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Jul 14
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Irina Slav's avatar

A very versatile fruit, yes! It is duly appreciated. :)

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Truman Angell's avatar

Distill some palinka with those plums!

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Irina Slav's avatar

:D If only we drank brandy, we would've. Alas, we're beer people so good spirits are wasted on us.

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Valentina Marinescu's avatar

:) Miralelle plums today here in Bucharest. Not jam but a sort of syrup - nectar.

https://www.laurasava.ro/nectar-de-corcoduse-galbene/

They are excellent - full of vitamin C and...available on the road :)

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Irina Slav's avatar

I used to love nectar when I was a child, any fruit. Cris loves corcoduse galbene. :)

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Valentina Marinescu's avatar

I love corcoduse - such a versatile tree .....and neglected.. Thank you!

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Irina Slav's avatar

Yes, it's humble but really versatile and delicious in every form.

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Rose_Anne's avatar

How about some liqueur / brandy?

I've used this recipe, https://indianajill.ca/homemade-cherry-liqueur/, with nanking cherries, saskatoon berries, raspberries, blueberries, and pitted / diced crabapples: delicious every time (and makes a lovely gift).

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Irina Slav's avatar

Thank you! I haven't tried to make liqueur before but I'm always willing to try new things.

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Rose_Anne's avatar

If you do try it, please let me know how you make out?

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Irina Slav's avatar

I definitely will, I bookmarked the recipe. I might give the brandy a miss and focus on the vodka, though -- brandy has its own rather strong fruity aroma and it might make it all too aromatic.

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Christian's avatar

Was there an Option 4 ? Schnapps or Plum Brandy ? Last year I too had a surfeit of plums and apricots , but no still. And vodka in the land of Nanny State of Oz is prohibitively expensive, so I ended up pruning my plum tree hard. Apricots I can dry.

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Irina Slav's avatar

We used to have a still -- my dad made apricot brandy. When we renovated the house to make a kitchen the still went to the next-door neighbour so it is theoretically available. But it's a lot of work for something we wouldn't drink and can't sell except illegally. So jam it is. It appears I made too little of that this year but will know better next year.

As for apricots, a couple of years ago I turned the excess fruit into wine. It wasn't bad, though I say so myself.

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JF's avatar

Interesting it was a great plum year here in Texas too! And peaches. I'll send you a courgette (zucchini here) bread recipe for next time you have that bumper crop! It freezes well and I have to make some myself, my countertop is disappearing! Tomatoes also filling the freezer, maybe some chutney later.

Have a great summer!

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Irina Slav's avatar

Great to hear you're having a good crop of everything! I always appreciate a recipe, so thanks in advance. Our tomatoes did surprisingly well in terms of numbers, despite the early heat, but size is subpar. Oh, well, something's better than nothing, so I won't complain. :)

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Meredith Angwin's avatar

A little note about zucchinis. In Vermont, people will tell you to lock your car in July and August when you go to the Post Office.....or people will fill your back seat with zucchinis!

That has never happened to me. I think it's a folk tale.

On the other hand, a basket of zucchinis once appeared in our mudroom (we rarely lock that door) with no attribution. I was able to figure it out though. Which neighbors have big gardens.....

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JF's avatar

yes - I heard that tale from my friend in Kentucky too. This year there seems to be that over abundance - of everything, lots of freezing and neighbors canning - I'm not ambitious and that's just to much work , but I do enjoy it when they give it all away for Christmas gifts and such! After this rain today - it will be more zucchini bread later this week. Wish ya'll could enjoy it with me - and a nice cup of tea!

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Meredith Angwin's avatar

It would be lovely to have zucchini bread and tea with you. 🙂

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Irina Slav's avatar

That would be awesome!

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JF's avatar

You both are welcome to my humble abode (not a Texas McMansion) any time - by the way - Abilene Christian is only 1-1/2 hours away and Comanche Peak about 40 minutes - great places for nerd visitors like us!

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Irina Slav's avatar

It is at times like this that I wish someone finally invents teleportation.

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Irina Slav's avatar

Love this! :D A reverse theft, as it were. What a lovely gesture to just leave a basket of veggies for the neighbours. Speaking of zucchini, I just learned it's perfectly permissible to sow them in the middle of summer, so this is exactly what I did. We might yet her a second chance of a bumper zucchini/courgette crop.

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