"Can you help me use some apricots?" I was asked this morning when a family friend phoned. CAN I!! What a delightful surprise!
A hot day, hot evening and another hot morning, but we were keen. Off we went and found a huge tree so full of fruit that the branches were either tied to each other for some support, or propped up with planks of timber or broom handles. My friend is a widow, so there was absolutely no way she could use all of her bounty, but I have promised to make her a gift by preserving some in brandy. She was delighted to see the children having a ball picking fruit, eating, packing it into boxes .... and best of all it was COOL under the tree's shade. Whatsmore we were treated to some of her wonderful cooking for lunch.
There's still quite a lot of fruit left to be picked, but hopefully some other friends can enjoy them too.
Now I'll be bottling apricots tomorrow, and making a few special jars of brandied apricots as a special treat. Here's the recipe if you'd like to try this too:
Brandied Apricots
2kg firm ripe apricots
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup raw sugar
3/4 cup brandy
Cut apricots in half and remove stones. Place the water in a medium saucepan and add the sugar. Bring to the boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add the apricots and cook for 5 minutes or until the apricots are cooked but still hold their shape. Remove from heat. Cool slightly then stir in brandy. Pack into hot, clean, dry jars. Fill to the brim with the syrup. Make sure the rim is clean, then cover with a seal. Screw on a ring-band and leave until cold. The lid should be concave if sealed properly. Remove the band. Resist for several weeks before using.
Makes about 4 cups.
Looking for more recipes for apricots? Look at these:
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