Oranges, lemons and chillis

Oranges, lemons and chillis equals marmalade.   We've almost eaten the jar I made  to see if it would be nice, the thought of chilli for breakfast does seem strange, but I can assure you it's not.

The day before yesterday I made a complete batch of it - 4 one pound jars added to the rows of orange marmalade and lemon and orange on the shelf in the kitchen.  And very colourful they are too.

So the recipe....all in pounds and ounces as it's pre-metric!

2 pounds of fruit, half lemons and half oranges

18 fluid ounces of water if you're using a pressure cooker, double that if not.

4 chillis - may need more but add some and taste as it's cooking.  You can always add more but you can't get them out if it's too hot!

3  pounds of sugar



Put the whole, entire, not chopped up, lemons and oranges in the pressure cooker, with the water, bring to high pressure and cook for 15 minutes.  In a pan I'm told it'll take about 2 hours to get the fruit to the same softness - go and buy a pressure cooker!  

After 15 minutes, turn if off and leave till cold.  After about half an hour the fruit is still hot but with care and rubber gloves it can be handled, but what's the rush?  When it's cold, carefully scoop out the middles of the fruit and put into a separate pan, put the skins to one side for shredding back into the cooking juices.  Shred or chop as much as you like, some people like thin shreds, some like chunky marmalade.  Any not used, add to the pan of fruit middles.  Simmer this to release the pectin from the pulp and pips -  maybe needs a little more water if there isn't enough fruit juice - then sieve it back into the cooking juices.  Finely chop the chillis and add now.  Then add the sugar, heat till dissolved and boil till it reaches setting point.  Mine took 10 minutes, depending on where you live and what altitude you're at, it could be  quicker. 

Leave it to cool, stir and bottle. (or should that be 'jar'?)   If you don't leave it to cool all the fruit will rise to the top and it won't look half as pretty on the shelf.

Enjoy!