My Moms Plum Brandy Recipes

HOMEMADE PLUM BRANDY

Steps:

• Pick out well-ripened plums . Its best to remove their pits ahead of time and mash them.
• Pour the fruits into a large, suitable container. After 3-4 days, add the sugar dissolved in water (1:3 ratio); the water needs to be at a temperature of 80°F (25 °C). If adding 44 lb (20 kg) sugar, you need 16 gal (60 L) of water. Stir until it dissolves and mix with the fruit mash.
• Stir this material 3-4 times per day, the more the better. After about 14 days, the fermentation process should be complete and the mixture should have cleared up on top, although that all depends on the temperature, the quality of the sugar and frequency of stirring. Dont close the drum during fermentation. Its best to measure alcohol content with an alcohol meter - it needs to be about 17-18 % ABV. If the alcohol content is higher, add more water, if its lower - add sugar.
• In some regions they like to add a little vinegar (1 bottle per drum) or citric acid if the plums are too overripe. There needs to be about 12″ (30 cm) of empty space between the material and the top of the container, at least during fermentation.

MY MOM'S PLUM BRANDY

Steps:

• Rinse the plums (do not scrub away the white bloom) and cut out the pits.
• Place in a large crock or one or more large jars.
• Pour in as much of the sugar as the container can hold.
• Cover loosely (I believe the traditional cover is several layers of cheesecloth but I've done fine with a regular lid that is left unscrewed) and let it ferment at room temperature for six weeks.
• As the mixture liquefies keep adding sugar until it is used up.
• Strain the liquid (reserving the pulp) and mix it with the whiskey and bottle it up.
• My mother always uses a cheap whiskey and allowed the mixture to age in the bottle for many months.
• However, using a good whiskey makes it drinkable right away--especially important for the first batch.
• It keeps indefinitely--if you make enough.

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S PLUM BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.
• Sprinkle chopped plums with 1 tablespoon of flour in a bowl, and toss to coat. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat the margarine, white sugar, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs. In another bowl, sift together 1 1/2 cup of flour with salt and baking soda. Stir the dry ingredients into the egg mixture, alternating with yogurt until the mixture forms a smooth batter. Lightly stir in the flour-coated plums, and pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the top of the batter with brown sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool in the pan 10 to 15 minutes before removing from pan for slicing.