February | 2023 | My Virtually Free-from Kitchen

Snowdrops_Tay_riverbank_Perth_Scotland_February_2023_ — Snowdrops in the wild. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. Thank you for stopping by. So, here we are at the end of another month. A chance for me to take a look back on what’s been happening out of doors since my last post.

Scottish_garden_snowdrops_February_2023 — Garden snowdrops, February 2023. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s been a bumper year for snowdrops here in central Scotland. Along the roadside verges, riverbanks and country walkways, the tiny white bulbs are flowering prolifically. And, in my own garden, there are green and white clumps of the delicate little flowers in the beds, borders and paths all over the place.

Pink_and_white_Scottish_garden_Hellebores_February_2023 — New season Scottish garden Hellebores. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Yellow_and_white_crocus_and_primroses_in_flower_February_2023 — February crocus and primroses. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Other spring classics are opening up in the garden as well. In the shady borders, the Hellebores are unfurling, as are the primroses. In the sunshine, the crocus are flowering and giving bold, bright, blasts of colour all over the garden.

Early_pink_Scottish_garden_rhododendrons_February_2023 — Pale pink Rhododendrons, February 2023. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The delicate pink Rhododendrons are blossoming in the back and front garden. Fingers crossed that the frost keeps at bay.

Late_winter_early_spring_Scottish_pink_and_white_heather_February_2023 — Early spring heather, February 2023. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

More hardy are the spring heathers. I haven’t seen many bees yet, but there are some tempting blooms out there in wait for our important little pollen collectors.

New_rhubarb_shoots_February_2023 — Garden rhubarb and rabbits. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Very happy to see the first of the garden produce beginning to grow. Looking forward to my first harvest of fresh pink stems in a few weeks time.

My final image this week is of a glorious winter sunset I captured at the beginning of the month, and it was a real beauty.

February_2023_Scottish_sunset — Early February sunset. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

That’s me for this month. I will be back with a recipe post very soon. Until then, have a good few days and enjoy the unfurling of spring.

Jars_or_homemaded_chunky_Seville_orange_marmamalade — February 2023, marmalade making. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Something bright and cheery to start the new month. It’s that time of year when the air is full of the scents of aromatic citrus and the sweet smell of sugar. Seville oranges are in season and marmalade-making is in full swing.

New_season_Seville_oranges — New season Seville oranges. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I do enjoy making preserves, but I find the peel-cutting for marmalade a bit of a chore. This time I made marmalade, I cooked the oranges whole, then once the oranges were cooked, I extracted the fruit pulp from the skin and was left with softer peel to slice. I found the cooked orange skin much easier to slice, and the resulting preserve tastes and looks pretty much the same, so I think this recipe will be my go-to marmalade recipe for the future.

Labelling_homemade_chunky_Seville_orange_marmalade — New season marmalade ready to label. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

You may want to cut the quantities down to make a smaller amount – I had a fair few oranges to use up!

Makes: approx. 3kg

Ingredients

1kg Seville oranges, washed and left whole
2.4l water
1 unwaxed lemon + 60ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (the extra juice is optional but I find it helps with the set especially if the oranges have been stored for a while)
1.8kg granulated sugar

1. Put the whole fruit in a large saucepan with the water. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for about 1½ hours until a skewer can be inserted into the fruit with ease. Drain the fruit using a draining spoon and leave aside until it is cool enough to handle. Keep the cooking water.

Cooking_whole_Seville_oranges_in_water — Cooking whole Seville oranges. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

2. Cut the fruit in half, then scoop the seeds and pulp into the saucepan with the cooking liquid. Halve the lemon, extract the juice and add to the saucepan along with any seeds and the lemon shells. Bring to the boil and boil steadily for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid, discard the pulp, and return the liquid to the saucepan.

3. Meanwhile, cut up the orange shells into the size of shreds you prefer and put to one side. I kept the sliced peel quite chunky, hence my name for the marmalade.

Preparing_Seville_oranges_for_chunky_marmalade — Cooked orange preparation. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

4. Stir the shredded peel into the cooking liquid. Add the sugar and extra lemon juice if using. Stir over a low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Raise the heat and boil for about 25 minutes until setting point is reached – 105.5°C . Allow to cool a little in the saucepan until the mixture begins to firm slightly, then stir the marmalade to distribute the peel before spooning into clean jars and sealing whilst still hot.

Cooking_up_chunky_Seville_orange_marmalade — Cooking the marmalade. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Cool, label and store in the usual way. Here’s a link to my other marmalade recipes if you want to compare the methods Seville orange marmalade – traditional and dark (naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan)

Serving_jar_and_spoon_of_homemade_Seville_orange_marmalade — Homemade marmalade serving. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I had a few spoonfuls of marmalade leftover once I had put the rest in jars; the “cook’s privilege” I call it. It made the perfect topping for a very indulgent bowl of porridge the next morning 🙂

Until next time, have a good few days and I look forward to posting again soon.