The Fruit Tree is Abundant

  • The Fruit Tree is Abundant

    Posted by Redcap on June 6, 2023 at 11:27 pm

    We have one small apricot tree. We got a ton two years ago and I dried some in the sun and made tons of jam that we still have. We gave away bags and bags of them. We didn’t get any last year – late killing frost.

    I put three pounds of them in the Nesco that has four trays and it makes 3 cups in that jar. I ordered 8 more trays yesterday to get here tomorrow by signing up for a week of Prime for $2 which I will cancel.

    But we have picked up 55 pounds already in two days! And there’s plenty more on the tree.

    I’ll be dehydrating a lot. They taste great! My electric bill is going up, but that’s okay if it means getting these processed and saved for the winter.

    That happens to us a lot. We get a lot of something and that’s all we eat all winter. I think that’s how people normally ate. You ate what you had.

    If anyone has any other ideas. We don’t have any freezer space, just a small side by side fridge/freezer and I want to put meat in there. And we don’t want any more jam! Even though it tastes amazing.

    • This discussion was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by  Redcap.
    Redcap replied 1 year, 4 months ago 8 Members · 14 Replies
  • 14 Replies
  • StockingMyPantry-Rebecca

    Member
    June 7, 2023 at 12:22 am

    Maybe apricot fruit leather? You can also just can them. I haven’t done this, but here’s an article on canning apricots: Canning Apricots: A Taste of Summer in a Jar, Any Time of Year! (simplycanning.com)

    • Redcap

      Member
      June 7, 2023 at 12:48 am

      Thank you!

  • MartHale7

    Member
    June 7, 2023 at 12:52 am

    I like to fill my freezer space up with fruit like this then dehydrate it in the winter to heat my room at the same time as preserving the food. That is a nice problem to have, perhaps borrow a neighbors dehydrator and give them some in return for use of the dehydrator?

    • Redcap

      Member
      June 8, 2023 at 4:40 pm

      I just bought 8 more trays to add to my dehydrator. Still it takes nearly 24 hours to dehydrate 9 pounds of apricots. I have at least 50 pounds in my refrigerator and gave away 35 pounds yesterday. LOL This afternoon, I’ll start another 9 pounds to dehydrate. I’m considering canning – we don’t have a big freezer, just the little one on the refrigerator – but I didn’t want jars and jars of fruit. But I might have to to avoid wasting them. They are bruising too quickly to wait to be dehydrated.

  • Pinkboar

    Member
    June 7, 2023 at 1:01 am

    The plums and apples I got an abundance given to me over the years. I’ve cooked them down and canned the juice/pulp. From there I make rubs for my pork and chicken. Bbq sauce and syrup for pancakes and biscuits. And when sugar is scarce you can use in cakes and breads to sweeten for flavor. I am so excited for you. And just processing the juice save you time from making jelly and jam now you can decide later what you need. Even vinegar for dressing later on if you decide.

  • JennyD

    Member
    June 7, 2023 at 6:19 am

    Apricot tea is amazing! I’ve made Ginger Apricot jam and you might want to try a spicy Apricot jam maybe? Can you make apricot vinegar?

    • Redcap

      Member
      June 8, 2023 at 4:40 pm

      I still have probably 15 half pints of apricot jam from two years ago! We don’t eat much jam. 🙂 I hadn’t thought of an apricot vinegar. I will see about that, thank you!

  • KramitDreams

    Member
    June 7, 2023 at 11:56 am

    Wow what a blessing! I could can them in halves or quarter in a light syrup, then you can use them like you would peaches later..you can make a sauce for pork chops or fish, pancakes,even Ice cream. You can use them to make a dressing for salads.You can use them in pies, cobblers, and bread down the road. With all that jam you can make a jam cake,muffins or put jam in your oatmeal or make oatmeal bars with jam. When you can them it is way more versatile and you can come back to it later while saving you freezer space😉

    • This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by  KramitDreams.
    • Redcap

      Member
      June 8, 2023 at 4:42 pm

      I absolutely love all those idea. We don’t really eat that way though but I think I’m going to have to can a bunch so they are not wasted. I was wondering about apricot nectar. I’d rather have a drink than canned fruit I’ll never use. I’ll have to find a recipe for that.

  • Grampa-J

    Member
    June 7, 2023 at 12:23 pm

    Apricot butter, sauces, glazes, wine, pie filling, extracts, liqueurs. Can even start a rumtopf for the in season fruit to bring you holiday toppings. With Canning whole & sliced as well as drying will let you kick the can down the road to further covert to other forms when the weather gets cold and you have more time.

    • Redcap

      Member
      June 8, 2023 at 11:07 pm

      I ended up making many quarts of puree/nectar. A little in a glass with water and ice is delightful!

      • Grampa-J

        Member
        June 9, 2023 at 3:35 pm

        That sounds really good.

  • TammyLou

    Member
    June 10, 2023 at 2:38 am

    I absolutely love apricots! Had a tree growing up in northern Illinois. Too bad we don’t live close…I’d take some off your hands😀

    • Redcap

      Member
      June 10, 2023 at 3:45 pm

      It is too bad. It would be nice to share a cup of tea on the porch and chat as well. 🙂

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