Thank you, Annie!

18 years ago

Or: How I was able to participate in a drive-by fruiting.

We have a big plum tree. With delicious fruit. NOTHING tastes better than the plums from this tree.

Every other year is a bumper crop. When the kids were younger they had a fantastic time setting up a plum stand on the sidewalk and selling the plums. Not a lot were sold but they alternated yelling out for people to buy plums and playing with the neighborhood kids. Eventually, July would bring neighbors looking for the stand. We also gave lots away. I did have a disastrous attempt at fruit leather once too.

Now the kids are older, busier, too cool to have a stand. The plum tree doesn't know this. About three years ago (a bumper crop year) I carefully followed the patient directions of Annie and started canning them up into jam.

Thank you for introducing me to this addiction, Annie. And thank you to all the other posters who said, "I tried it and it worked." It gave me the confidence to give it a go.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Drive-by Fruiting

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Comments (12)

mustangs81
18 years ago
Denise, Your tree works hard for you, I'm sure she is so pleased that you are using her fruit. I'll bet your family is happy too!

My brother's citrus trees are ignored so I am going to spend the week with him, pick their fruit, and make marmalade using the recipe Annie shared.

Cathy
annie1992
18 years ago
Denise, I'm tickled to death to bring you over to the dark side.....um.....get you introduced to canning. (grin)

If you want, I have a good recipe for plum sauce too, just a bit spicy and nicely fruity. Ashley loves it for dipping chicken nuggets, I like it for egg rolls. Oh, and it's really easy, because you don't have to worry about it getting thick, like jam. It's SUPPOSED to be sauce!

Annie
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lpinkmountain
18 years ago
Plums make THE BEST jam, IMHO. I also like plum sauce--great for moo shu pork or moo shu vegetables, stir fry, or dipping sauce. One year I made plum-orange jam with cointreau, it was to die for.

What color plums? I love the yellow ones! I wish I had room in my yard for a couple of plum trees. Funny thing, i don't like to eat fresh plums, but love them in plum cakes, etc.
annie1992
18 years ago
Oh, that reminds me, L, Renee (bubbe) has a great recipe for plum dessert, I think a kuchen?

Annie
readinglady
18 years ago
Also Farm Journal has a great recipe for a Plum Streusel Pie. It's wonderful. Just shout if you want it.

Carol
jessyf
18 years ago
I open the jar tomorrow! Can't wait!
denise8101214
Original Author
18 years ago
Wow! Thank you for all the recipe offers. They would be great. (note to self: establish organized method for filing and finding said recipes come July)

The tree does work hard, mustangs. Today it looks more like a popcorn tree than a plum tree. It's branches are covered with white popcorn sized blossoms, no green leaves yet. This year SHOULD be an "off" year, but it sure doesn't look like it this week.
Cloud Swift
18 years ago
I use to make plum kuchen when we had a plum tree. They are good and with the plums neatly arranged they can look very nice too.
gardengrl
18 years ago
Congratulations Denise! There's nothing like making and eating your own preserves! Enjoy those plums! I'm jealous; by the time they make it down to Florida, they're pretty pitiful or hit-or-miss.
denise8101214
Original Author
18 years ago
The plums are dark, dark red - Santa Rosa? Writing about this reminded me of the delicious yellow green plums in my grandparents back yard. I used to climb that tree to pick them (and sometimes just to read a book.)
jessyf
18 years ago
Hey Annie et al maybe we should tell Denise about the Harvest Forum where other canners hang out....

Here is a link that might be useful: Don't mind me, just enabling some more...
Gina_W
18 years ago
Canning people are evil! LOL. Last Saturday I made peach butter from frozen peaches I had from last summer from my girlfriend's tree. I haven't made "butter" before - so another new thing for me. Congrats on taking up canning Denise!