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| Strawberries and Roses Bloody gorgeous |
Oh my, but this is beyond delicious!
Henshelwood's are based here on the isle of Bute and you can pick up their gorgeous range of jams and chutneys via their website.
Imagine your favourite strawberry jam....now imagine it infused with the delicate scent of roses. Honestly, you won't know whether to eat it or dab it behind your ears!
It's undeniably classily tasty. However, I have been known to stand in the kitchen and spoon this straight out of the jar, straight into my mouth! Not so classy :-D
Don't worry about me being an unhygienic goddess and the double-dipping of the teaspoon in the jam, if ANYONE touches this jam jar, other than me, there is an investigation that makes the Spanish Inquisition look like a Sunday School quiz.
The strawberries for this jam come from Scotland's soft-fruit heartland, Blairgowrie.
My earliest memory of Blairgowrie was in a caravan park with my dad and my younger brother. Juno had managed to slip away to Majorca with a couple of gal pals (this was the 1970s) and dad had opted to take us Up Country.
The caravan was fine and toasty, but the problem was my chosen book: The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty, which had scared me (aged 12) absolutely RIGID. I had to be escorted to and from the toilet block by my dad (who had not a CLUE what I was reading in bed at night!) and insisted in sleeping with a light on. Given that the lights in the caravan were those wee gas mantle things at the time, and that dad had no intention of gassing us all in our sleep, I spent most nights hunkered down in my sleeping bag, fervently bargaining with God to keep me safe until dawn and generally waiting for demonic possession.
It was years later before I got to see the film - and yes, I was still scared rigid.
And now when I think of Blairgowrie, I think of demonic possession.
And strawberries, of course.
Henshelwood's do a phenomenal Raspberry and Lavender jam too.
I urge you to do some exploring on the Henshelwood's site and push your jammy envelope!
*imminent diabetes face*
What's your favourite jammy marmaladey spread?!
It's classy you're using a spoon and not your fingers ;)
ReplyDeleteI always use a spoon. A clean spoon *swells with domestic goddess pride. sort of* :-D
DeleteI do like a nice strawberry conserve (I like big fruit in my jam), but I'm a sucker for blueberry and also cherry (English Heritage do a rather nice Cherry with Port). Another favourite is apricot, which has to be the best accompaniment for croissants.
ReplyDeleteAs for exotic jams wot I've made, Pear and Chocolate is rather nice and Rhubarb and Ginger :)
One jam I really, really can't stand is Plum. It's brown and sludgy and reminds me of school.
The Strawberry and Rose does not have big fruit in it, which I think helps keep the balance between the rose and the strawberry flavours. I fancy the sound of that English Heritage jam you suggest with the cherry and port. Rhubarb and Ginger is also a firm favourit - although never made it m'self. And as for the plum jam, I know that you have better things to do with plums - like dip 'em in chocolate :-D *drools embarassingly*
Deleteyum!
ReplyDeleteYes, VERY!!!
DeleteYum, indeed. I still miss scones with jam and cream. I can get close to British tea here (keep forgetting to put enough milk in to approximate tea shop flavor), but the jam I haven't seen (although there is one shop here in Houston where I should look). You all do have a lock on the jam thing. I love cherry and raspberry myself. Do you grow raspberries over there?
ReplyDeleteI have raspberries, gooseberries and black currants growing in the garden - sometimes I make jam. Sometimes I just make solid lumps of stuff that clags up and ruins perfectly good jam jars :-D
DeleteNo choice.
ReplyDeleteOn hot buttered toast, or a large hunk of extremely well-buttered crusty loaf, or even a well-buttered hot crumpet.
I would suggest that putting it behind the ears would be an invitation to wasps or a hungry dog.
It's truly delicious! That's me scuppered another jar all by myself!
DeleteRaspberry & Lavender?? Be still my beating heart......I've tried rose jam (like spreadable Turkish delight so obviously a no brainer......) but would love to have a go at the rose strawberry combo.........met up with the delightful Wally amongst the buns in Ottolenghi's .......you were fondly discussed and sorely missed!!x
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed to miss the opportunity to have a chat with you - and see Wally again, of course! We tend to get down in the October break, so maybe we can organise something later in the year :-D
DeleteSo, strawberry and rose sounds AMAZING. I love lemon curd, alsdo crystalized ginger curd (M&S sell it at Christmas). Also, Strawberry and Champagne jam, which I'll send you a pot of if you fancy it!
ReplyDeleteStrawberry and Champagne jam?! That sounds wonderful....but CRYSTALISED GINGER CURD?! I will DIE if I don't get to taste that!!!
DeleteHaha! I know for a fact you're not the only human who was too scared to visit the toilet alone after being exposed to The Exorcist. Although in your case it was the book rather than the film. Is the book as scary as the film?
ReplyDeleteHonestly? I never managed to finish the book because I was so terrified by it. I did watch a bit of the film fairly recently and was struck more by the Father Karras aspect of the story - his guilt over his mother's death etc. BTW did you know that Father Karras's first name was DAMIEN?! *says nothing*
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