An Invitation: You are invited to request suggestions from the diplomatickitchen for your own menus for any occasion.  Do you have a menu concept with a gap or two that wants filling…or perhaps you are an expat looking for ways to adapt your recipes to what is available in your temporary home…maybe you are just looking for a new way to use a familiar ingredient or would like suggestions on how to adjust quantities of a recipe from the diplomatickitchen for smaller or larger groups…Replies will be published in ‘Ask and Tell’ or sent by email if you prefer.

1.  Making Orange or Lemon Marmalade:  The following question comes from Nena.  The advice of readers who know a thing or two about making Orange or Lemon Marmalade is most welcome and will be published here.

Name: Nena

Menu Question: Do you have any words of wisdom on making lemon or orange marmalade ? There is an abundance of delicious oranges and lemons from Sicily, and I haven’t ever made a marmalade from them, as I do not like them too sweet.

Responses:

1. From:  diplomatickitchen

Dear Nena, Unfortunately, I have never made either one, so I am posting your question and asking for readers to respond.  If my copy of Jane Grigson’s cookbook English Food, was not still in one of a number of packing boxes, I would look up her recipe.  Her recipe for Seville Orange Marmalade, which has a bittersweet edge, is at this link: http://britishfoodhistory.wordpress.com/2013/01/14/seville-oranges-and-seville-orange-marmalade/.  I haven’t tried it, but I have made a number of Mrs. Grigson’s recipes and they have all been good.

2.  From:  Nena

Thank you, I will try and report on the results. So far my lemon marmelade is a bit bitter, but then maybe I haven’t soaked lemons in water long enough. Now I have to go take care of my mistake and eat it ! Wish I could share it with you 🙂

© Elizabeth Laeuchli, the diplomatickitchen, 2011-2012