H
Hydrogen
Guest
If I'd find the product in Loblaws I would probably buy some.
Y'know, just to see what all the talk was about.
Y'know, just to see what all the talk was about.
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I went to Loblaws...
- Thread starter 3Dementia
- Start date
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
They sometimes sell gooseberries at the St Lawrence Farmer's Market, but I can't remember having seen them at Lowlaws. They have to be really ripe ( purple ) to taste sweet. In my distant youth in England I remember a large hairy variety of gooseberry that was deliciously sweet - but you can't find them any more, even over there.
I can't imagine anyone eating redcurrants straight. They're so sour.
The jams I make are very concentrated ( not much water added ) and even though I add plenty of sugar they're not as sweet as commercial jams. The flavour is strong and you only need a thin spread on bread.
I wonder if Loblaws, or any of the other supermarkets, will expand their produce sections to include more of a "farmer's market" approach? Early in this thread we nailed down the reasons why they don't source locally, but perhaps the green trend towards not having everything flown in or trucked half way around the world will oblige them to stock more hydroponic and locally grown fruit and veggies if the demand grows?
I can't imagine anyone eating redcurrants straight. They're so sour.
The jams I make are very concentrated ( not much water added ) and even though I add plenty of sugar they're not as sweet as commercial jams. The flavour is strong and you only need a thin spread on bread.
I wonder if Loblaws, or any of the other supermarkets, will expand their produce sections to include more of a "farmer's market" approach? Early in this thread we nailed down the reasons why they don't source locally, but perhaps the green trend towards not having everything flown in or trucked half way around the world will oblige them to stock more hydroponic and locally grown fruit and veggies if the demand grows?
vistaway
Active Member
Back in the mid-90s when I worked for Loblaws, we carried a LOT more local produce than they do today.
I don't necessarily buy big grocery's arguments as to why they can't use local product. Wegman's, Loblaws' frequent source of inspiration, not only has lots of local produce, but they promote it above all else: they take deliveries direct to each store from the farm, unload it out front for all to see, display it prominently, list the farm, farmers and location/distance from the store. There is also a large chalkboard at the entrance that lists what's local today. And this isn't some independent or upscale market...this is a chain that dominates their markets. I like that they don't just 'stock' local produce, they 'sell' it and promote the hell out of it.
Had some Ontario corn, canteloupe and peaches this weekend - simply perfect...tastes like summer.
I don't necessarily buy big grocery's arguments as to why they can't use local product. Wegman's, Loblaws' frequent source of inspiration, not only has lots of local produce, but they promote it above all else: they take deliveries direct to each store from the farm, unload it out front for all to see, display it prominently, list the farm, farmers and location/distance from the store. There is also a large chalkboard at the entrance that lists what's local today. And this isn't some independent or upscale market...this is a chain that dominates their markets. I like that they don't just 'stock' local produce, they 'sell' it and promote the hell out of it.
Had some Ontario corn, canteloupe and peaches this weekend - simply perfect...tastes like summer.
adma
Superstar
Believe it or not, I do; and I like the tang. (I can eat cranberries straight, too.)
BTW it'd now be thimbleberry season, wouldn't it? They're like really feral, flat-headed, hairy-textured distant raspberry relatives or something--I go bonkers in thimbleberry patches...
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
I'd pay to see that. I bet I could sell tickets too.
I've never tried them. Do they grow locally? Can I make jam from them? Tell all, adma!
I've never tried them. Do they grow locally? Can I make jam from them? Tell all, adma!
AndreaPalladio
Senior Member
You must have incredibly regular bowels with all that fruit!
AndreaPalladio
Senior Member
Hmmm, I've never watered down fruit for jam. What jam do you add water to?
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
All of the jams and jellies I've made have some water added - two or three cups per 4 litre batch. Some of it evaporates with cooking.
The blackcurrant/redcurrant I made this morning turned out very nicely.
The blackcurrant/redcurrant I made this morning turned out very nicely.
AndreaPalladio
Senior Member
Interesting. Is there any reason to dilute the fruit (bought, say, at Loblaws) with water?
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
I just go by the instructions inside the Certo packet for different kinds of fruit. It indicates how much pectin and water to use with different kinds of fruit ( which may have been bought at Loblaws ) to get the best results.
At first I treated these instructions like a bible, but I've adjusted over the years. I suppose I could eliminate the water altogether, but it helps produce a bit more jam and it certainly doesn't turn out runny - quite concentrated and strong actually. Perhaps straining off much of the skin and pips from the fruit ( which many buy from Loblaws ) keeps the flavour concentrated.
At first I treated these instructions like a bible, but I've adjusted over the years. I suppose I could eliminate the water altogether, but it helps produce a bit more jam and it certainly doesn't turn out runny - quite concentrated and strong actually. Perhaps straining off much of the skin and pips from the fruit ( which many buy from Loblaws ) keeps the flavour concentrated.
adma
Superstar
Thimbleberry Wiki--real savage-wilderness stuff.
