nice sourdough.

And – I also want to say thank you so so so much everyone for your thoughtful comments on my post about Mum. I printed them all out and took them over to the family home while we were having the funeral party so everyone who came over read them. Thanks so much – every single one of you who wrote – your support really helped :)

14 Responses to “Ricotta. And grapefruit marmalade”

kali says...
yum ~ now that is a combination after my own heart!
I’m going to have a go at making that ricotta.

I’ve been thinking of you, across the ditch.
Kali

September 18th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Megan says...
I’m going to have a go at that ricotta too – easy and delicious, my kind of recipe.

September 18th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Ann says...
Yay Charlotte! So good to see you back. Been thinking about you heaps. Ann

September 18th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Steph says...
Glad you’re back! Mitre 10 is amazing, the amount of unhardware type stuff they sell! But jars? Had no idea!

September 18th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Vicki says...
Yum. I am going to make ricotta!

September 18th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
MaryBeth says...
Dear charlotte,
So wonderful to see you back!

Oh my …this looks scrumptious! why do i read blogs at 11pm when i have the munchies?

xo
MB

September 18th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
itziar says...
hi Charlotte!
you’ve been a lot in my thoughts. good to see you back :o)

this recipe sounds delicious, i’d love to try it… on the other hand, i like ricotta a lot, so maybe i shouldn’t be able to make it myself all the time…
mmm, i’ll have to ponder it a bit before succumbing to scrumptiousness!! :oP

September 18th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Alison says...
And now you make ricotta as well.
And, I hear butter is next.

I bow before you oh domestic goddess of ricottaness.

September 18th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
di says...
Lovely! Thanks for sharing the ricotta recipe- I’ve always wanted to try making it- I’d heard it’s quite simple.

September 18th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
jen says...
im pleased your blogging again
missed u

September 19th, 2007 at 6:05 am
erin says...
making me hungry….

September 19th, 2007 at 7:51 am
emily says...
so glad to find you back here. have been thinking of you, these weeks.

the ricotta recipe looks so simple and delicious. i think we’ll have to try it here, too.

September 20th, 2007 at 4:09 am
Aidan Laura says...
Really glad that you are making delicious things and back in the world (well online world). I was worried that you were missing spring, but now I see that you are making marmelade when the world gives you (even just a few) grapefruits. That would make your mom happy I bet.

September 20th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
kimberlee says...
yum!
-kimberlee

September 21st, 2007 at 3:16 pm