Henny Penny Farmette

On the Henny Penny Farmette, we care for a small orchard of fruit trees. Each spring, summer, and fall, we harvest fruits to make sweet spreads. Whether spooned onto warm bread or waffles, scooped onto ice cream, or sandwiched between cookies, our homemade spreads offer a tasty reminder of the seasons of warmth.

There are lots of different types of spreads, including chutneys, compotes, conserves, fruit butters, jams, jellies, and preserves. Each type has special characteristics. The following lists outline some of the differences between these delicious spreads.

The Three C’s–Chutneys, Compotes, and Conserves

Chutneys are condiments that offer a variety of textures, from smooth to chunky, due to the type of fruit used as well as the blend of sugar, spices, and vinegar. The addition of chili peppers adds heat.

Compotes are often composed of fruit, either whole or in pieces, in a sugar-water syrup that includes spices.

Conserves are flavor- and texture-enhanced by adding to the jam such ingredients as dried fruit and nuts.

Preserves are spreads that include chunks of fruit cooked into the jam mixture. A marmalade is a type of preserve. We like marmalade made from citrus such as naval and blood oranges, lemons, and kumquats. You can make a lovely berry preserve by combining different types of berries with a sparkling juice, lemon zest, and sugar. Or, try cranberries and oranges for a tasty preserve for morning toast.

Fruit butters are spreads that have been cooked until all fruit has been incorporated in a buttery consistency. These blends of fruit and spice make them particularly sweet.

Jellies are made mainly from the juice of fruit cooked with sugar and pectin (to thicken). We make jelly from our late summer pomegranates, but your options are expansive when you consider all the types of fruits, flowers (yes flowers, like violet and lavender make wonderful jellies), and fruit juices that can be combined into a delicious jelly.

If you enjoy reading about gardening, preserving produce and fruits, and other country living topics, check out my Henny Penny Farmette series of cozy mysteries. The novels and my self-help, wellness, and spirituality books are available online and everywhere books are sold. See, https://www.amazon.com/Meera-Lester/e/B001JP835E%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Tags: jams, preserves