Runny Grobbles

[menthe_reglisse]

I have a very productive Crab Apple tree in my front garden. Most years I make things from the fruit. This year, I think I have finally worked out the optimal low effort to best result ratio system, taking account of my particular foibles as a cook (impatient, clumsy, prone to tweaking recipes). So I'm recording it here so I don't get tempted to

Comments

[artremis]

why is it called runny grobbles?

softfruit gave me some jam-making equipment for my birthday (she thought it was an obvious development from my breadmaking) so i'm thinking about either something with berrys in or maybe apple butter because i used to eat a lot of that.

[menthe_reglisse]

You are one of the people who I thought might get the runny grobbles reference, although it is a bit obscure. Runny grobbles are what the Pontipine children eat. Mr and Mrs Pontipine eat raspberries and cream and the children eat runny grobbles. Because the first recipe comes out pretty runny, we started calling it that.

I really like jam making, even though it does not play to my cooking strengths. There's something very satisfying about using fruit that would otherwise go to waste, like crab apples. And I like having the jars stacked up and neatly labelled at the top of my dresser. And I like giving them to people as a handy minor present as an alternative to chocolates or wine. The disadvantage is that many of my friends don't really eat jam - I don't eat much myself. But I should remember to start taking a jam sandwich to work, instead of buying scones for mid morning.

Enjoy your jam making!

[artremis]

i've not seen the Pontipines eating anything. Now i'm wondering if the Wotingers have a different diet ...

[menthe_reglisse]

I think it's from one of the books. These runny grobbles are pink. I imagine that the Wotinger children would eat something pale blue. Grunny robbles, maybe? The internet does not tell me.

[merryhouse]

One thing I used to do when I was in my parents' house is add a jelly to a saucepan of stewed apple. They were dessert apples so I don't know how it would translate to crabs.

[merryhouse]

... and I was feeling completely deprived not knowing who the Pontipines are. I forget your children are younger than mine ;-)