When Life throws Peaches and Plums in good measure

When Life Throws Peaches and Plums at you, What do you do?????

Make Jam, Silly.. and thats exactly what I did..My Kids Love Love Jam with toast on bread or with Phulka... but irony of irony is that they DO NOT TOUCH Store brought Jams, much so like cakes...I learnt to make them at home...Recently we had a small religious function at my sweet home and whoever came to seek blessings got with them..peaches and plums..it was like a major plan and scheme, I thought at first, but then realized that the stores in Jersey had an abundant produce supply of the sweetest peaches and juiciest plums...BUT what was I to do.. No way could A family of four finish around 20 peaches and 25 plums in 3-4 days...Having My MOM with me did no help as she firmly believes that; Once the fruit is offered to god, it has to be consumed and cannot go waste ( Not that we waste a lot of food in my house); the country I was born in is not a RICH country, more than 50% population starves daily and food is considered to be GOD, it is a habit scribed in our minds from a very tender age that we have to pray and thank the Bappa/God for making this meal a reality..so this jam was made and relished by my US born kids, who still at times do not understand what starvation is and why people are not able to afford a simple bagel and cheese sandwich...I simply pray to god at such times to give them the wisdom and never ever let a day go by in their lives when they have to face starvation.

I followed my moms recipe of making Amba Muramba/ Mango Preserve and replaced the Mango with peaches and plums cut into dices..

for Peaches and Plum Jam- You will need;

4 Cups (mixed) Peaches and Plums diced (with  skin included.. remove the pits though)
2 cups sugar
1 Tsp Cinnamon Powder-Optional
1Tsp Lemon Juice


In a wide bowl, take the diced peaches and plums together in a pot and add sugar to it. Keep aside for an hour or so.. In a heavy bottomed saucepan, mix together the peaches and plums and sugar mixture, and one tspn lemon juice. Stir over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to high, and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil, stirring often. IT is optional to add little cinnamon powdered or use sticks while it is being cooked, gives a nice aroma and taste( The whole house smells like it's the season of falling leaves and crisp air). When Cooked and the jam starts sticking to the sides of the pan, remove from heat and cool.

Transfer to hot sterile jars and seal. Process in a water bath. If the jam is going to be eaten right away, don't bother with processing, and just refrigerate after its cold enough.

** Note that the plums will be almost invisible but the peaches will hold itself.. We like chunky jams, but if you don't like it to be chunky, run it through a food mill while still hot and then store it in a bottle
Make jam and let there be peace in the world.. at least it makes peace in Ashland!!!

Love Ash