If you're lucky, you might find a few patches of varying quality in various parkland places around Toronto (High Park, Humber Valley). I don't know whether you can get them cultivated or semi-cultivated; or whether, like the trillium, it just propagates on its own or through theft-transplanting from the wild.
As for my bowels; well, sometimes, I allow for a little refrigeration in case of high yield, and that takes care of a lot of the creepy-crawlies that may lie within. And as for redcurrant bitterness: look, in this age where kiddie (including overgrown-kiddie) candy can be in a "how supersour can you go?" race, *nothing's* too bitter anymore...
If you're lucky, you might find a few patches of varying quality in various parkland places around Toronto (High Park, Humber Valley). I don't know whether you can get them cultivated or semi-cultivated; or whether, like the trillium, it just propagates on its own or through theft-transplanting from the wild.
As for my bowels; well, sometimes, I allow for a little refrigeration in case of high yield, and that takes care of a lot of the creepy-crawlies that may lie within. And as for redcurrant bitterness: look, in this age where kiddie (including overgrown-kiddie) candy can be in a "how supersour can you go?" race, *nothing's* too bitter anymore...
AndreaPalladio
Senior Member
Well, that explains it. I use Martha or Amanda Hesser's jam recipies, or ones found online (sadly, jam recipies seem unavailable at Loblaws) and none has ever directed me to put in water. I also use less sugar (Loblaws makes a good organic sugar) than the recipies call for.
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
The instructions inside the Certo boxes ( which I buy - along with the canning jars - at No Frills, which is owned by Loblaws ) say to use quite a lot of water for blackcurrant jelly, and almost as much for redcurrant jelly. Even then it can be quite strong, so I can't imagine what it would be like without water. By the way, you can also buy Ribena, which is made from blackcurrants, at Loblaws.
I had a horrible dream last night, AP. You and I were fighting over a huge box of raspberries in our all-time favourite supermarket.
US: Let go! I was here first!
AP: Grow your own!
US: I do!
AP: They're mine, Dame Edna!
US: Strumpet!
AP: Wanton! Anyone tell you only old whores rouge?
US: Hussy! Trollop!
AP: Termigant!
US: I'm taller and slimmer than you ...
AP: But I'm younger and prettier!
Then we start bitch-slapping. Fruit flying all over the place.The manager rushes in and we're banned from shopping there ever again.
I woke up in a cold sweat.
Then I fell into an uneasy sleep and had another dream:
It was the dead of night. Someone was on a rampage in my back garden. I ran downstairs with a flashlight. Adma was biting the heads of raccoons and tearing apart my big raspberry bush. He was dripping with red liquid - blood or juice I couldn't tell. Then a pretty little boy with long ringlets dressed in a velveteen Little Lord Fauntleroy suit rushed in and asked me sweetly, "Aunt Edna, will you make me some jam?", and Adma snapped, "Shuddup Walt!" and ripped his head off. Then Nigel Tufnel appeared, pointing up at my house and laughing uncontrollably - the house was sprouting decorative flourishes like some sort of gruesome skin rash. "I've got the antidote for that!" cried Ganja ( for it was he ), waving a big tube of ointment, " But I'm not going to give it to you! You'll have to live with those doodads for the rest of your life". I tell ya it was awful - gargoyles with wild eyes and frizzy hair and red juice gushed from their mouths were sprouting all along the roof ...
Then I woke up again.
I had a horrible dream last night, AP. You and I were fighting over a huge box of raspberries in our all-time favourite supermarket.
US: Let go! I was here first!
AP: Grow your own!
US: I do!
AP: They're mine, Dame Edna!
US: Strumpet!
AP: Wanton! Anyone tell you only old whores rouge?
US: Hussy! Trollop!
AP: Termigant!
US: I'm taller and slimmer than you ...
AP: But I'm younger and prettier!
Then we start bitch-slapping. Fruit flying all over the place.The manager rushes in and we're banned from shopping there ever again.
I woke up in a cold sweat.
Then I fell into an uneasy sleep and had another dream:
It was the dead of night. Someone was on a rampage in my back garden. I ran downstairs with a flashlight. Adma was biting the heads of raccoons and tearing apart my big raspberry bush. He was dripping with red liquid - blood or juice I couldn't tell. Then a pretty little boy with long ringlets dressed in a velveteen Little Lord Fauntleroy suit rushed in and asked me sweetly, "Aunt Edna, will you make me some jam?", and Adma snapped, "Shuddup Walt!" and ripped his head off. Then Nigel Tufnel appeared, pointing up at my house and laughing uncontrollably - the house was sprouting decorative flourishes like some sort of gruesome skin rash. "I've got the antidote for that!" cried Ganja ( for it was he ), waving a big tube of ointment, " But I'm not going to give it to you! You'll have to live with those doodads for the rest of your life". I tell ya it was awful - gargoyles with wild eyes and frizzy hair and red juice gushed from their mouths were sprouting all along the roof ...
Then I woke up again.
AndreaPalladio
Senior Member
Did you nibble some cheddar before retiring? Because those sound like cheese dreams to me.
Urban Shocker
Doyenne
Actually, I had some bread and jam!