Thursday 2 September 2010

Happy Four Years Married Day

I have snapped the photos from our wedding album but the original photos are taken by Joanne Grant

Yay, it's our happy four years married day! In true Friendly Cottage fashion, we are spending it apart. As with all anniversaries, bar one so far, Marty is in London with work. He'll be hanging out with a bunch of blokes. I'm home alone (I'm so going to light the fire tonight...the boy hasn't let me yet!). We've got used to it at this stage so it's fine. Besides, it gives a little more time to scramble for a card and gift!

So the traditional gift for four years of marriage is fruit or flowers apparently. The modern gift is appliances. Eh, no thanks anyhow, we'll stick with tradition on this one. As a fruit gift, I'm going to make Marty some Strawberry & Champagne Jam. A week before our wedding, the very dutiful bridesmaids and I stirred a huge cauldron of strawberries and sugar to make hundreds of pots of this jam as gifts for the guests. The champagne didn't quite make it into the pot, hic, and the jam didn't quite have long enough to cook as a result, hic. It was a little more suited to drizzling over things rather than spreading in the end. Still, we produced a beautiful tasting preserve all the same. Here's what should have happened...


Marty & Sharon's Wexford Strawberry & Champagne Wedding Preserve

You will need plenty of jam jars and lids. I especially love when they are mismatched in different shapes and sizes. Sterilise the jars by rinsing in hot water and then popping in an oven heated to 140C for about half an hour. Alternatively, rinse them through a dishwasher on a hot cycle without the washing tablet. I love decorating the jars once the jam is all potted up. Use fun fabrics or oilcloth, ribbon, twine or raffia. Print or hand make labels or tags. Keep all to yourself or give as gifts. By the way, if you'd rather drink the champagne while you stir the pot then just don't bother putting it in!

Makes about 1.5kg

1 kg jam strawberries, washed and hulled
1 kg jam sugar
1 glass of champagne (or other sparkling wine)
finely grated zest & juice of 1 lemon

- Place the strawberries in a large pan and crush them lightly with a potato masher. 
- Add the jam sugar, champagne and lemon zest and juice.
- Bring slowly to the boil, stirring to help dissolve the sugar.
- Bubble away for 8-10 minutes, skimming away any impurities that come to the surface.
- Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly before potting.

10 comments:

Lilly Higgins said...

Happy Anniversary! This jam is such a nice wedding favour, great idea, so pretty x

likemamusedtobake said...

Happy Anniversay Sharon. Celebrated our 4 year one a couple of weeks ago. Your dress is beautiful and love the jam as wedding favours. :)

Ciara Brehony said...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

I do hope you and Marty get to make up for all that time apart soon!
Delighted you are back blogging too, though I kind of fell off that ol wagon too for a bit. But back on board too now, I hope.

C x

inspiremyhousepretty said...

Happy Anniversary, lovely to have you back:) x

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary Sharon, wow you looked amazing in your dress, its beautiful. the Jam is such a thoughtful wedding favour, luv the idea of making it yourself. Vick xx

Designermmg said...

Hi Sharon welcome back, and i have a cheek saying that lol happy anniversary, love the photos. hope to see you sometime soon. marie

Sadhbh @ Where Wishes Come From said...

Happy Anniversary Sharon! I've been mostly off the blog-wagon too lately. Where does the time go? My time is eaten by babies.
Mmmmmm Jammmmm!

Jenny at Red House said...

well done ! four years, maybe you could invent a new jam every year on your anniversay! jennyx

Amy Snow said...

Congratumilations :)

Celestial Charms said...

Hi, Happy Anniversary to you. This is my first visit to your lovely blog. Homemade jars of jam, were such a wonderful wedding guest gift idea. Must try this delicious sounding recipe! I'm off to have a peek at some of your other posts.
Maureen

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