Foraging

I was walking around the bottom end of a small meadow on the other side of our stream when I noticed a couple of small crab apples on the ground, when I picked them up I realised that there were quite a few there covered with the leaves that had fallen.
In the end I picked up about half a bucket full. Although they were pretty small we don't like for anything to go to waste so Avril had a go at making some Crab Apple Jelly. It was absolutely gorgeous! and something I had never tasted before

 
For anyone interested in giving it a go here are the details.

• Wash the apples
• Cut off any bad skin
• put in to large pan
• barely cover with water
• cover and simmer until soft
• Strain through a piece of muslin
• Measure out 1 cup of juice to 3/4 cup of sugar
• dissolve juice and sugar slowly
• Then bring to rapid boil
• keep testing small amount in a saucer until setting
• Pour into warm sterilized jars and seal
• Store in cool place

The roses, azalea, carnation in the picture were all from our garden today.