Brandy Meyer Lemon Marmalade Recipes

MEYER LEMON MARMALADE

Steps:

• Halve lemons crosswise and remove seeds. Tie seeds in a cheesecloth bag. Quarter each lemon half and thinly slice. Combine with bag of seeds and water in a 5-quart nonreactive heavy pot and let mixture stand, covered, at room temperature 24 hours.
• Bring lemon mixture to a boil over moderate heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until reduced to 4 cups, about 45 minutes. Stir in sugar and boil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally and skimming off any foam, until a teaspoon of mixture dropped on a cold plate gels, about 15 minutes.
• Ladle hot marmalade into jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of top. Wipe rims with dampened cloth and seal jars with lids.
• Put jars in a water-bath canner or on a rack set in a deep pot. Add enough hot water to cover jars by 1 inch and bring to a boil. Boil jars, covered, 5 minutes and transfer with tongs to a rack. Cool jars completely.

MEYER LEMON AND BLOOD ORANGE MARMALADE

Steps:

• Place several small plates or saucers in the freezer.
• Wash the citrus well under warm running water. Cut the lemons and orange in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 1/8-inch segments, lengthwise. Pluck out any exposed membrane and remove the seeds.
• Measure the cut citrus. You should have 2 1/2 cups, but if you have less, use the same volume of water and sugar as you have citrus. (If there are only 2 cups, for example, use 2 cups water and 2 cups sugar.) Place the citrus and the same volume of water into a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until the peels are very soft and fully cooked, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Add the sugar to the pot, stir to combine. Turn the heat up to high and bring back to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and let the marmalade simmer until set. It should take about 20 to 30 minutes, but start checking after 15 minutes to see if it is set by spooning a little onto a chilled plate from the freezer. If it looks like jam and not runny syrup, it's ready. (If you want to use a candy thermometer, you are looking for 222 degrees.)
• Allow marmalade to cool to room temperature before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator and use within a month.

BRANDY MEYER LEMON MARMALADE

Steps:

• Halve lemons crosswise and remove seeds. Tie seeds in a cheesecloth bag. Quarter each lemon half and thinly slice. Combine with bag of seeds and water in a 5-quart nonreactive heavy pot and let mixture stand, covered, at room temperature 24 hours.
• Bring lemon mixture (including the bag of seeds) to a boil over moderate heat and add brandy. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until reduced to approximately 4 cups, about 45 minutes. Stir in sugar and boil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally and skimming off all foam and scum until it reaches 215 to 220°F Remove the bag of seeds.
• Ladle hot marmalade into 3 pint size jars and wipe rims with dampened cloth and seal jars with lids.
• Put jars in a water-bath canner or on a rack set in a deep pot. Add enough hot water to cover jars by 1 inch and bring to a boil. Boil jars, covered, 15 minutes and transfer with tongs to a rack. Cool jars completely.
• Marmalade keeps, stored in a cool, dark place, up to 1 year.

MEYER-LEMON AND CARDAMOM MARMALADE

Steps:

• Remove peel and pith from 2 Meyer and 2 regular lemons. Remove seeds and coarsely chop fruit. Thinly slice remaining 2 Meyer and 2 regular lemons; remove seeds. Combine all lemons in a medium saucepan. Add 2 cups water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Press parchment directly onto surface and refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Place a few small plates in freezer. Remove parchment from lemon mixture; return to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until rinds are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Measure mixture (you should have about 3 cups), then return to pan. For every cup of mixture, add 1 cup sugar. Add cardamom and salt.
• Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Clip a candy thermometer to pan and continue to boil, stirring frequently, until rinds are translucent, mixture has a golden-amber color, and thermometer reads 220 degrees, 15 to 20 minutes. To confirm doneness, drop a spoonful of mixture on a frozen plate; if marmalade has a slight film when pushed with a finger, it's done. If it spreads out and thins immediately, continue cooking and test again after a few minutes. Transfer marmalade to airtight containers and let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate up to 1 month.