crab apple jelly

[FatThighs]

a friend of mine has a crab apple tree and she doesn't want them and lets them rot so she said I could help myeslf.

I bought a jelly bag to make CAJ - what is it like?

Is it worth the bother?

Any other ideas of what I can do with crab apples?

[FatThighs]

oh dear - desperate bump but think I may be out of luck and have to resort to the minefield of google!

[hettie]

hello,
we've just made a batch. It's really not too much of a faff, but my top tip would be do sieve the fruit out as otherwise it won't go clear (with muslin or whatever).
It's very good with hams/crumbly mild cheeses as a light alternative to chutney and I know someone who likes it with roast chicken (a la redcurrant jelly with lamb)
Happy jellying!

[FatThighs]

oh I know no-one else is interested apart from me and possibly hettie but I have to tell someone - I made and I love it - it is too sweet because I put too much sugar in and is very firmly set but I don't care - I made it myself!

I must warn you if you try this that one carrier bag of tiny apples produced one and a half jars of jelly - lots of mashing and straining for a little precious liquid!
I presented the person who had the crab apple jelly with the half jar and told her about the lenghty process and then said - you think I'm mad don't you? and she said no but I do think you have too much time on your hands the cheek!

bUT i DON'T CARE - i DID COOKING AND IT WORKED!

[FatThighs]

should read 'the person who had the crab apple TREE'

[tarantula]

I do like crab apple jelly and I dont think its too much hassle to make. Other things to do with crabapples are spiced crabapple butter/cheese, elderberry and apple jelly, rowan and apple jelly and sloe and apple jelly (which is scrummy)(a few variations on a theme there really). I also boil, sieve and freeze for tarts and crumbles etc.

[FatThighs]

ooh tarntula - they sound good - but any idea where I can source rowan and sloe berries??? Do you have to pick them yourself or can you buy them?

Think the whole thing seemed copmplex to me as it was the first time I had done the jelly thing - not the last though!