Marmalade and Leeks

Despite the almost foot of snow Denver received last week - and we needed it because we remain in severe drought - I am craving the gardening and preserving season. This weekend I determined to do something about it.

First, I took advantage of seasonal fruit from another state since we do not have much going on here just now in wintry Colorado. A non-profit that we support called Growhaus had Meyer lemons on special in their weekly food box delivery so I ordered a couple of pounds for some preserving. I found a citrus marmalade recipe in a favorite preserving cookbook, Jam Session, and made a half batch with four of the bigger lemons. It turned out well though, next time, I'll take the time to hand slice the pieces of fruit instead of following the instructions to chop them in the food processor. I think it would create a neater appearance and I certainly had the time.

A great canning resource.

4 half-pint jars of Meyer lemon marmalade.

That left three Meyer lemons. Of course I mixed up a lemon drop cocktail with vodka, a juiced lemon, a little simple syrup, and some homemade limoncello. I just can't waste lemon peel so I always keep a jar filled with 500 ml of 100 proof vodka in a cupboard. Each time I need lemon juice I first remove the yellow portion of the peel and drop it into the jar, marking a piece of tape to track how many peels I've inserted. When I get to 6 I add the date, knowing that in 2 months I can add simple syrup and then let it rest again. In another month's time I've got a new batch of limoncello. Delicious for sipping and in cocktails.

2 peels - the start of a new batch of limoncello.

I checked last year's garden notes and it was March 25 when I planted lettuce and green seeds in pots and March 29 before the soil was warm enough for spring crop seeds to succeed in the raised beds. It's nice to know it will be this month when I can start planting! in the meantime, I've started leek seeds and sage seeds indoors since both of these plants take a long time to grow and get ready for outdoor planting. This April we have contracted with a landscaping company to pull up all the sod in the front yard and create a new edible garden for us, based on a plan we had drawn up a few years ago. It includes a leek patch so I'm already getting excited about what it will look like! I'll share more as the project progresses.

Baby leeks under the basement grow lights.

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