Rosella bounty!
We currently have 2 rosella bushes in our garden and both were full of rosellas. So I got the secateurs and picked the rosella flowers, I got a big basket full!
A basket full of rosellas from our two rosella bushes
As Marlon has decided to do this year by distance education, he has been spending a lot of time in the kitchen with me. He decided to make a rosella lime cordial, as we also have an abundance of limes. He wants to be a chef, and his talent in the kitchen shows that he is taking the right path! The cordial is absolutely beautiful!
Marlon’s rosella lime cordial
It took me about an hour and a half to get the flesh off the centre of all the rosellas. Then I covered all the centres in water and simmered it for around 15 minutes. I then used the poured off water to cover the rosella flesh, which together with lemon juice and an apple made up the pectin for the jam. I simmered that mix until the rosella flesh was soft, added sugar and then brought the mix to a boil, stirring constantly so it wouldn’t burn. The smell was awesome, the taste fantastic! I ended up with 16 3/4 jars of rosella jam. I may just have to make tomorrow pancake day so we can try out the jam!
Homemade rosella jam!
Quick update on Bandit, our snake bitten dog. He is doing really well, stopped peeing blood on the weekend and he is almost himself again! We have noticed more grey hairs on him though, defying death twice in 12 months (the first time was from a paralysis tick) will probably do that…
©2016 Zaia; permeco.org, incorporating Permaculture Research Institute Sunshine Coast, simplicity, permaculture, self reliance, self sufficiency, sustainability, food, health and homesteading, Making rosella jam from 2 bushes in our permaculture garden
Author: Zaia Kendall
Zaia grew up in a family of musicians in Holland, and has a background in top sport (snow skiing) and web development and design. She co-founded the PRI Luganville and PRI Sunshine Coast Inc (now PermEco Inc.) with Tom, and runs the “invisible structures”, like finances, business administration, website design and maintenance, writes articles and records and edits videos. She assists Tom in running the Kendall Permaculture Farm and supervising other volunteers. She is an active member of several musical projects and bands, involved in community music and runs percussion and marimba workshops, is the percussion leader for the Woodford Folk Festival People’s Orchestra and composes as well as plays music. She is passionate about community music and loves seeing people discover that they can play!
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Rosella jam and cordial! Fantastic. I’ve got a few plants I’ve grown from seeds, very easily luckily, and am looking forward to them producing. I’ll have to give jam making a go when I get flowers. I think I noticed buds forming today. Love reading your posts everyday!
Thanks for your support Paul, and good luck with your rosellas!