Why? Because you can! And pickle, and jam, or otherwise celebrate the resurgence of the domestic arts our forebears held so dear. Put on your best apron and step into our kitchen, won't you?
This is an easy recipe for Gooseberry, Orange and Lemon Balm Jam which is just packed with flavour and tastes like summer sunshine. Perfect on your toast or on a cheese board.
Gooseberries are ready now - these funny little berries with a tough tart exterior and a sweet soft interior are sometimes difficult to use. But pair them with a little cardamom and they are ready to pair with things both sweet and savory.
One hears of England's abundance of gooseberries time and again, but how often does one come across this elusive fruit here in America? Yet if one is in luck, one might find them at more progressive farm stands and this lovely jam is sure to follow.
A version of this gooseberry jam, with a few tablespoons of chopped, preserved ginger added to it, won me a ribbon at Canada's Royal Winter Agricultural Fair. Photo by Niamh Malcolm.