I am getting my camera back this weekend from Indianapolis, but I’m so excited, I’m going to post without pictures.
My friend Annie lives in Pilsen in Chicago. She has a fantastic backyard, which happens to include a real, live, fruiting APRICOT tree!
So, on Tuesday Gerard and I went to go pick about 10lbs of apricots. I’ve made apricot cobbler, 12 jars of apricot jam, and am using the rest to infuse some tequila…. and there’s still a ton of fruit on the tree! It’s so exciting to pick fruit from a tree in the middle of a huge city like Chicago. I know a lot of people in warmer areas often have this experience, but as a stalwart Midwesterner, it’s one I’ve never had. I’d suggest making friends with people who have fruit trees.
Making the jam has been an easier process than I originally thought it would be and I can’t wait to have it with crackers and goat cheese.
I found this recipe to be the simplest, and from what I’ve tasted, also the best apricot jam I’ve ever tasted!!!
I’ll post pictures of my babies when I get my camera back.
Also, when you’re canning, the jars make a really funny “ping” sound. Gotta get your kicks somehow.
gogochicago 