Friday 16 June 2017

It's Amber Nectar Time Again

Cheap, delicious, easy - give yourselves a treat and make Apricot Conserve - recipe courtesy Perpetua. 
Currently apricots are only £1.50 a kilo.
 Ingredients
1 kilo stoned apricots
750 grams sugar
That's it - two ingredients - absolutely nothing else!
  Place the washed and stoned apricots in a large bowl covered in all the sugar for at least 18 - 24 hours. After that time they will look like the photo below - this is known as macerating

The apricots are now surrounded by their own concentrated viscous juice and the sugar has almost dissolved - even if some sugar remains it is alright to go ahead as it will breakdown during boiling.
Bring them gently to the boil. When boiling point is reached, simmer for 20 - 25 mins.
Put into warm sterilised jars, screw on lids -
  that's it, what could possibly be easier or quicker
Now you have the main ingredient to make some easy Apricot & Amaretto ice cream too
 Ingredients
350grams creme fresh (full fat)
350grams Greek yogurt (full fat)
300grams apricot conserve
licqueur glass of Amaretto
gently fold the creme fresh and yogurt together, then swirl in the apricot conserve
Churn as per your ice cream machines instructions, after a few minutes add the Amaretto - the alcohol makes for a softer ice cream.
Almond licqueur and apricots are a perfect marriage.

 If you don't have a machine you can place the mixture straight into a lidded container in the freezer and keep mixing it yourself from time to time.

45 comments:

  1. Oh how wonderful to have such beautiful apricots, so plentiful and inexpensive. The recipes sound really fragrant and delicious Rosemary. Happy eating!

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    1. Both are delicious - calorie loaded but a little does no harm

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  2. Oh, that's made my mouth water. Sadly, apricots are relatively scarce and expensive even in season in UK.

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    1. Jenny I live in the UK too! and these are the prices I found at Lidl and Tesco during this past week - I have never seen them so reasonably priced here before.

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  3. Mmm, Amaretto and apricots WOULD be good together!

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  4. Dear Rosemary, I don't know what is more delicious...the recipe or your photographs.

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    1. Dear Gina - I vote for the conserve and the ice cream - both are a bit too moorish though.

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  5. Those gorgeous apricots look delicious, as do your recipes. I will try the Apricot & Amaretto ice cream.

    I have a Donvier ice cream maker. Right now I have loads of red raspberries. I am making sherbet with them adding the juice of a whole lemon. Very refreshing when it is 99 degrees (Fahrenheit).

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    1. I like the sound of your raspberries with lemon Catherine - it is nice and warm here (24℃) but not as hot as 99℉

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  6. Love apricots and the recipe looks so easy.

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  7. Hello Rosemary, Such tempting pictures! you are lucky to have good and cheap apricots. So far this summer in Cleveland, the fruit has been expensive and not so great--but we are hoping for improvements as the season goes on.
    --Jim

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    1. Hello Jim - I was very surprised at just how cheap these apricots are this year as I normally pay £2.50 per kilo. I wonder why your fruit is not so great this year?

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  8. Two amazing recipes, thanks very much. I shall keep my eyes peeled for some low price apricots. Just started making some Elderflower Fizz yesterday, hope it comes out well.

    Jean

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    1. Hello Jean - I have thought about making Elderflower cordial again this year, but the apricots have taken over. The flower heads on the elder look very bountiful this year.

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  9. They both look delicious and you make it sound almost easy.

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    1. That is right Janey - really quick, easy and delicious.

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  10. I might try that myself as I like the apricot jam in jam tarts more than the raw fruit. Getting much harder to park at my local Lidl and Aldi stores these days I've noticed as they are always busy now with a wider range of customers and cars. Used to be quiet years ago with mainly cheap gear or tool enthusiasts dragging out sports equipment or 150 piece drill and spanner sets. Food items were not big sellers back then.

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    1. Same here Bob - I remember the days when we had Lidl to ourselves, now many of the things I like vanish before we arrive. Love their excellent garden tools.

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  11. They the Apricots look divine.
    Eating them for sweets each evening thus giving strawberries a rest :)

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    1. We are enjoying peaches and nectarines too at the moment - they make for an easy dessert.

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  12. This post makes my mouth water in anticipation. Amber nectar is a great description! Apricots are not in season here, yet, but I'll be on the lookout for them in the grocery store. I like to make an apricot pineapple jam.

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    1. Sounds interesting I have never heard of apricot pineapple jam

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  13. Edible good looking photos, looks so delicious. I always eat nectars, I don't make any food or pie of them.

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  14. Hello Rosemary,
    This looks absolutely delicious. I have been abroad and just return this week. I am going straight to the supermarket tomorrow and will avail for this bargain. Hope you have a great weekend'
    Helen x

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    1. Lovely to hear from you Helen - hope to hear about your trip and that you are successful in finding some apricots at the supermarket.

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  15. Lucky for you, Rosemary, that you have such cheap, delicious apricots in abundance. On our market, the same kind apricot as yours are rare, but now is the season for Japanese apricot (Ume) fruits, which are mostly used for Ume liquor or Ume pickles. Your photos show how you love apricots and the recipes. Anyway, my mouth is watering.

    Yoko

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    1. Love to be able to share some of this with you Yoko

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  16. Thank you for these super easy and delicious recipes !! Mouth is watering !

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  17. HI Rosemary....
    You make it look so easy...enjoy!
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  18. I shall have to make some again, last time it was delicious. Thank you for reminding me! Sarah x

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    1. Surprisingly, this year they are the cheapest that I have known.

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  19. Dear Rosemary,

    Looks really delicious and aren't the fresh apricots so good - had some when we were away.
    I will have to wait until about December to buy apricots.
    Enjoy your weekend
    hugs
    Carolyn

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    1. Dear Carolyn - I find it difficult to get my head around our great seasonal differences - I suppose you are now into your mid-Winter?

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  20. Looks so great! I must try this...
    We celebrate midsummer here today and it´s raining - so very swedish :)
    Love from Titti

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    1. Oh! what a shame - hopefully tomorrow will be sunshine all day long Titti

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  21. Dearest Rosemary,
    You are lucky with such pricing for fresh apricots! Ours come all the way from California so only the transport is enormous.
    We ate some fresh ones that we got at Costco the other day but not for making such apricot preserve.
    Enjoy your bounty of fresh fruits!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Dear Mariette - I was surprised at just how cheap the apricots were this year, last year that were nearly twice as much. Needless to say I am taking advantage of them much more this year.

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  22. Por aqui, o damasco é uma fruta cara, fresco ou seco. Mas eu adoro damasco. Talvez, seja a minha fruta preferida.
    Uma sobremesa maravilhosa.

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