Pot of Gold

As always I thank you for your wonderful comments, emails and support.  I would also like to welcome new followers and hope you enjoy our little adventures through life.  I live on the Western Isles also known as the Outer Hebrides the beautiful Isle of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland.  It takes two and  a half hours on the ferry to reach the mainland, so although remote it doesn't feel that way.  Shopping is certainly limited but I visit family regularly and shop when I visit the mainland.  Although we have only been here since April we call it home and love it, we have lost our hearts to this wonderful place.  Next week we travel to the mainland and start our journey to visit family who are spread throughout England, we are counting down the sleeps until we see our Grandchildren who are so excited that we are visiting.  We also have our exciting trip to Florida the sunshine state of America to look forward to which is why Christmas preparations started and finished so early.  The only thing we have left to do is write the Christmas cards, which hopefully will get done over the next day or so.  I am not usually this organised so I did feel as if I should explain the early preparations. 

I was asked for the recipe for the black treacle marmalade.  It is a traditional orange marmalade recipe with the addition of 2 tablespoons of black treacle added with the sugar.

3lb oranges
2 lemons
6lb granulated sugar
2 tablespoons black treacle

Cut the fruit in half and squeeze out the juice.  Remove the pips and membrane and tie them in a muslin bag.
Cut the peel into thin shreds, place in a preserving pan and add 5 pints of water.
Bring to the boil and simmer for about 2 hours until the contents of the pan has reduced by half and the peel is soft.
Remove the muslin bag and squeeze out all the gooey liquid - this contains all the pectin required to thicken the marmalade.
Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved.  Add the black treacle.
Bring to the boil and boil rapidly until setting point is reached (about 20 mins).
Stir well so that the peel is evenly distributed and then pour into sterilised jars, seal and label.

Hope that helps and that if you make it you enjoy it as much as we do.

I am doing well with the crochet stockings, one complete and another 22 Granny squares ready to have their ends sewn in and then stitched together.  It is such a great make using 22 Granny squares, stitched together and then a round of popcorn stitches around the top.

A short post today as I have some ironing and packing to do.  I will leave you with a wonderful rainbow, here's wishing that there will be a pot of gold at the end of it for you.

See you soon.