Friday, August 10, 2007

La Vie en Rose Nectarine and Mango Jam


Rewards are a good thing, however small they may be, and yesterday was one of those days in which I needed to reward myself. At this point in my study career, I can't make up my mind about what's more challenging- choosing MA courses or actually taking them. Due to a lack of interesting 17th century art history courses at my university, I decided to enroll at The University of Amsterdam and explore my options there. Of course, things are never that easy, so yesterday I travelled between two universities to take care of formalities and plan the upcoming semester. After all was said and done and I was on my way home, I started to see the positive side of things. As of next semester, I was going to be spending more time in Amsterdam, studying art, but also taking advantage of my time there to see what the city has to offer foodwise! I live in a suburb just twenty minutes from the city and although I've been there many times, my trips have never really been about food since it's usually the museums I'm after.

To celebrate the upcoming possibilities (expect more Amsterdam food stories in the future!), I walked into an herb shop (not that type of herb) and decided to finally venture into the world of edible flowers. For some reason, the idea of eating flowers never appealed to me. I've seen lots of recipes using rose petals or lavender blooms for example, but however pretty they may look, I just couldn't see the point. If you remember my post about the rosewater chocolate cake, you might be wondering what on Earth I thought rosewater was made from. You see though, it's the flower itself I couldn't imagine eating, not something infused with it...however strange that may sound. I walked into the shop, picked up a bag of dried rose petals and gave it a good sniff. It smelled lovely of course but I kept wondering if this wouldn't be nicer for potpourri. After doing the same with a bag of lavender blooms, I pushed myself in the cashier's direction and payed, quick, before I would be able to change my mind. Now the only question was what to make.

When I was in France a few weeks ago, I purchased some blond cane sugar suitable for making jams. This morning the urge hit me to use the sugar, and my rose petals. The fruit of choice was a few ripe nectarines and an even riper mango. Whenever I embark on making a new recipe, there's always that little element of surprise. Will this work...or in this case...will this taste like perfume? I'm very pleased to inform you that it did work, didn't taste like perfume, and that a simple slice of bread for lunch was turned into a sweet celebration...for my future as a student and foodie in Amsterdam, and for daring to eat a jam made with flowers!

Here's the recipe:

La Vie en Rose Nectarine and Mango Jam
*1 ripe mango (about 600g whole and about 300-350g peeled and chopped)

* 6-7 ripe nectarines (about 900g whole and about 600-650g peeled and chopped)
*500g blond cane sugar, suitable for making jam
*2 tbsps rosewater

*2 tbsps dried rose petals (it is essential that you get petals suitable for consumption and NOT sprayed with chemicals)

First sterilize your jars: wash them out well with hot water and then let them dry in a 140C oven. Leave them in the oven until you are ready to use them. Peel and cut your fruit. To peel the nectarines, simply immerse them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and then plunge them into cold water. With the point of a knife, make an X on the underside of the fruit and remove the skin. Chop your fruit according to the consitency you want your jam to be. I chopped mine pretty roughly. Put all the ingredients in a large pot, stir well and let cook on medium heat for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let stand for 10 minutes before ladling into two 1/2 liter jars.

14 comments:

Sandy said...

Paola, your recipes are so original and inspiring. I enjoy seeing what is going on in your kitchen.

Anonymous said...

Paola, that jam sounds heavenly. Everything is better with rose. My mother in law makes ice cream with rose essential oil that is other worldly. I love seeing what amazing creations you put up on tastespotting.com. Keep up the great work!

Paola Westbeek said...

Thanks Sandy and Bri! I'm glad you are reading my blog and hope you stick around!

paola

Nora B. said...

Paola, such a wonderful combination of flavours. Are you now a flower-petal convert?

All the best for the new semester. I hope that you will enjoy the subjects. I look forward to hearing more about Amsterdam.

Paola Westbeek said...

Thanks Nora! Well, my fear is gone anyway! I think the thing with roses and lavender (all blooms actually) is that you have to take it easy! Using too much, I imagine, would give you the dreaded "potpourri" smell. I'm really looking forward to experimenting!

paola

Kelly-Jane said...

Oh how wonderful :)

I'm reading Mes Confitures by Christine Ferber atm, and this is just the sort of gorgeous artisinal jam that she makes.

I'm going to try and source edible roses. Mmm.

KJxx

Anonymous said...

This sounds heavenly, Paola.

I have a Persian cookbook with a recipe I've been meaning to try for a salad with rose petals. I think I know where I could get them.

I bet this jam smelled wonderful on the stove!

Anonymous said...

Ciao Paola, what a beautiful recipe. Your blog is getting more and more interesting by the day :) Ciao da Amsterdam! (P.S. I'm not sure if you're Italian too or not... are you???) :):):)

Paola Westbeek said...

Ciao Nicoletta!

How nice to see you here! I didn't realize you also had an English blog and I'm thrilled to find it. I've been reading your Dutch one ever since I read about you in Delicious (and the full story on your blog! ;))
To answer your question, no, I'm not Italian. I was born in Colombia and raised in The United States. However, when I tell you that I alsolutely adore the Italian kitchen I am not exaggerating! You've probably seen that some of the recipes on my blog have an Italian tint to them, so now you know why. :)

Paola

PS: Next month I am attending a cooking workshop with Victor Russo (he was also in the same issue of Delicious you were in). It would be great to cook with you sometime as well!!

Anonymous said...

BTW, funny that you discover me on Delicious and tha t on the 10th of July I had added your Dutch blog to my favourites without knowing that this one existed... :D

Anonymous said...

Paola,
I just wanted to say that I looked through your blog for the first time today, and I am really impressed! Your photographs are very good, and I love the colour scheme (earthy, brown..).

Hug from Maria xx

Paola Westbeek said...

Thanks for your lovely comment, Maria! That's really great to hear!

Paola

PS: and a BIG congratulations to you!;)

Anonymous said...

This looks like delicious jam!!!

Kirsten said...

Wow, I was just searching for a nectarine and mango jam recipe to use up some fruit, but now I'm going to have to get some rose water & petals too - this sounds divine! Thanks for sharing :)