Berry Jam

A very good and easy recipe for jam which uses up the excess berries on the bushes and trees.

4 cups crushed berries (Mulberries are in season and very good) 4 cups sugar To prepare fruit. Sort and wash berries. Crush the berries. Put very seedy berries through a sieve or food mill. To make jam. Measure crushed berries into a pan or microwave proof dish. Add sugar and stir well. Boil rapidly, stirring constantly, to 9 degrees above the boiling point of water (221 degrees), or until the mixture thickens - if using microwave this will probably be about 25 minutes. Remove from heat; skim. Fill and seal containers. This recipe yields 4 half-pint jars. To preserve for a longer period add a tablespoon of vodka or brandy to the finished jam.

Coconut and passion Fruit slices

Tea is a very old tradition in Zimbwe and this is a very good addition to the cucumber sandwiches and chocolate cake!

125 grams butter 210 grams caster sugar 1 egg 5 milligrams vanilla essence 60 grams flour 5 milligrams baking powder pinch salt Filling 4 eggs 200 grams sugar 80 grams decicated coconut 50 grams flour 375 milliliters cream 160 milliliters coconut milk juice and zest of one lemon 125 milliliters passon fruit pulp Preheat over to 180 degrees and grease and line a baking tray Place butter and sugar in an electric mixer and beat until light and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat well. Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir until combined and makes a sticky dough Press the pastry evenly into the pan and bake for about 15 minutes For the filling place the eggs and sugar in a bowl and whisk until pale - add the coconut, flour, cream , coconut milk. lemon juice and passion fruit. Stir to combine and pour the filling over the baked pastry case. Bake for about 35 - 40 minutes until golden. Alow to cool in tin before cutting in slices.

APPLE CHUNKIES

These ar so good with your moning coffee! 1 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup butter (1/2 cube) 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup chopped raw apples 1/2 cup coarsely broken walnuts Sift flour, measure, then sift again with baking powder and salt. Melt butter in saucepan--remove from heat and stir in sugar. Cool slightly, then beat in egg thoroughly. Add vanilla. Fold in flour mixture. Stir in apples and nuts. Spread in 8x8 pan. Bake at 350 degrees 30 minutes. Cut in 2x2 squares while still warm. Makes 16 cookies.