Jam

I love jam. My husband taught me how to make it and at the same time, he taught me not to be afraid of learning new skills.

There's no point in being afraid - just do it He would say and then dig into a project. Now; many years later, making jam comes second hand to me.

Often in old stories, you hear of people licking their lips at the thought of Gooseberry Pie. This inspired me to buy some gooseberry bushes at the local garden nursery. Be careful with these, they have thorns! Why is it that Mother Nature will create something so wonderful and then punish those who wished to try and taste the fruit? The green or ruby red globes have a flavour that is paralleled by none. I discovered this the first season of picking. I couldn't scrounge enough berries to do a full recipe so I topped them up with a few blueberries. Although the flavour is not similar, the colour of the blueberries enhanced the appearance of the jam. While stirring my big jam pot and being careful not let the mixture stick to the bottom, I sniffed the contents. I wondered what it would taste like when it was done. I sniffed and wondered, wondered and sniffed. It soon occurred to me that the jam didn't smell as wonderful as other jams I had created. Something was missing. I double-checked that I had put in the sugar, lemon, spices and the pectin. I stirred some more, saying out loud, What is missing?

Peppermint, came the answer. No sooner did I realize I had just heard a voice when I heard it again. The voice was seemingly in the distant recesses of my mind - a place that is close but sounds far away. The voice, however, was not my own. I stood over the pot and continued stirring. I wondered where that answer had come from? Suddenly I heard it again;

Peppermint, only this time it was louder. There was no mistaking that it definitely came from the kitchen.

I pondered this aloud, Really? Peppermint?

Peppermint, confirmed whoever it was hanging out in the kitchen with me that day. Gooseberries are an old fashioned fruit, so who better to tell me than someone from the past? Who was this expert maker of jam? I can't say for sure but I know Mary used to make jam and would keep huge stores of it on the pantry shelves that lead down to the basement. My Grandma Stewart was also a great cook and maker of jam.

Now I never worry about if the jam will work or not. I know that should I run into trouble all I need do is ask for help and help will arrive. By the way, the gooseberry jam with peppermint was delicious!