#date jam recipe

[askwhatsforlunch]

Lady Grey Date Jam

Every year for Christmas, I make edible gifts for my family and closest friends, whether they are Chocolates, Homemade Liqueurs, Chutneys, Pickles and Other Conserves or Festive Bakes and Biscuits! This year, I'm making a lot of jams and spreads, starting with this delicately fragrant Lady Grey Date Jam! I shall send this one to my girlfriend because she works at a record store and it's a date jam!

Ingredients (makes a small jar):

3/4 cup Medjool dates

1 Lady Grey tea-bag (Earl Grey works too, but I find the Lady is more aromatic!)

1 cup boiling water

1/8 teaspoon Mixed Spice

1 heaped tablespoon good Chestnut Honey

Place Medjool dates in a small bowl. Add Lady Grey tea-bag, and pour boiling water all over. Cover with cling film and allow the dates to plump up and infuse, at least one hour.

After one hour, remove the tea-bag, and removes pits from the dates --it will be easier and neater now than trying to do it before soaking them-- and put the dates in a blender.

Pour in Lady Grey tea and sprinkle in Mixed Spice. Blitz until very smooth.

Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a saucepan, and heat over medium-high heat.

Stir in Chestnut Honey until completely melted, and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon until the jam slightly thickens and darkens.

Pour hot Lady Grey Date Jam into a sterelised jar, and close tightly. Allow to cool and set. Then, label and store.

Once opened, keep Lady Grey Date Jam up to a month in the refrigerator, although it might not last that long!

[askwhatsforlunch]

Earl Grey Date Jam

This finger-licking good Earl Greay Date Jam gives a delicious Sticky Toffee Pudding taste to your morning toasts. And warmed up, it beautiffully dresses a scoop or two of Hokey Pokey Ice Cream.

Ingredients (makes 3/4 cup):

2 ounces Medjool dates

2 Earl Grey tea bags

1 cup boiling water

2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar

In a small bowl, combine Medjool dates and Earl Grey tea bags. Cover with boiling water. Cover with cling film, and steep, at least a couple of hours.

Remove tea bags, pit dates and place them into a small saucepan, along with Earl Greay tea. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and simmer, 4 to 5 minutes, until softened. Once the dates are softened, quickly blend with a hand-held blender. Return over medium heat and stir in dark brown sugar. Bring back to the boil, and simer, stirring often until jam thickens, about 4 minutes.

Pour hot jam into a small, sterelized air-tight jar. Close tightly, and let cool completely.

Once opened, you can keep Earl Grey Date Jam in the refrigerator up to three weeks.