This recipe is (loosely) based on a recipe that I scribbled down from an old lady who I used to see and chat with from time to time in Bewleys Café in Dublin. Yes that Bewleys — Joyce’s famous “Lofty Clattery Café”. A literary genius such as James Joyce goes there and he gets to produce a literary masterpiece. I go there and learn how to make jam … hey ho :-)

Ingredients:

• 1 Medium to Smallish Orange
• 1 Lemon
• 1 Lb / 500 grammes sharpish tasting eating apples OR cooking apples.
• 1 Litre / 1¾ Pints (UK) / 4¼ Cups Red Wine¹
• 1 Vanilla Pod
• 1 Cinnamon stick
• 2 Whole Cloves
• 700 grammes / 1½ Lbs / 3 cups Jam Sugar²⁺³

Cook’s notes on the ingredients:

¹ Don’t spend a fortune on the wine, but don’t use the cheapest rotgut either, a decent tablewine does the job nicely.

² As always by “Jam Sugar” I mean sugar that has the Pectin added to it.

³ I made this last week and used 3 American cups. Strictly speaking I should use more when using the American system as according to a quick google search 700 grammes is about 3.65 cups.

Special Equipment:

A big Microwave proof bowl. As long as it holds more than 16 American cups you’ll be fine.

A measuring jug, or a second bowl or any largish container for straining.

Method:

1. Grate the zest of the orange and lemon into the bowl.
2. Squeeze the juice of the orange and lemon into the bowl.
3. Take the pith of the orange and lemon and chop it up smallPut it and and the pips of the orange and lemon into a muslin (cheesecloth) cloth and tie securely  or use a tea/coffee filter bag and tie securely.Put the pith and pips into the bowlChop the apples fairly small and dump them into the bowl — don’t bother coring or peeling them.

   Put the Vanilla pod, cinnamon, and the cloves into the bowl and pour the wine over them

4. Put the bowl uncovered into your Microwave and cook on High (750 – 800 Watts) for 30 Minutes.
5. Remove the bowl from the Microwave, cover and leave to stand for 2 hours.
6. Strain the cooled wine mixture through a fine mesh sieve into the measuring jug and add hot (not boiling) water until you have made it up to:900 Ml / 1½ pints / 3¾ cups
7. Return the sieved wine mixture to the large microwave proof bowl and add the sugar.Stir like mad.
8. Cook on high (750 – 800 Watts) for 3 Minutes  stir.
9. Cook on high (750 – 800 Watts) for 3 Minutes  stir.
10. Cook on high (750 – 800 Watts) for 3 Minutes  stir.
11. Cook on high (750 – 800 Watts) for 3 Minutes  stir.
12. Reduce the power to medium (550 – 650 Watts).
13. Cook on medium (550 – 650 Watts) for 5 Minutes  stir.
14. Cook on medium (550 – 650 Watts) for 5 Minutes  stir.
15. Cook on medium (550 – 650 Watts) for 5 Minutes  stir.
16. Cook on medium (550 – 650 Watts) for 5 Minutes  stir.
17. Cook on medium (550 – 650 Watts) for 5 Minutes  stir.
18. Allow to cool to lukewarm then pour or ladle into warmed clean jars, cover with lids or cellophane.
19. Try not to eat it all before Christmas!