I never did get around to thinning quite a heavy crop of apples and as a result, we've had quite a lot of windfalls. These are Bramleys and Katies. Rather than give them all to the chickens - even though they really love them, I made a batch of mint jelly today. Having cooked the apples, I made an improvised strainer from an upturned stool and a suspended colander lined with muslin with a bowl in the base to catch the juice (much to the intrigue of our friend Brian who's painting the windows!). Using desert and cooking apples meant that some cooked much quicker than others but it was none the worse for that. I added lemon juice to take away some of the sweetness and added the chopped mint at setting point. I recycled some washed jam jars and warmed them in the bottom oven. When all is cooled, I'll do some labels but I reckon these should see us through the winter. Talking of winter: Chris and Kyle have filled half the drive with sycamore logs for winter burning. That means logging and lugging on Saturday!!
PS The chickens enjoyed the apple pulp after the juice had been extracted and I dry citrus peel to make firelighters for lighting those winter fires. The oils in them burn well and smell fab!
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