Friday 10 January 2014


Some citrus thoughts ...

There was not a bergamot to be had on Borough Market yesterday. The man on the stall said he gave the last of them to his mum to put in her tea.

I was thinking more of a slice to put in my gin.

Instead I bought lovely blood oranges, wrapped in fabulous tissue with pictures of Italian ladies who look like Gina Lollobrigida. I think I need to start a collection.

And there were marmalade oranges. Oh, dear.

Shall I or shan't I?

10 comments:

Lucille said...

It had never occurred to me that a bergamot was a thing you might buy, or that it was a citrus fruit. How have I missed them all these years? What a fabulous flavoured marmalade that would make. Do they have a very short season?

mary said...

It would be fabulous marmalade, Lucille. And bergamot curd would be good to try. The season is now - but only for another couple of weeks. Haven't tracked any down yet. Ocado have them, I think.

Sally said...

I also didn't know that a bergamot was anything other than a flower or a perfume. how interesting. I am going to head off on a google search as the real thing will not be found round here I'm sure.

Pam said...

I do enjoy your blog but am constantly amazed that you manage to go to all those exhibitions and things and also work. Surely you don't have time to make marmalade too???? Are you several people????

Vintage Reading said...

Loved Borough Market when I visited for the first time last summer. So glad you say blood oranges and not the namby 'ruby red oranges' that supermarkets like to call them. By the way, your name came up for the edition of Little Women I was giving away. If you can give me an address I will post it to you.

mary said...

Good luck, Sally. I know I won't find any locally.

That made me laugh, Isabelle. There's only one of me and I do work - but nobody would ever describe me as a workaholic. And my housekeeping standards are shamingly low! I'm usualy scouring the shops just as the oranges disappear because it's only when it's almost too late that I decide that it really is worth a sticky afternoon. You have to feel in the mood for it!

That's so kind, Nicola, what a lovely surprise!

Anonymous said...

Whilst I knew about the properties of Bergamot, I was unaware that they were for sale in Britain.

I have never, and would never, make Marmalade but I would kill for a kilo of Blood Oranges!

mary said...

Blood oranges are easy, Toffeeapple - it's just that supermarkets have emasculated them with silly names. Now is the season. The ones I bought the other day were really lovely, three for £1.

scrumptious days said...

All sounds heavenly, do make marmalade, I've just started my first batch of the year. It's refusing to set, so I may add some more lemon juice and reboil tomorrow!

mary said...

It always astonishes me how quickly it goes from won't set to caramelised, Jude!